WWE has an excellent idea with the AAA Roman Reigns Tournament. I just hope the tournament creates some memorable matches, solid storylines and a star who gets elevated by winning or performing well. It all begins on tonight’s episode of Raw in Norfolk, Virginia at Scope Arena. Let’s talk wrestling.
Roman Reigns Tournament Key Facts
- Format: Eight-man single-elimination
- Announced by: AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio
- Prize: World Heavyweight Championship match against Roman Reigns
- Title match: Monday, September 14, Raw at Arena CDMX, Mexico City
- Opens: Tonight, Raw, Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
- Programming: Matches split across Raw and AAA
- Significance: Reigns’ first match on WWE television in nearly two years
Here’s the full bracket. It’s an 8-man tournament which is good. It won’t drag on for long as long-form stories don’t land well with today’s wrestling fan — unless they don’t realize they’re in one.
Roman Reigns No. 1 Contender’s Tournament Bracket
Per WWE.
First round
- Penta vs. Laredo Kid — August 10, Raw
- Psycho Clown vs. La Parka — August 15, AAA
- Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. — August 17, Raw
- Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal — August 17, Raw
Second round, August 24, Raw
- Penta or Laredo Kid vs. Psycho Clown or La Parka
- Dragon Lee or El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Rey Fenix or El Fiscal
Final
Title match
- September 14, Raw, Mexico City — Winner vs. Roman Reigns
That’s the thing about writing in today’s landscape for professional wrestling. You have to smuggle long-form stories in with shorter programs that are strategically linked for major payoffs every 6, 12 or 18 months. All that while also pivoting because of fan reaction, injuries and other happenstance.
The bracket is built so that Penta and Rey Fenix sit on opposite sides, meaning they can only meet in the final. The brothers have wrestled each other extensively before WWE but have never had a singles match in the company.
What’s my hope? I’d love to see the brothers wind up in the final: Penta Vs. Rey Fenix, and I’d like to see the latter go over. He’s never really had a chance to be in the spotlight while Penta just wrapped up a strong run as the IC champion. If not Fenix, Dragon Lee seems ready to do bigger things on the main roster.