Roman Reigns Returning After 140 Days

In the WWE hierarchy, Roman Reigns is one of the most celebrated and possibly adored superstars in the WWE Universe. The tribal chief of The Bloodline and a former WWE Universal Champion, Reigns, has been the head of the franchise for almost three years now. However, after a vicious defeat at the hands of Randy Orton back in November in a match that effectively dethroned him from the title he held for nearly two years, Reigns disappeared. It took 140 days for the fans to wait for his return, and this created one of the most anticipated returns in recent WWE history. Roman Reigns’ return was not a reality check; it was a proclamation that the tribal chief had come to regain his rightful seat.

The events that led to Reigns taking a break:

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind for WWE fans, and Roman Reigns’ departure was no exception. The Bloodline had been one of the most dominant factions in the history of WWE, with Reigns at the head of the pack, controlling the destinies of his adversaries, and demanding reverence from all the talent on the company’s roster. He formed a team with The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) and Solo Sikoa, and that has become an unstoppable force, a force that dominates the WWE main event scene.

However, Survivor Series returned with the shocking appearance of Randy Orton, wherein Reigns lost the undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Orton, who had been out of action for several months mainly due to a severe back injury, returned with a bang and produced a special RKO that, in addition to dethroning Reigns, also put him on the shelf for many months.

The absence of Reigns was noticeable the moment the screen went off. The WWE picture started changing as new contenders came on the horizon, and the void created by the tribal chief’s absence provoked internal tensions within The Bloodline. The Usos, without Reigns’ leadership, were in conflict with each other, especially Jey, who had to face the non-ideal aftermath of his leader’s betrayal. Reigns was the figure the group surrounded, which is why Solo Sikoa, the silent muscle, tried to keep The Bloodline together, but without a leader, things started unraveling.

At the same time, Randy Orton, who won the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, started a new process of writing his career in WWE, becoming a star around which new stories in the promotion company were created. The hired muscle entered new factions; old hatreds resurfaced, but the WWE Universe was aware that Roman Reigns was on his way back.

The Return of the Tribal Chief

Finally, after 140 days of buildup, speculation, and rumors, Roman Reigns made his way back to WWE SmackDown. Such tension reigned in the arena that viewers sat on their heels waiting for the first words of the tribal chief, who was assessed as the show’s favorite not long ago. Starting his entrance, the crowd responded with mixed reactions, with cheers and jeers, because the relationship between Reigns and the WWE fans is quite nuanced.

Reigns dressed up in his black vest and wearing the traditional Samoan lei approached the ring with thirty-five years’ experience and the air of invincibility. The tribal chief was back, and every single spectator in the arena could sense his return and felt compelled to look in his direction. As soon as he set his feet on the ring, Reigns made sure to look at the audience, a grin on his face that hinted at one question: ‘Are you really expecting me to be done for good?’

Standing smack in the middle of the ring with a microphone, Reigns spoke to the WWE universe. He boasted about being out of the scene, not portraying his time off as a resolution but as a proactive start—the WWE map needed to reestablish itself before he came back to reclaim his reign. Reigns recapped the show by explaining why he is the tribal chief, the head of the table, and the WWE is his kingdom. He said that his defeat by Randy Orton was just a small hiccup that only counts to show that he has fallen just so he could rise with vengeance in the future.

But Reigns did not limit himself to that. He then shifted focus to The Bloodline, now at the ringside where The Usos and Sikoa were standing. The internal conflict with regard to the group became heightened when Reigns started doubting their commitment and efficiency in his language. He began to ask them questions like, ‘Where did you go wrong? Why did you let The Bloodline become weak when I was not here? Where did infighting and jealousy originate’? It was very evident that Reigns’ return was not only to reclaim his supremacy at WWE but also in his family’s home.

Rebuilding the Bloodline

The Bloodline started becoming a major force when Roman Reigns returned to the company. Thus, the group that had been cogent and dominant was now incoherent and susceptible. Reigns understood that to get back to the top of WWE and become the star he was, he’d have to form The Bloodline as a group from scratch.

