Following his victory at Crown Jewel 2026, reports suggest WWE is intentionally protecting World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns from taking pinfall losses to set up a monumental clash against NXT standout Oba Femi.
Reigns retained his momentum in Riyadh by defeating Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn in a physical main event, securing the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship after delivering back-to-back Spears following multiple referee bumps.
Speculation Surrounding WWE’s Booking Strategy
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez analyzed the long-term direction for both Reigns and Zayn coming out of the premium live event.
While discussing potential title changes for Zayn, Meltzer highlighted why WWE appears committed to keeping “The OTC” dominant:
“It only makes sense for Penta to beat Sami Zayn. I mean, ain’t been. I don’t think. I don’t see him beating Roman Reigns. That doesn’t… It doesn’t seem that they want [anyone] to beat Roman Reigns until Oba Femi comes around.”
Alvarez concurred with the assessment, noting that the protected finish at Crown Jewel further evidenced WWE’s hesitation to have Reigns lose clean before Femi enters the main-event scene.
Building Toward WrestleMania 43
The report aligns with ongoing backstage rumors regarding a potential marquee showdown between the two powerhouse stars:
- WrestleMania 43 Target: Previous reports from Meltzer and WrestleVotes indicated that a Roman Reigns vs Oba Femi match remains a leading candidate to headline Sunday night at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia.
- On-Screen Confrontations: Femi previously targeted the World Heavyweight Champion following Money in the Bank, declaring: “Tribal Chief. No more running. It’s about that time.”
- Crown Jewel Impact: Femi made a surprise appearance during Saturday’s event, destroying Bronson Reed with a powerbomb off the stage through a table to assist Penta and Je’Von Evans in capturing the World Tag Team Championship.
While WWE has not officially confirmed plans for the match, keeping Reigns undefeated in singles action ensures maximum stakes if and when Femi steps up to challenge the Original Tribal Chief on the grandest stage.
To stay updated with all the latest WWE news, WrestleMania rumors, and match booking reports, make sure to visit wrestlingattitude.com.
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