After the events of WrestleMania 40, I’m happy that I attended SmackDown in Washington, DC, on March 3, 2023, at Capital One Arena. I was on the fence on going, until I learned that Roman Reigns would make his presence felt in the nation’s capital.
Eight years had passed since I saw the former member of The Shield, the former Big Dog, and at the time, the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion.
Much had happened since seeing our Tribal Chief in person back in early Spring 2015. I lost my mom in May 2015, relocated to the DMV in 2016, Roman announced to the world that his leukemia had returned and he was taking a leave of absence in 2018, and then came COVID.
Shortly after, Roman Reigns re-emerged on the wrestling scene at SummerSlam on August 23, 2020, with a stunning attack on the Fiend and Braun Strowman. It was the early stages of who we would call the Tribal Chief.
Last March was special, because for the first time in eight years, I got to sit ringside and ACKNOWLEDGE our Tribal Chief.
Make no mistake, I love El Campeon, Damian Priest, but Roman Reigns was the first wrestler, since Lex Luger (my all-time favorite), who I started purchasing wrestling merchandise for. I shudder to think how many tees and collectibles I have between The Tribal Chief and El Campeon.
When hearing the intro for our Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 40, it was different….regal, breathtaking, and symbolic of his historic title reign…literally bringing us through a pandemic and into a new era where for the first time since its inception, there was no McMahon involved with the creative process of WrestleMania.
Why was I moved to write this piece? I miss my Tribal Chief. I miss our Tribal Chief. His presence, his music, his promos, his wrestling, every fan coming together to lift their arms in unison, signaling who was number one, in acknowledgment of Roman Reigns.
The Bloodline lives on, but it’s not the same. Solo Sikoa doing Roman Reigns moves and stepping in as ‘Head of the Table’ until he returns doesn’t work for me and many others in the WWE Universe, as evidenced by the “We Want Roman!” chants and hashtags on social media.
Roman has been gone for just over 60 days, and the ‘Interim’ Head of the Table, Solo Sikoa, wasted no time making Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa full fledge members of the Bloodline, much to the chagrin of the WWE Universe and The Wiseman, Paul Heyman.
The same fans and critics who shared how tired they were of Roman always winning, of how he only wrestles part-time (not once considering that it had to do with him STILL battling leukemia, though he is currently in remission) now want to see the man who helped elevate the careers of Solo Sikoa, Jey & Jimmy Uso, Sami Zayn, and a host of others, including Cody Rhodes.
Our Tribal Chief will return, better than ever before. How, might you ask? He could reclaim his rightful seat as Head of the Table, but would it be from Solo Sikoa or from, The Final Boss, Dwayne, ‘The Rock’ Johnson?
He could request a rematch against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship, or he could surprise us all and go in a completely different direction and return as a ‘good guy’.
Whenever our forever Tribal Chief and forever Champion returns, the roof will come off the arena, fans will stand to their feet, social media will crash, and professional wrestling will witness the beginning of an unparalleled chapter that only Roman Reigns can deliver.