If Roman did WM36, does the Tribal Chief run happen?

[Famous Rocking Chimes]

Been watching all the WrestleManias in the build up to 40 this year and I’m now on the infamous Covid WrestleMania (I can’t believe that was four years ago, time flies by).

Anyway, a bit of a sliding doors moment occurred to me. If Roman doesn’t pull out of the Goldberg match, does the Tribal Chief run still happen?

Roman was gone until SummerSlam so the timeline could have still worked, but does Vince still insist on ploughing forward with Big Dog Roman as the face of SmackDown?

Bear in mind, Heyman was still with Brock at this point who dropped the WWE title to Drew on Night Two.

[OGBoardPoster2005]

I think it happens and he turns Heel during the run instead ala CM Punk in 2012/13.

You can easily implement Heyman a different way, say Paul helps him against another Face as extra insurance to protect his power.

[ChitownKnight]

Either Roman would have still pushed for it or it would have happened when Vince left the first time

[Renslayer]

Feels like the Tribal Chief still happens. I saw an interview where Heyman said the lingering effects of "suffering succotash" and having dog food poured on him pushed him past his breaking point. I'm betting if they didn't agree to what he wanted, he would've never returned

[chronocross]

I wonder about things like that, and also what if Roman didn't get Covid the day of the Day 1 PPV on Jan 1 2022? Would he have lost the title sooner to Brock that night?

I think the heel turn would still happen, maybe with some variations probably after Mania that year.

[ChitownKnight]

Mar 28, 2024 9:46:57 GMT -5 chronocross said:

I wonder about things like that, and also what if Roman didn't get Covid the day of the Day 1 PPV on Jan 1 2022? Would he have lost the title sooner to Brock that night?

I think the heel turn would still happen, maybe with some variations probably after Mania that year.

lol I have a feeling the Covid thing was a sham to just get Roman out of the match so he didn’t have to lose the title. I think Paul was the one that suggested the mania 38 match be a title unification

[clc]

It still happens. Roman was chosen. No one else was allowed to fail over and over as "the guy" as much as he was. WWE was dead set on Roman being the top star, no matter what. In order for the Tribal Chief to never happen, Roman would have had to be accepted by the fans as a face champion. I don't think that would have ever happened. The heel turn was the refresh he needed.

[4real]

Mar 28, 2024 9:30:42 GMT -5 Renslayer said:

Feels like the Tribal Chief still happens. I saw an interview where Heyman said the lingering effects of "suffering succotash" and having dog food poured on him pushed him past his breaking point. I'm betting if they didn't agree to what he wanted, he would've never returned

He definitely pushed for it. There’s no way he could have been happy with his face character. I could see it being the deal breaker for sure. Ball was in Roman’s court and he knew it.

[Jindrak Mark]

If Covid didn't happen it's hard to imagine the heel run being as successful. If there were fans in attendance that summer I think there's a chance they're glad he turned heel and cheer it which would've ruined the dynamic of that Jey feud. And all that gaslighting trash talk during matches which really got his character over was really helped by there being no crowd and being able to hear it all.

In that timeline though I think he beats Goldberg at Mania then feuds with The Fiend around Summerslam time and maybe even tie his heel turn into something Fiend related since around that time they seemed to be doing a thing with people in his orbit being corrupted/turning heel like Seth/Finn/Alexa/Miz. I don't think that would have worked as well as what actually happened.

[Ozman]

Mar 28, 2024 9:46:57 GMT -5 chronocross said:

I wonder about things like that, and also what if Roman didn't get Covid the day of the Day 1 PPV on Jan 1 2022? Would he have lost the title sooner to Brock that night?

I think the heel turn would still happen, maybe with some variations probably after Mania that year.

The effects of Roman getting Covid on January 1 2022 are still being felt today. Rumor has it that Brock was supposed to beat Roman for the Universal Championship that day, with Seth winning the WWE title that same day. Which means that Roman probably would have won the 2022 Rumble, challenging Brock at WrestleMania 38, and Heyman turning on Brock there to help Roman regain the Universal title. And with Seth winning the WWE title, there would be no “Winner Take All” match for both titles, no new World Heavyweight Championship created in 2023, and Cody probably wouldn’t have had his return match against WWE Champion Seth. Cody might have made his return against Kevin Owens, meaning Stone Cold wouldn’t face KO. Cody could have then finished his story against Seth instead of Roman at WrestleMania 39 for the WWE Championship. The Rock and Roman could have had their dream match at WrestleMania 40, without Cody of Seth being involved.

[The Rick Jericho]

I remember starting a thread a few months ago with a similar theory.

I think no, he needed the Thunderdome to refine his act and make adjustments. And to grow as a heel. And without a crowd who could potentially hijack the organic heel progress Roman was making.

Aug 2020 - Feb 2021 were crucial months of the heel character development of Roman before crowds could return Mar 2021. And it worked. So when the crowds returned, what you got was a super confident Roman who wasn't nervous at all portraying a new character in front of the fans.

[Cvslfc123]

It still is amazing how one heel turn has turned someone from one of the biggest flops in wrestling history into one of the all time greats.