Highlights

• Roman Reigns has been the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion for over 1200 days, dominating the wrestling industry.
• Roman only shows up for WWE's biggest events, like the big four PLEs and high-profile Saudi Arabia shows.
• WWE may be strategically limiting Roman's appearances to prepare for a future without him as the top champion and to elevate other wrestlers to the spotlight.

There's one man ruling the world of WWE, where his every move is a carefully orchestrated spectacle. His name is Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief, the holder of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for over 1200 days. However, as the world eagerly anticipates WWE's global expansion with international Premium Live Events, a perplexing mystery unfolds. Despite his unrivaled reign and the anticipation of fans, whispers emerge of Roman's conspicuous absence from certain pivotal events. With only 31 title defenses during this historic tenure, questions linger: Why might Roman Reigns choose to forego these momentous showdowns? The answers are elusive, shrouded in speculation, and the wrestling universe awaits with bated breath to unravel the mystery behind Reigns' absence from select PLEs. However, one theory is not elusive and is a strong possible reason for the answer to this question.

Roman Reigns Has Been WWE Champion For Three Years

Roman Reigns Only Shows Up For WWE's Big Four PLEs

Roman's Undisputed WWE Universal Title Reign Duration	1200+ days
Title Defenses	32 (January 2024)

Since Roman Reigns embraced the role of The Tribal Chief, he has dominated WWE, holding the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for an astounding 1200 days. From Payback 2020 to WrestleMania 38 in 2022, he unified both world titles, and flanked by The Bloodline, he has conquered every challenger.

Now, as WWE gears up for international expansion with PLEs in Australia, France, Germany, and annual Saudi Arabia events, fans wonder why Roman might be absent from some significant international showcases. Of course, he won't be missing the big 4 events in Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, SummerSlam, and WrestleMania, and he will probably not miss the big money events like those in Saudi Arabia, but he might choose not to show up for the rest. This might be his plan as well as what WWE wants him to do.

Roman Reigns Won't Be At Elimination Chamber & Backlash

Will It Be Roman Reigns Vs The Rock At WrestleMania 40?

Recent reports from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer suggest that Roman Reigns won't be part of the upcoming Elimination Chamber in Australia and Backlash in France, despite their historic significance. This has left fans, especially those who purchased tickets to witness these events live, questioning the rationale behind the absence of WWE's top champion. In his report, Meltzer said,

"Roman Reigns is not on the Australia show [Elimination Chamber]. He's not on the Paris show [Backlash] either, by the way, for fans over there. He's gonna be wrestling at the Royal Rumble. And then his next big match - he could do a TV match - but he's gonna wrestle at the Royal Rumble, and then his next match is gonna be his WrestleMania match. And after that, I would presume it's gonna be Saudi and SummerSlam."

This has left fans, especially those who purchased tickets to witness these events live, questioning the rationale behind the absence of WWE's top champion. With international events being rare, fans abroad are perplexed about why the top draw wouldn't grace these PLEs, and from a business perspective, why WWE would sideline their biggest star. Rumors of a dream match against The Rock at Elimination Chamber were circulating, but neither Roman nor The Rock had been advertised for the event. And as stated above, according to Meltzer, Roman is set for a match at WrestleMania directly after his appearance at the Royal Rumble meaning that his teased match with The Rock could happen at WrestleMania 40. This also might mean he's not getting dethroned there unless it becomes a triple threat with Cody Rhodes, which seems unlikely, as Rock vs Roman one-on-one has been a dream match years in the making and Rhodes, even with his story, would look out of place and forced.

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Why Is Roman Reigns Missing WWE PLEs?

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Close

Roman Reigns, as The Tribal Chief, has become synonymous with being the main event. His matches draw unparalleled attention, often leaving other champions in the shadows. Since unifying the WWE and Universal titles, Roman's sporadic title defenses mean that when he does appear, the focus intensifies on his historic reign. This dynamic has inadvertently marginalized other champions, including Seth Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite Rollins' efforts to defend the title consistently, the sheer magnitude of Roman's reign tends to cast a shadow over any other championship match on the same card.

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As Roman's historic reign might meet its end one day, WWE needs to prepare for a future without him as the top champion. By allowing other champions to shine on big PLEs without Roman's shadow, the company can elevate these titles and create new stars who can step into the spotlight. The question of who will dethrone Roman Reigns has become a source of speculation and debate among fans. Roman's extended reign has elevated him to an almost mythical status in WWE. When the time comes for a new champion to emerge, WWE anticipates potential fan resistance and criticism no matter who the choice to dethrone him ends up being. Hence, by selectively featuring Roman in PLEs and not making him a constant presence, the company may be employing a strategy to gradually ease fans into the idea of a different top champion. This measured approach could help fans adjust to the notion that the end of Roman's reign is imminent, making them more receptive to accepting a new face as the leader of the WWE roster.