The WWE Universe was rocked when it was announced that Roman Reigns was suspended for 30 days for violating the WWE Wellness Policy. This decision was made less than 24 hours after the main event for the next WWE Pay-Per-View Battleground was announced. The main event was supposed to be a triple threat match between the three former Shield members in Reigns, Seth Rollins, and the newly crowned WWE Champion Dean Ambrose. While the short term plans for the WWE would need to be adjusted while Reigns serves his suspension, the WWE could benefit from this misfortune. 

Positives from the suspension 

The first positive from this incident is that the much-anticipated clash between the former trio that comprised one of the most highly praised factions in Pro Wrestling history can take place at a more historic Pay-Per-View. There is a quartet of Pay-Per-Views that allowed the WWE to come about from the late 1980s to the position they are in now and they are WrestleMania, Summer Slam, Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble. It would make sense to have this epic clash that many people have been clamoring for to occur at a more prestigious event instead of a monthly Pay-Per-View that could change names next year.

The second positive is that this real life incident could be brought into a storyline. Since the late 1990’s some of the most compelling storylines were those that have been inspired by real life events. Examples  are how WCW utilized the NWO during the Monday Night Wars and the Matt Hardy v Edge feud. Fans bought into both of these storylines because they were authentic and in the Hardy - Edge example were very real. Just imagine Seth Rollins providing a scathing promo that explains how even though Reigns was caught using an illegal performance-enhancing substance Reigns could still not beat him.

The tension between the three men could be increased while Reigns is absent is a third positive. Some fans have been patiently waiting to see all three of these men compete in the squared circle and now will have to wait longer. Yet the wait could also have an adverse effect on fans and the demand from the audience could cause an alteration to a different scenario for Reigns, Rollins, and Ambrose.

An individual feud between Ambrose and Rollins could be the fourth positive effect. While this feud did occur previously there will be a new wrinkle added to help liven up the angle. In the previous incarnation of this feud, Rollins would be associated with the authority or WWE World Champion. This time, the authority is no more, Ambrose is the champion and Rollins has sympathy from the fan base because Rollins is returning from an injury. Also, whoever comes out of the updated Ambrose and Rollins program will have a potential opponent in Roman Reigns.

| Photo: JP Yim/Getty Images North America
Roman Reigns suspended for 30 days. | Photo: JP Yim/Getty Images North America

Character change

The fifth and final positive effect could be a potential turn for either Ambrose, Rollins or Reigns. Since Rollins left both Ambrose and Reigns lying on their backs after chair smashes when Rollins aligned himself with HHH, Rollins has been perceived as a villain and Ambrose and Reigns as heroes. To alter either one of their perceptions would benefit in two distinct ways. First, a turn would prevent either character from becoming stale. Second, the victim of the betrayal could gain valuable sympathy from the audience as the clash commences . 

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