The squared circle felt different, quieter. Not because of the crowd – they were as vocal as ever. It was the absence of a familiar, dominant force, Roman Reigns. Almost two months had passed since the WWE Universe saw the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion in action. That last sighting? August 11. The setting? WWE SmackDown. The scene? Reigns, fallen, thanks to Jey Uso’s betrayal after their clash at WWE SummerSlam. Jey’s move? Surprising. He “quits” The Bloodline, making a beeline to Monday Night Raw soon after.
The ripples of Roman’s absence weren’t small. With him away, The Bloodline’s story saw twists. With Jey out, Jimmy Uso returned to the fold, partnering with Solo Sikoa. Together, they made sure SmackDown didn’t forget The Bloodline. But the looming question remained: Where’s Roman? When’s the Tribal Chief coming back?
Tulsa, Oklahoma would provide the answers. BOK Center, to be precise. It’s official: Roman Reigns is gracing the October 13 Friday Night SmackDown episode. That marks over two months since he last stepped into the spotlight. And for fans, that feels like a lifetime.

Remember the last time Roman Reigns and John Cena shared screen time? Exactly, it’s been quite some time. Cena, on the other hand, has his hands full with The Bloodline, notably feuding with the faction. Now, with Reigns’ return, a Cena-Reigns reunion seems inevitable. The WWE Universe can only guess how that’ll play out.
Gazing a little further into the future, there’s another eventful match-up coming for Roman. The buzz in the wrestling corridors hints at AJ Styles serving as Roman’s next challenge at the WWE Crown Jewel in November. If true, this would mark the third time these two would clash throughout their careers. The last time this happened was in 2016 back when Roman was in pursuit of his first significant world title, the WWE Championship. Fast forward to now, and they’re possibly up for another epic duel.
Meanwhile, there’s no shortage of drama within The Bloodline. With Jey Uso’s move to Monday Night Raw, Jimmy Uso’s return to the faction has brought a different dynamic. WWE has confirmed that a Handicap Match is lined up against John Cena at Fastlane on October 7.

Beyond the matches, it’s Roman’s evolving journey that’s intriguing. His latest contract, inked last year, brought about significant changes. Less time in the ring, with only nine matches to his name this year. TV appearances? An astounding zero. Yet, the mention of his return? Enough to send the WWE Universe into a frenzy.
Moreover, the broader WWE narrative has other plots that might impact Reigns. Speculations about WWE Survivor Series in November suggest a potentially huge event – a WarGames match. If that doesn’t feature Roman in the main event, there’s a possibility he might not be part of it at all. For many, that would be unthinkable.
As for future matchups? Fans can’t help but daydream. The magnetism of Reigns’ potential challenges is undeniable. WrestleMania 40, for instance, has the community whispering about a Roman vs. The Rock showdown. Family ties clashing in the ring? That’s a ticket every WWE fan would buy.

In the end, the imminent return of Roman Reigns on October 13th promises to shake up the WWE landscape. Whether it’s his looming clash with AJ Styles or a possible face-off with John Cena, The Tribal Chief’s journey is far from over.