Now that WWE's draft is over, the company and its fans are looking to Battleground on July 24. The event will be yet another chapter in the ongoing New Era storyline, as the stars of today and tomorrow battle for bragging rights.
It will also be the night of Roman Reigns' return.
That fact alone is enough to convince many fans to tune in, if only to see what major twists could go down at the end of the night. Will Roman embrace the hate and turn on long time friend Dean Ambrose? Will he regain the WWE Championship and assume the mantle of the company's top heel?
Or will he be the same reluctant hero that fans have grown to hate?
As with any major event, rumors are flying right now and one of those rumors does indeed involve the former Shield strongman. But his name is not the only one making the rounds.
Where Was the Pain?
The WWE draft was full of twists and turns, including Finn Balor heading to Raw as the fifth-overall pick and John Cena heading to SmackDown as the seventh-overall pick. The company definitely made a statement in regards to placing top priority on its future.
But where was Brock Lesnar?
Lesnar's absence was expected by many and with good reason. After all, Brock's recent issues concerning failed drug tests have been major headlines over the past week. That kind of press is enough to make anyone stay home and out of the spotlight.
Perhaps that's what happened with Brock.
But other fans likely questioned why he didn't appear during the draft on SmackDown Live. He has been WWE's top draw next to Cena for the better part of five years, and he rarely misses big nights like that one.
The reason may be a bit more complex, however.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Bill Pritchard of Wrestle Zone), the plan was to remove Lesnar from SmackDown Live before the drug test story broke. He was supposedly going to return to TV in August, but now WWE says he will not be back until SummerSlam.
What exactly does all of this mean?
Either WWE must have been aware of Brock's failed drug test and pulled him, or he was perhaps given some time off anyway. Simply just showing up in the ring would have been enough, as his presence would certainly have enhanced the draft night action.
But for whatever reason, WWE chose to keep him from SmackDown Live.
Lesnar going to Raw as the eighth draft pick overall was not a surprise. He's barely a part-time Superstar at this point, and he likely will not be going full-time again for the remainder of his WWE career. But even though his role is not as critical as it once was, he still has the ability to impact the company in a very big way.
Other than Cena, no one else in WWE has been the main event presence that Brock is. Doesn't that fact alone surely warrant at least a TV interview?
The Absent Advocate
Brock Lesnar's presence was missed at SmackDown Live, but the more curious part is the continued absence of his primary mouthpiece, Paul Heyman.
Heyman has been a permanent fixture by Brock's side for so long now that to imagine the two separated seems very surprising indeed. But that is exactly what's happening right now, as Paul did not speak for Lesnar during—or after—the draft.
Perhaps now the reason for that is finally coming out.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Nick Hausman of Wrestle Zone) is reporting that Heyman's WWE contract has expired. While this is not necessarily a bad sign, there doesn't seem to be a new contract happening at the moment.
That is enough to cause real concern for fans of The Beast Incarnate.
Brock is much more effective because of Heyman. Lesnar is not a mic worker; he's a main event powerhouse. His work happens between the ropes, and the less he speaks on TV, the better. His silence only adds to his mystique and his reputation as WWE's destroyer.
Heyman is his herald and that herald should not be silenced.
These two need each other for Lesnar's gimmick to work to its fullest potential. WWE's insistence on waiting for Brock's situation to play out before inking a new deal with Heyman is good business from their perspective, but this is an issue that must be resolved.
Brock's star may or may not dim now thanks to his actions outside of WWE, but if the company truly wants to use him as the top draw that he is, then he needs the man that helped him get over in the first place.
Brock and WWE need Paul Heyman.
Suspension of Disbelief
The Roman Reigns saga continues to deepen as the days go on.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter report claims that the former WWE champion was suspended for taking Adderall, a substance that is banned in WWE. As reported, via Nick Paglino of Wrestle Zone, Adderall is legal for treating ADHD, but when it comes to physical contact sports, the drug is capable of hiding pain and fatigue in the user.
This news puts Reigns' suspension into context, mostly because of the wear and tear the business has on a pro wrestler's body.
The bumps take their toll on a talent, and this is just as true for Roman as it is anyone else on WWE's roster. Taking a break to heal is not always an option, if ever, as the fear for Roman could be that he would be in danger of losing his spot.
Time off means time lost, and time is much too valuable for a Superstar in Reigns' position.
The effects of the drug may or may not explain why Roman chose to take it, but it does shed some light on the situation. Of course, this is not to excuse Roman or absolve him of any wrongdoing. How many workers undergo the same physical turmoil, sometimes perhaps worse than Roman, and choose not to take any drugs to help?
The most intriguing part of this story, of course, is Roman's main event booking at Battleground. Reigns is still set to work the last match against Ambrose and Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship, and some fans are likely upset that it's still happening.
The move suggests that Roman is being rewarded for his mistake, and that is a bad message to send the other Superstars, as well as to the fans.
But despite what WWE's reasoning is for keeping Roman in the main event, the match itself will certainly gain more attention than it would have before.
Fans will tune in to see what happens, but whether they will see a new Roman Reigns is anyone's guess.
Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.