If Roman Reigns’ in-ring career is winding down, he’s making sure to elevate others on his way out.
On Saturday night at SummerSlam, the Tribal Chief and Jey Uso entered first for their tag team showdown against Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker.
In pro wrestling, entering the ring second is typically reserved for the bigger stars. By coming out first, Reigns and Uso ceded that moment to Reed and Breakker, allowing them a chance to shine. It was a quiet gesture, a subtle paving the way for the future.
Once the bell rang, Reed and Breakker looked like a natural tag team. They controlled the pace and showed classic ring awareness, cutting the ring in half and isolating Uso for much of the match. They kept him from tagging in Reigns and even paid homage to Breakker’s legendary lineage, hitting the Steiner Brothers’ signature flying bulldog.
While Uso endured most of the punishment, Breakker repeatedly taunted Reigns from across the ring. As the crowd chanted, “Roman, Roman Reigns,” Breakker mocked both the crowd and Reigns, declaring the Tribal Chief didn’t belong anymore. It was a bold spot that only works if WWE, and especially Reigns, see real value in Breakker.
When it was time, Reigns got his moments. Notably, he did something he hadn’t done since Crown Jewel 2021. With Reed and Breakker on the outside, Reigns launched himself over the top rope, crashing down on both opponents. He seemed to take the worst of the landing, but the move spoke volumes — a show of trust in his younger opponents and a signal of how much he believes in their potential.
In the closing moments, Reigns again deferred the spotlight.
In storyline, he sacrificed himself to protect Uso, pushing him out of the way and absorbing a brutal spear from Breakker. In reality, he helped “Main Event” Jey maintain his aura as a headliner. As Uso recovered, he took out Breakker, then hit Reed with a spear of his own. With the big man down, Uso climbed the ropes and landed a Superfly Splash to score the win for their team.
Reigns’ selflessness in recent years has helped lift several WWE superstars, including members of his family and Sami Zayn. Rather than use his influence against CM Punk, someone he once said he didn’t like, Reigns stayed true to his word, putting feelings aside for the sake of business. He worked with Punk to tell a compelling storyline involving Seth Rollins at this year’s WrestleMania. In the night one main event, Reigns put over Rollins, helping solidify Rollins’ new alliance with Paul Heyman, Reigns’ former “Wiseman.”
This past Monday on Raw, in a humiliating moment, Reigns had his shoes stolen by Reed and Breakker. It’s rare to see a performer at Reigns’ level be that generous, something past generations of superstars often resisted while clinging to their spot.
But Reigns, who told Vanity Fair that his contract expires next year and that he may only have a year or two left, is holding nothing back. It’s clear that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help WWE build new stars.
His willingness to lose, to risk, and even play the fool — all to elevate others — speaks louder than any promo. If these are truly the Tribal Chief’s final days in the ring, he’s ensuring WWE won’t miss a beat after he leaves, having helped shape the stars who will carry it forward.
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