A Better Choice Than Cody?
By Scott Keith on January 7, 2023
I really have no interest in seeing REIGNS/Rock at “WM”, but if Rock is available, it's really hard to justify *not* doing that match. He's The Rock. However, if Rock doesn't work the show, then we're almost assuredly getting REIGNS/Cody. Cody was positioned as a top guy when he returned, and he showed that he can carry that role, but I think the injury will have cooled him off a bit. Maybe it's just me, but Cody returning and getting the biggest match possible would just feel kinda cold and slapped-together. Now, if Cody *hadn't* gotten injured, but had instead spent the last six months having great matches and cutting great promos on a regular basis, building support from the fans, then sure, but yet another “returns from injury to win the 'Rumble'” (or “Chamber”, or whatever) angle would be so played-out.
No, I think there's someone much better to face Reigns for the title. Someone that can work, that can talk, that is a great ambassador for the company/sport, that has remained extremely popular with the fans for years, and just seems like an all-around great human being. Oh, AND he also has years of history with Reigns:
Xavier Woods.
Woods' fun-loving character is basically the complete opposite of Reigns'. “The New Day” has a long history with the Usos, and also had some big matches with “The Shield”. Kingston and Langston already had runs with the World Titles, both of which were booked pretty poorly. This would be the chance to make it right. Hell, they even teased it a year ago, with Reigns destroying Woods' “King of the Ring” crown.
Personally, I would have started the build two months ago. Instead of “The Brawling Brutes” teaming with Mcintyre and Owens at “WarGames”, have the Brutes team with Kingston and Woods, and have Woods get the win for the faces. (You can then have Owens mention the heels' loss the next night, in order to continue the Owens/Zayn program.) You then have Woods enter the “Rumble” around #10, and have him win by last eliminating someone that the fans legitimately don't like, such as Corbin. Soon after, do the match where the Usos beat ND's record-setting reign, with the Usos cheating to win.
From there, you can just dig into the long history between Reigns and Woods, combined with Reigns saying that Woods is a clown and is the weak link of “New Day” (as he's never held a World Title). “Bloodline” have plenty of bodies for Woods to face before getting to Reigns at “WM”.
And when WM does come around, you have the heels interfere near the end, only for Kingston and some other faces to fail at fighting them off… that is, until Langston makes a surprise cameo to run the heels off with a chair, without having to take any bumps (similar to Austin at “Backlash, 2000”). Woods wins the title, with all three ND guys celebrating in the ring. I really don't think that there's a better option to take the titles off of Reigns. Yeah, it's a bit far-fetched at the moment, with Woods currently being one half of the NXT Tag champs, but it's not like it would be difficult to build him back up in an instant. The fans love him, and he's shown that he can flip that switch where he gets angry and tough.
Plus, with Woods being a true babyface, he can relinquish the WWE Title and give it back to “Raw”, saying that it's the right thing to do. Considering everything they've put into making Reigns the ultimate heel, I don't like the idea of taking one of the titles off of him right before “WM”. Get through the big show first, then split the titles.
Again, this is all if Rock doesn't work the show. Cody can have his chance at “SummerSlam” or “WM40”.
OK, Xavier Woods, got it.
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