Match Point is an on-going series at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, where we look at intriguing matchups in indie wrestling and beyond. They may be dream matches, first-time matchups, or hotly anticipated rematches. In this edition, we will take a deep dive into one of the marquee matches of WWE TLC: Universal Champion Roman Reigns versus Kevin Owens.
If there’s one common thread that binds Kevin Owens and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, it’s family. When Reigns made his return to the company this past August at SummerSlam, it became apparent that this was a different beast from “The Big Dog” fans knew for so long. Not long after his return, Reigns captured his second Universal Championship, besting Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman to do so. Since then, SmackDown‘s “Tribal Chief” has left a path of destruction in his wake.
From beating real-life cousin Jey Uso without mercy to ordering said cousin to carry out his dirty work, Reigns has ruled his family with an iron fist. Reigns’ path of destruction would continue heading into Survivor Series, where he faced WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. Despite a valiant effort from RAW‘s “Scottish Warrior,” Reigns won this champion versus champion encounter. With McIntyre in the rearview, viewers wondered what would be next for Reigns.
While Reigns asserted his authority on SmackDown as “Tribal Chief,” Kevin Owens found himself caught in the crossfire. Owens took umbrage with the way that Jey and Reigns brutally assaulted Daniel Bryan on SmackDown weeks prior. Thus, Reigns ordered Jey to face Owens on the November 27th edition of SmackDown. The match reached a violent conclusion when Jey assaulted Owens with a steel chair. Not long after, Owens turned the tables on Jey, striking him with a chair several times in retaliation. All the while, Owens addressed Reigns through the camera. “You want people to fear you? I fear no one,” declared Owens. “Including… You.”
Owens’ goal was two-fold: to topple the “Tribal Chief” and become a two-time Universal Champion. The last time WWE’s “prizefighter” held the gold was back in 2017. Though Owens held the Universal Championship for a respectable 188 days, defeating the likes of Strowman and Seth Rollins, his victories as champion were questionable at best. Most of these came with the assistance of Owens’ then-best friend, Chris Jericho. Since turning over a new leaf, Owens has yet to hold WWE gold. Needless to say, the Universal Championship means that much more to him.
Of course, Reigns hasn’t made the journey to WWE TLC easy for his opponent. On the December 4th episode of SmackDown, Owens challenged Reigns to a Universal Championship match at TLC; Reigns accepted. Later in the night, Jey and Reigns faced Owens and Otis in a tag team match. The bout ended in pandemonium, Reigns choking out Owens with the guillotine. From there, Reigns and Jey took turns throttling Owens with chairs. Reigns then turned the chair on his cousin, dealing what the Universal Champion deemed as punishment. This episode of SmackDown ended with Reigns hauntingly telling Owens, “You and your family are going to fear me.”
The following week, an irate Owens took out his frustrations on Jey. With tables, ladders, and chairs surrounding them, Owens used everything around him to inflict pain. Despite an obvious knee injury, Owens was able to execute a pop-up powerbomb on Jey through the nearby table. The damage was done to the challenger, which Reigns saw, as he and Paul Heyman made their way down the ramp. Despite this, Owens stood defiant, chair in hand. With Heyman’s convincing, Reigns decided not to engage Owens in combat. Rather, that’s what viewers believed.
Later in the show, Owens was fuming, seeking out Reigns for what he said about his family the week prior. Before Owens could get far, he was met with, perhaps unsurprisingly, a steel chair shot to the back from Reigns. What followed was nothing short of a beatdown, as Reigns fired away with fists. Afterward, Reigns faced the camera, addressing Owens’ family at home. “I’m the guy that put the roof over your head. I’m the guy that put the food on your table,” Reigns told them. “If you don’t talk some sense into your husband… Kids, If you don’t talk some sense into Daddy, I’m going to be the guy that takes the food off the table.”
The abuse toward Owens didn’t stop there. The following week, an incensed Kevin Owens called out Roman Reigns. Adam Pearce attempted to talk Owens down, telling him to wait until TLC. Reigns, however, was calmer, simply asking Owens to apologize for his actions. When Owens refused to do so, Reigns instructed Jey to attack his TLC opponent. These attacks continued into the trainer’s room as Owens was being tended to. This attack concluded with Jey putting Owens through a table, demanding that he stay down. Given Owens’ unyielding spirit, smart money is on him making it to the Universal Championship match on Sunday, come hell or high water.
Jey @WWEUsos will NOT stop until @FightOwensFight stays down!#SmackDown #WWETLC @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/YFJXC6Hjc6
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2020
The show concluded with Reigns, Jey, and Heyman in the ring, the former addressing Owens one final time before TLC. Before Reigns could get far into his promo, a weakened Owens advanced to the ring. He wasn’t alone, though, as he unloaded with a chair on Jey. Owens rushed the ring to attack Reigns. Ultimately, the former NXT Champion was laid out with a spear by Reigns. “The Tribal Chief” followed up with several chair shots as Jey set up tables. History repeated itself, as Jey planted Owens through one table with a spinebuster.
“You had the opportunity of a lifetime, but you decided to piss me off,” exclaimed Reigns before he sent Owens through a table as well. Reigns even took to attacking Owens with the remains of the broken tables. Meanwhile, Jey brought ladders and chairs into the ring. Reigns used the weapons around him as proverbial dirt, burying Owens beneath them all. Reigns, Jey, and Heyman made their way to the back, their work done. Or, rather, that’s what they believed.
The road to @WWERomanReigns vs. @FightOwensFight at #WWETLC hits a brutal stop on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/kdbgEw6gj4
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2020
A bruised and battered Owens pulled himself up. Owens took a seat in a nearby chair, grabbing a mic. “At TLC, I’m going to take the Universal Title… Or I’m going to die trying.” With that one declaration, it became evident that the challenger was down, but he was far from out.
It would be kind to say that Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns don’t respect one another. However, one man that seems to harbor respect for Owens is Heyman. This past November, on Talking Smack, Heyman heaped immense praise on the former Universal Champion, believing in him even before his arrival to WWE. With that said, Owens will not go into TLC to earn Reigns’ respect. Instead, he will enter this Sunday’s pay-per-view with the ambition to become a two-time Universal Champion, finally silencing “The Tribal Chief” once and for all.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. WWE fan? You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network.
Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Head on over to the LWOS Boards to engage in conversation with fellow fans!
