Their feud heading into No Mercy has largely been about Roman Reigns’ readiness to fill John Cena’s shoes as the top act in WWE.
Opinion is split on what a month of promos tell us on that score, and we’ll have to wait and see if the match itself in Staples Center on Sunday, Sept. 24 settles anything.
Until then, here’s a cool video from Monday night after Raw in San Jose.
Reigns spent time on Sept. 18 with Ryan Kelepi Otutaha from Oakland. Their visit was arranged through The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and it extended beyond just some photos backstage:
After a dark match Street Fight with Braun Strowman, Reigns gave Ryan his gloves and shared a moment with his fan at ringside. You can’t hear it in the video, but according The What It Do, a California-ased website dedicated to Pacific Islanders and pop culture, Roman told Otutaha, “We are brothers now”:
In addition to being a cool moment, this is an example - along with WWE promoting the wishes Reigns made while Raw was in New Zealand and Australia last week - that he is filling Cena’s shoes, no matter what’s being said in kayfabe.
It’s not so much that The Big Dog will ever replace Cena atop the Make-A-Wish leader board. The all-time Wish-Maker will continue to work with the organization and inspire people even if he completely leaves wrestling for Hollywood. But it does mean Roman will be the subject of the “they should turn him heel”/”here’s why they don’t” arguments we spent the last decade having about Cena.
We can have that debate later. For now, enjoy a cool moment between two newly bonded brothers.