The Reconstruction of Roman Reigns

The segment of WWE fans in Roman Reigns' corner are none too happy about his current situation. Reigns' haters may be more than a little surprised the aforementioned segment exists, but that likely doesn't match the surprise they're feeling now.

The Samoan strongman is actually down for the count.

But while the critics are tuning up the fiddles as Roman burns, they would do well to remember that no one is truly done in WWE until they walk out the door. This is not Reigns' swan song; there's a lot more work to be done.

Reigns is going back to square one, and while that could be seen as a death sentence for some Superstars, it's not the case here.

Roman is in this for the long haul. This is what he wants, and he's put in the time to prove it. Through all the ups and downs he's seen, he has persevered, and he's come out better for the experience.

He's paid attention, and he's learned from his mistakes.

The fact is there's nothing like the top spot in WWE. The pressure and responsibility that goes along with it is immense, and to handle it takes a special breed of talent. That talent must be ready both mentally and physically, and he must be capable of doing the work.

Roman was not ready, and anyone in WWE that believed he could hit the ground running, was mistaken.

The reason for that is the fans, as they decide who's the best man for the job. This has always been the way of things, and it probably always will be. WWE can put anyone in the top spot it chooses, but if the fans don't want him, then it won't work.

The Roman Reigns experiment has failed. So what happens now?

The growth that Roman was forced to face much too early in his career is not yet complete. This time he can go at a much steadier pace, learning his craft more than he has, and gain some valuable experience along the way.

Most importantly, he can finally establish the connection with fans. It's absolutely crucial to his survival in WWE, and without it, he has nothing.

Many believe that Roman must turn heel. But that window has closed, as any heel turn at this point would just not be as effective. The direction for Reigns must no longer be the top main event spot in the company, but another spot that will eventually lead him back to that. A heel turn now could actually hinder his progress, especially since Seth Rollins will likely become the top antagonist on Raw.

WWE must slow this down to a crawl, and allow Roman to catch his breath. The potential he's shown in the past is still there, and now it must be capitalized on. But the best way to do that is by allowing him to connect as a babyface.

Some might say it can't be done, but considering WWE never allowed it to happen organically in the first place, there's no way to know. However now, the opportunity is there. As with any other talent, it all begins with the booking.

Roman needs a good solid feud to get himself moving. That feud should be against a veteran like Chris Jericho, who can help Reigns begin the arduous task of getting over again. But unlike other feuds Roman has worked, he should not win every match this time.

He and Jericho should trade victories, until Reigns eventually wins the rivalry. From there, the next stop should be Rusev and the United States Championship.

This should be the feud that defines Roman's new run. Rusev looks better than he ever has before, and that should continue here. Again, it's not about elevating Roman to the point that he never loses; WWE doesn't need to recreate John Cena, as it attempted to do before.

This is about Roman earning respect, and becoming the strongest U.S. champ since Cena.

He should face a wide variety of opponents, suffer some non-title losses, beatdowns, and struggles, along the way. But he should always maintain his composure and put all of himself into the title, thus construct his standing as a rock solid performer. In time, he could become so good at what he does that his championship is considered among the top in the company.

This is where Reigns finally stakes his claim as a legitimate contender in WWE. No more will fans be convinced that he's being shoved down their throats; now they will see that he's making his way the right way and that he's working hard to succeed. WWE must build him brick by brick, and this is part of the process.

Once he's firmly established and has made that connection with fans, then WWE can begin moving him back to the world title scene. But for any of this to work, the process must take much longer than just a few months. This must happen over time, and with the full support of WWE, as it would give any star in the making.

Roman Reigns' fans believe that WWE has given up on him, and has left him to die with no direction. Reigns' critics believe it should have happened a long time ago, and that he deserves to be thrown to the bottom. But neither is true. As long as Roman is part of the company, and as long as there is a vision for him, then it's surely not over.

But this time, it must take time. Roman may be down, be he's definitely not out.