After his return, Reigns set out on a campaign to regain control of The Bloodline. He expected the Usos and Solo Sikoa to be loyal to him and to obey him, but he also made the decision that whoever did not meet his expectations would be fired. Often domineering, Reigns’ management was now growing more and more cruel as he aimed to purge any sources of possible opposition.

The Usos, who wanted to remain part of the team with Reigns yet at the same time could not hide their desire to win, were back in a compromise situation. Sami Zayn could not seem to deal with the oscillation, while Uso fumbled between wanting to establish himself as a leader and his instinct to avoid displeasing Reigns. Jimmy Uso, on the other hand, continues to be fiercely loyal to the tribal chief, often acting in ways that would ensure he stays in Reigns’ favor.

Such were the circumstances with Solo Sikoa, the youngest member of The Bloodline, who was established as Reigns’ enforcer despite having some difficulties associated with the role. Sikoa’s loyalty to Reigns was unwavering, but as the dissent within the group escalated, the pressure to keep the peace was put squarely on Sikoa. Reigns felt that there was more to Sikoa than being a strong man and even saw him as a leader in The Bloodline, though this could only be done if the big boy was deserving.

When The Bloodline started regathering itself, Reigns focused on Randy Orton, the man who took his belt away from him. Reigns was sure to point out that it was not time to come back home unless and until he had regained the undisputed WWE Universal Championship to avenge his loss. Orton, the crafty wrestler he is, expected Reigns for the simple reason that the tribal chief would do anything to get his belt back.

The Road to Redemption

Becoming the center of WWE programming was Roman Reigns’ journey to get his championship back. He made it his mission to get to Randy Orton, and the way he did it was calculated and strategic. Reigns went out of his way to aggravate Orton in every possible way. The mind games, the ambushes, and the psychological warfare all formed part of Reigns’ game plan to undermine Orton prior to the ‘big fight’.

The WWE Universe was watching the drama unfold on the screen. The rivalry between Reigns and Orton held so much more than the championship belt; it was a fight between a modern wrestler and an old-school wrestler. Orton, the man whose experience shows he knows when to strike when the opponent least expects it against Reigns, the man who had remodeled WWE in his own image.

In the build-up to the rematch, The Bloodline had a significant role to play in Reigns’ scheme of things. The Usos and Solo Sikoa were assigned the job of weakening Orton, so that by the time Reigns was set to face him, Orton was going to be a mere shadow of himself. However, Orton, being a smart wrestler, escaped the dominance of The Bloodline on several occasions, and thus, Orton is not a lamb that can be easily slaughtered.

A rematch angle between Reigns and Orton could not have come with higher stakes. For Reigns, it was not just about regaining the title; it was about getting his credibility back and showing that he is still the tribal chief, the head of the table. Power, for Orton, was about securing his legend in the WWE—a man who defeated the ‘indomitable force’ in Roman Reigns.

The Clash of Titans

The second encounter between Roman Reigns and Randy Orton happened during SummerSlam, one of the premiere WWE shows of the year. The months of promotions, the heated face-offs, and the bitter fights had all built up the two men, but neither had been able to pin the other down. The WWE Universe was aware of the fact that this was the kind of match that would define history.

As the match got underway, it was obvious that Reigns and Orton had come to wrestle. The two superstars exchanged heavy punches, both eager to come out of the bout as the victor in what was as much a pride fight as it was a title fight. The strength of Reigns and the desire for power and dominance were matched with Orton’s intelligence and ring knowledge, and that match won the hearts of the crowd.

The climax was when The Bloodline tried to come to the aid of Reigns, but Orton replied with amazing RKOs. As for The Bloodline, things turned to Reigns against Orton, each alone in the middle of the ring. This summed up the entire rivalry as Reigns landed a spell that was as powerful as any he had ever delivered before and then applied the Guillotine choke on Orton, and Orton tapped out.

Roman Reigns had done it. He had won the undisputed WWE Universal Championship, which was great, but more than that, he had proven that he was once again the tribal chief of WWE. And as Reigns stood tall in the ring, cupping the championship overhead, one could tell that his 140-day absence from the ring had only served to make him even more muscular, defiant, and deadly than