2017-18

WrestleMania 33 saw the end of the legendary career of The Undertaker end at the hands of Roman Reigns. The Uso’s & Samoa Joe helped Roman Reigns end the night standing tall, now one full year as WWE Champion, The Tribal Chief is just getting started.

The next night on Raw, two former best friends in Keven Owens & Chris Jericho fight just twenty-four hours after their WrestleMania clash to determine who will challenge Reigns for the title at Payback.

In the match itself, both men start where they left off last night, Jericho wants that one last run with the title to cap off a legendary career, he kicks out of everything Owens throws at him. After twenty plus minutes, Jericho finally lands the Codebreaker and collapse on Owens, both men’s shoulders are down…

…the ref counts three, the match ended in a draw. It is announced that Roman will defend the WWE Championship at Payback against Kevin Owens & Chris Jericho, with the added bonus of elimination rules.

Payback 2017

Roman Reigns def. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens in a Three-Way Dance to retain the WWE Championship

The match starts off great for Chris Jericho, reversing a Pop-Up Powerbomb into a Codebreaker to eliminate Owens, leaving just Roman Reigns for Jericho to beat.

The crowd is heavily behind Jericho cheering him on as he looks to do the unthinkable, but after two Spears from the Tribal Chief, Roman stands tall yet again.

–

But Jericho isn’t done, only once in his career, he was WWE Champion. That was fifteen years ago, it wasn’t the best reign, but he challenged Roman to one more match, Jericho agrees to never challenge for the title again should he lose.

While normally a world title match at Extreme Rules would warrant a stipulation, but the story is Jericho attempting to win the title one last time, we can give a stipulation to the WHC match.

Extreme Rules 2017

Roman Reigns def. Chris Jericho – Since Jericho lost, he can never again challenge for the WWE Championship

The Baltimore Crowd goes wild for Jericho, we see some of his greatest hits such as the Codebreaker, the Liontamer, and in a callback to his debut match, a powerbomb through a table. But none of it is enough.

Even after surviving two spears, Jericho is caught into a Guillotine, and despite his best efforts to power out, he instead passed out. The dream of Jericho is shattered by the Tribal Chief.

–

Braun Strowman has dominated Raw since he split from The Wyatt Family nearly a year ago, and he sets his sights on The Tribal Chief, but is interrupted by Brock Lesnar, making his first appearance since defeating Goldberg at WrestleMania.

They both want a crack at Roman, but he asks his personal enforcer Samoa Joe to stake his claim for the title and have his back. During the build, we have Joe cut awesome promos on both Strowman & Lesnar, truly getting him over.

While Roman cuts promos with the belt, claiming that Joe’s only in the match to ensure he retains, we see Joe eye his US Title, but then they dart over to Roman’s Title. The idea of walking out a double champion, clearing enticing to The Destroyer.

Bad Blood 2017

Roman Reigns def. Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, & Samoa Joe to retain the WWE Championship

In this brutal car crash of a match that happens a bit earlier than irl, same type of match, only difference that Reigns & Joe are on the same side…

…that is until Roman has Braun pinned and Joe pulls him off. Roman gets right up in Joe’s face, noses touching and Roman screams at him to fall in line. It looks as though Joe may do something, but both are blindsided by Lesnar.

Lesnar tosses Joe, then hits an F-5 on Roman, he makes the cover, but Joe breaks it up. He tosses Lesnar out of the ring, then looks down at Roman knowing he could win the title right here, but chooses to dive out of the ring, wiping out Lesnar.

Strowman makes it back to his feet, only to be hit with another Spear from Roman, he gets the pin, retaining his title thanks to The Destroyer.

–

After Bad Blood, we have our Bloodline related matches set for Summerslam. The Uso’s vs Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose who are finally on the same page for the first time since The Shield broke up. Samoa Joe vs Kurt Angle for the US Title. And in the main event. Roman Reigns will face Brock Lesnar in a WrestleMania rematch WWE Heavyweight Championship.

This time around, Paul Heyman is very complimentary of Reigns, listing his accomplishments as The Tribal Chief, but makes Roman agree that there will be no rematch regardless of outcome. Brock has Roman’s number both times they shared a ring together, Roman better pray that history doesn’t repeat itself at Summerslam.

Summerslam 2017

Roman Reigns(c) def. Brock Lesnar to retain the WWE Championship

Lesnar is the same unstoppable streak-conquering machine as he was in real life who also defeated Goldberg at WrestleMania. He faces off against the immovable Tribal Chief. What a hard-hitting and bloody match this ends up being.

At one point, the ref gets knocked down, Paul Heyman grabs the WWE Title, he sees the bodies of Brock Lesnar & Roman Reigns. Both staggering back to their feet, Heyman tosses the title in the ring…

…AND ROMAN CATCHES IT!!! Paul Heyman has double crossed Brock Lesnar, Roman levels Lesnar with a third Spear and gets the three. Fifteen years after Paul Heyman was there when Lesnar captured his first WWE Championship against The Rock, he helps his cousin retain the WWE Title over Lesnar.

