Here’s Why Roman Reigns is Wrestling at Payback Despite ‘Injury’

On this past Monday’s Raw, Kurt Angle announced that Roman Reigns will wrestle Braun Strowman at next Sunday’s Payback show. The announcement came just one week after “The Guy” was brutally attacked by Strowman, and carried out on a stretcher.

While Reigns has appeared on some WWE live events since the backstage assault, he hasn’t officially wrestled another match. He also hasn’t appeared on television, and his return may be held off until next Sunday’s show.

It’s quite clear that WWE is planning on having Braun Strowman be Brock Lesnar’s next challenger, so he can’t lose to Reigns at Payback. But, WWE also doesn’t want Reigns to lose without an excuse, which, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, is why he’s being brought back so soon.

Kurt Angle confronts Braun Strowman: Raw, April 17, 2017

“So [Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns] is the main event,” said Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. “The idea is that Reigns comes back quick, so he’s got his excuse when he loses, and then he loses, then Strowman gets Lesnar.”

Do you think WWE should’ve held off the Reigns vs. Strowman match until later this year? Who do you think will go over at next weekend’s Payback show? Let us know in the comments below, or over on Facebook!