The Big Dog might defend the title on this week's Raw
What’s the story?
Roman Reigns won the Intercontinental Championship last week and has already received challenges from Finn Bálor and Jason Jordan.
In case you didn’t know...
Reigns defeated The Miz in the main event of Monday Night Raw to win the Intercontinental Championship and become the second member of The Shield to become a Grand Slam Champion.
After winning the title, Reigns was interviewed backstage and said that he was bringing the Open Challenge concept from John Cena’s 2015 United States Championship reign to the Intercontinental Championship going forward.
The heart of the matter
Bálor hinted at accepting Reigns’ promise of an Intercontinental Championship match by saying he would “step up” and “step OVER,” the Big Dog.
Wherever I am, consider it My Yard.
So if you want my title...
...all you have to do is step up. #Raw pic.twitter.com/jjJaklC5fF
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) November 21, 2017
.@WWERomanReigns ????
I won’t just ‘step up’
I’ll step OVER https://t.co/0BFAKPruk9
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) November 27, 2017
The capitalised “OVER” was Bálor continuing to troll the internet regarding the rumour that Vince McMahon no longer wanted him to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble because he didn’t believe he was over enough to do so.
The second WWE Superstar to accept Reigns’ challenge was Jason Jordan who tweeted a video where he discussed losing his opportunity to compete at Survivor Series and wanting to make the best of this possible opportunity.
One door closes and another door opens. @WWERomanReigns I WON’T miss this opportunity. Consider your challenge accepted... pic.twitter.com/7Zz0SX9FIX
— Jason Jordan (@JasonJordanJJ) November 27, 2017
Cruiserweight wrestler Cedric Alexander also talked about the open challenge on Twitter and asked whether Cruiserweight wrestlers were eligible to compete.
All I heard was "open challenge".
Does that include Cruiserweights?
Just a thought........???? @WWE @WWERomanReigns https://t.co/jKwZKb161V
— Cedric Alexander (@CedricAlexander) November 25, 2017
What’s next?
The WWE Raw preview is heavily hinting at Reigns receiving formal challenges on Raw and these tweets could be foreshadowing potential challengers for the Intercontinental Champion to face.
Reigns has faced both Bálor and Jordan in singles competition before, but Alexander stepping up to challenge him would be a first-time match-up.
Author’s Take
The buzz around Reigns’ Intercontinental Championship reign has already dwarfed his United States Championship reign from earlier this year and could provide some good matches in the coming weeks.