–

At Summerslam, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose beat The Uso’s to win the Raw Tag Team Titles, Kurt Angle ended Samoa Joe’s main roster undefeated streak to win the United States Title, & Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar with the help of Paul Heyman.

Heyman is introduced as the Special Counsel to Roman Reigns, realizing that Lesnar is a thing of the past, Heyman decides to throw his lot in with The Bloodline.

A battle royal is held on Raw to determine who will challenge Roman at No Mercy. Roman emphasizes Joe needing to win this match and give him a night off, Joe makes it to the final two, but is eliminated by Braun Strowman.

No Mercy 2017

Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman ends in a Double Count-Out, meaning that Roman Reigns retains the WWE Championship

Braun Strowman looks to capture his first title in WWE, his match with Roman devolves into a pure brawl, the two fighting at ringside, neither answering the ref’s count.

The match ends in a double count-out, but the brawl continues, ending with The Bloodline jumping Strowman, and Roman Reigns spearing him through the LED Board at the top of the ramp, sparks fly everywhere to close the show.

–

Roman decides to sit out TLC without a clear opponent while The Uso’s take on Rollins & Ambrose in a ladder match for the Raw Tag Team Titles, and Samoa Joe looks to regain the US Title against Kurt Angle in a Submission Match.

At TLC, Rollins & Ambrose retain the titles over The Uso’s while Samoa Joe manages to regain the United States Title from Kurt Angle. A very 50/50 night for The Bloodline.

Roman dresses down The Uso’s for failing to regain the Raw Tag Team Titles, but doesn’t even acknowledge Joe reclaiming the US Title, but there’s little tie to dwell as Braun Strowman is back, he lays waste to The Bloodline, only Roman is saved when Joe pulls him out of the ring.

Braun Strowman declares that he is NOT finished with Roman Reigns, which leads to a Last Man Standing Match being booked for Survivor Series.

Survivor Series 2017

Roman Reigns def. Braun Strowman in a Last Man Standing Match to retain the WWE Championship

Strowman & Reigns absolutely brutalize each other, this match could truly go either way but it’s Roman who prevails after a violent and bloody affair.

–

After Braun Strowman’s failed attempts to win the WWE Title off the Tribal Chief, it’s time for a new challenger, and who might that be?

The Uso’s are facing Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose once again for the Raw Tag Team Titles, this time in a Two out of Three Falls Match, and after interference from Roman Reigns, The Uso’s are once again Raw Tag Team Champions.

The following week, Samoa Joe defends the US Title against Finn Balor who has Gallows & Anderson in his corner, and they help Balor win the title, The Bloodline are nowhere to be found.

Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose both want revenge against Roman Reigns for costing them the tag team titles, and they both want a crack at his WWE Championship, but only one of them will get the shot as they will face off in a Number One Contender’s Match.

The match gets thrown out when The Bloodline interferes and beats down both men, but Ambrose gets by far the worst of it getting taken out of action for the foreseeable future. Therefore, Rollins vows to avenge Ambrose against Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

Royal Rumble 2018

Roman Reigns def. Seth Rollins to retain the WWE Championship

Rollins looks for that feel good moment nearly two years after Roman won the WWE Title on him, but interference from The Uso’s get in the way. Roman beats Rollins to retain, but he couldn’t do it on his own.

Meanwhile, on that same night, Samoa Joe wins the Men’s Royal Rumble Match, last eliminating Brock Lesnar, in dominating fashion, choking him out and tossing him out of the ring like a sack of potatoes.

–

But we have one final stop on the Road to WrestleMania, the Elimination Chamber! Roman Reigns defends the WWE Title in his first-ever Elimination Chamber Match against five of Raw’s best superstars, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Finn Balor, The Miz & Braun Strowman.

Although Roman has the Chamber Match to focus on, he also does everything in his power to convince Joe to go over to Smackdown and challenge AJ Styles, but Joe thinks the “greatest” Mania main event of all time, Samoa Joe vs Roman Reigns. However, Reigns paints a different picture, and that’s Joe winning the WHC, meaning The Bloodline hold both world titles.

Joe is invited over to Smackdown to face off with Styles where they share a war of words, harkening back to their TNA days. Things nearly get physical when the two are separated. Backstage, Samoa Joe is found unconscious, clearly been attacked, and near his body, we see a P1 armband and a lead pipe near Joe’s body.

Joe swears revenge on AJ but is stopped in his tracks when he overhears Roman & The Uso’s in their locker room bragging about their attack on Joe, knowing the truth. Joe costs Jey Uso a shot at the United States Title, causing him to be brutally beaten by The Bloodline to the point where he’s helped out of the arena.

