WWE TLC: Roman Reigns' near misses when trying to win world title
How Seth Rollins, Sheamus and Bray Wyatt have denied Reigns...
Tuesday 8 December 2015 08:59, UK
Roman Reigns has become WWE's ultimate nearly man.
The Juggernaut has consistently fallen just sort of landing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, while when he did win it, at Survivor Series, the belt was swiftly ripped away via Sheamus' Money in the Bank cash-in.
As Reigns prepares for his latest title tussle against Sheamus at the TLC pay-per-view, let's look back at when the Florida-born Superstar was scuppered in his pursuit of gold…
Money in the Bank 2014
Reigns' early impact in WWE came as part of the Shield but when the black-clad faction disbanded - you can thank the backstabbing Seth Rollins for that - he entered the singles ranks, with his first shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship coming in a multi-man Ladder Match after an injured Daniel Bryan was forced to vacate the garland. The Big Dog battled John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Kane, Randy Orton, Cesaro, Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus and looked to have beaten them all when he speared Cena to stand alone in the ring. However, Orton then yanked him off a ladder and it was eventually Cena who dealt with Orton and Kane to pinch the title.
WrestleMania 31
The Floridian's first one-on-one tussle for the belt came at the biggest event of 2015 as he won the Royal Rumble - one year after finishing runner-up to James Bond's latest nemesis Batista - and then maintained his No 1 contender's spot with a triumph over Bryan at Fastlane. The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar, stood between Reigns and WWE's richest prize and the challenger's hopes appeared bleak when he was taken to Suplex City. Yet, a flotilla of Superman punches and spears gave Reigns a sniff - until Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, made the match a Triple Threat and pinned Reigns following a Curb Stomp. The sneaky so-and-so.
Payback 2015
An impressive victory over Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match at Extreme Rules fired Reigns back into the title picture - but unfortunately for him he wasn't alone. Orton was handed another clash with Rollins after Kane had interfered in his previous Steel Cage bout with The Architect, while Dean Ambrose made Payback's scuffle a Fatal Four-Way by beating Rollins in a non-title scrap on Raw. There was a temporary Shield reunion when Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose thundered Orton onto the announce desk, though it was soon every man for himself. With Reigns and Ambrose having been dispatched, Rollins cracked Orton with a Pedigree to retain his strap.
Money in the Bank 2015
Reigns' bout in Ohio was almost a world title match-lite, seeing as the winner would pluck the Money in the Bank contract and earn a guaranteed championship opportunity at any time of their choosing. Reigns ascended a ladder to move inches shy of the briefcase, before the lights dimmed, the familiar Wyatt Family crackle was heard and Bray Wyatt emerged. The Eater of Worlds produced a maniacal grin prior to shoving Reigns off the ladder and starting a lengthy feud between the two that culminated at Hell in a Cell in October. Sheamus, meanwhile, would go on to pip Neville, among others, to the contract and we know how that turned for Reigns…
Survivor Series 2015
This reverse was probably the toughest one for Reigns to take. Having won a Fatal Four-Way to become Rollins' next challenger only to be forced back to square one when The Aerialist was ruled out for a substantial period with a knee injury, The Big Dog conquered Big Show, Cesaro, Del Rio and great friend Ambrose - the last two on the same night - to claim the world title for the first time. Yet, the new champion's decision to spear WWE COO Triple H instead of shaking his head proved costly, as Sheamus pounced with a pair of Brogue Kicks to end Reigns' reign at five minutes and 15 seconds. The best five minutes and 15 seconds of Reigns' career, mind you.
Monday Night Raw, November 30, 2015
Feeling kind, The Authority not only granted Reigns a TLC rematch against Sheamus but also gave him a championship bout on Raw - with the caveat that he had to defeat the Irishman in under five minutes and 15 seconds. See what they did there? You'd think a man with Sheamus' prowess would be able to see out that time frame with ease. Wrong! The champion was on the cusp of being speared before his new League of Nations (Briton Bad News Barrett, Mexican Alberto Del Rio and Bulgarian Rusev) interfered to keep the title around the Dubliner's waist - until TLC at least.
Watch WWE TLC live on Sky Sports Box Office at 1am on Sunday, December 13 (Monday morning).
TLC BOOKING DETAILS
WWE TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs) will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) at 1am on Sunday, December 13 (Monday morning).
WWE TLC will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) but NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 9am, Monday, December 14 and 9pm, Thursday, December 17.
Repeat showings will last for three hours, with the final showing STARTING at 9pm on Thursday, December 17.
The event is priced at £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.
Viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE TLC. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You can also book WWE TLC online by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus.
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply.
Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