Elimination Chamber 2018

Roman Reigns def. Seth Rollins, John Cena, Finn Balor, The Miz, & Braun Strowman in an Elimination Chamber Match to retain the WWE Championship

The Tribal Chief wins his first ever Elimination Chamber Match to retain his WWE title and assure that he will walk into the New Orleans as WWE Champion. And on the same night, a bandaged-up Samoa Joe makes his return and officially chooses Roman Reigns as his opponent for WrestleMania, all but setting this year’s main event in stone.

–

The following night on Raw, Roman scoffs at Joe’s chances against him at WrestleMania, he has The Uso’s in his corner, he has his Wiseman, while Joe on the other hand has no one in his corner, without The Bloodline, he’s the most hated man on Raw for all the things he did on behalf of The Tribal Chief.

But Joe has an ace up his sleeve, he talked to Kurt Angle, and he agreed to allow a Special Guest Enforcer for their match, someone who knows The Bloodline VERY well… IF YA SMELLLLLLL!!!!! THE ROCK IS BACK!!! He enters the ring and has an intense stare down with a very shocked Roman Reigns.

The following week, The Rock has a confrontation with Roman Reigns, he shows the entire Anoa’i family tree on the tron, highlighting their extensive history in the wrestling business, their family has produced many of the greats of this industry, but Roman isn’t it, he is not fit to be The Tribal Chief just yet. The Rock reminds Roman that the path he’s on when The Rock helped him win the Royal Rumble three years ago, it’s because of HIM that Roman is in the position he’s in now.

Later that night, Samoa Joe is facing Jey Uso in the main event. Joe wins the match but has little time to celebrate as the cameras pan to the parking lot where we see The Rock lying face down with Roman Reigns standing over him.

In the build, we’re left questioning if The Rock was out of his lane thinking he could help take down The Bloodline as his status at WrestleMania is left in question. Samoa joe is left to take on The Bloodline alone for the time being, he uses hit & run tactics over the next few weeks. On the go home Raw, it is announced that there will be a contract signing, with Roman Reigns promising to come alone.

At the contract signing, after both men sign the contract, that’s when Roman reveals that it was all a trap, The Uso’s run out and they attack Joe, looking to take him out ahead of WrestleMania. But before they can do any real damage, The Rock runs out, he’s back and lays the smackdown on The Bloodline, Joe hits a Double Uranage on The Uso’s while The Rock goes to Rock Bottom Roman through the table, only for The Uso’s to pull him out just in time.

Elsewhere, we have a stacked card in New Orleans. Daniel Bryan makes his return after three years away to take on The Miz for the IC Title, AJ Styles defends his WHC against Shinsuke Nakamura in the New Japan style match they should have had, The Uso’s take on The Hardy’s for the Raw Tag Titles, while the Kings of Wrestling form for the first time in WWE to take on The Revival for the Smackdown counterpart, Triple H/Stephanie McMahon vs Kurt Angle/Ronda Rousey, & Batista returning one year early to take on Brock Lesnar, putting his career on the line in a No Holds Barred Match.

WrestleMania 34

Roman Reigns def. Samoa Joe with The Rock as the Special Guest Enforcer to retain the WWE Championship

Imagine this. WrestleMania. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, four years after indie-darling Daniel Bryan overcame the odds against The Authority to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, another man cut from the same cloth looks to do the same against The Bloodline…

…but unlike Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe has The Great One in his corner to even the odds.

Roman Reigns. Samoa Joe. Born from different families, one from the most decorated family in WWE History, the other comes from no one. But they share that familiar Samoan heritage, which brought them familial ties in the first place.

Each man has tried everything, but neither will stay down for the count. Their respective desire to walk out of WrestleMania with the WWE Title, is on display for the world to see….

Roman attempts a Spear on Samoa Joe, but Joe dodges, and Roman accidentally Spears the ref instead, as Roman is trying to wake up the ref, Joe catches him in the Coquina Clutch, and Reigns taps out, but no ref to call for the bell. That’s when all hell breaks loose, The Uso’s run down, they take out The Rock, they Double Superkick Joe, and nail him with a Double Splash.

The Rock comes in and he takes down The Uso’s, then, as both Reigns and Joe are getting to their feet. Rock grabs a chair and re-enters the ring; he hovers over Reigns, ready to strike… THEN TURNS AROUND AND HITS JOE IN THE BACK WITH THE CHAIR!!! It was all a ruse, Rock is with The Bloodline, Joe is stunned, Rock follows up with a Rock Bottom, then tells Reigns to finish him off.

Roman retreats to the corner, sizing Joe up, allowing him to stagger back to his feet, then Roman nails him with a spear. With the referee still down, Rocky makes the count, ONE… TWO… THREE… Roman Reigns is still WWE Champion. The last shot we see at WrestleMania, is The Rock alongside his cousin, pointing the fingers to the sky.

Credit: Reddit user bigjohn14325