A True Underdog Story: Why Xavier Woods Should Dethrone Roman Reigns
I like to keep things as positive as possible.
I like WWE.
I like AEW.
- Mr. Money in the Bank… Finn Balor! - November 28, 2023
- A Quick Fix: 3 Changes to Make with AEW Programming - November 4, 2023
- And The DEVIL is….. - November 2, 2023
The seemingly never-ending reign of Roman Reigns continues to move along, day by day. We could look long and far for potential suitors to dethrone the Universal champion, but who honestly could step up to that challenge and deliver? Brock Lesnar? No thank you. As much as I love Brock, his time of holding WWE gold should be over as he focuses on putting over talent in the last bit of good days he has left in the ring. Drew McIntyre? Sure, I don’t think we would be mad at this but does he really need the Roman rub? With the level Roman is on, the person that finally takes the Universal title off of him will be a big deal. It is a star-making moment and Drew already had that when he beat Brock Lesnar last year.
Whether it be Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, or even John Cena, nobody has been able to overcome the odds stacked against them by The Bloodline. Big E was the guy many fans thought would step up to the plate and when he won the Money in the Bank briefcase it looked as if it would soon become a reality. Instead, Big E took his opportunity to Raw and won the WWE Title which would eventually lead to one of the most anticipated matches at Survivor Series, Big E versus Roman Reigns. Being the only match that has had any kind of build, an interesting story has arisen surrounding Roman Reigns. I’m almost certain that Big E will fall like the rest have, and I would bet money that it will involve shenanigans as well. But what happens after?
Xavier Woods has had a very, very good year in WWE. He has broken through the stigma of being a mouthpiece for The New Day and has established himself as a great in-ring talent that can have a good match with any style of competitor. A sleeper candidate for match of the year, Woods and Riddle put on a clinic on an episode of Monday Night Raw that really opened my eyes to how good Woods is. Since then, he went on to win King of the Ring after beating Finn Balor in the finals of the tournament. He has been built up as a very credible challenger in a very silent way during 2021, and I think it’s about time we put some respect on his name and evaluate what his talents can bring to the main event scene.
Woods has cemented himself, along with Kofi Kingston and Big E, as staples in the WWE universe. You would be hard-pressed to find a show that doesn’t include them, and a lot of that success is owed to Xavier. It’s clear that he is a very entertaining character on the microphone. And now it is very obvious that he has a unique in-ring style that separates him from others. So now, I’m going to explain why I think Xavier Woods needs to be the guy to dethrone Roman Reigns and become our next Universal Champion.
Xavier Woods Has Marketability On His Side
Why has Xavier Woods been able to get over? It’s not WWE. Who markets themselves better than Xavier Woods? Very few people. They did very little to push The New Day in the beginning but they were able to get over, and that was when Xavier was the sole spokesman for the group. Since then, he has become one of the most widely loved superstars in all of wrestling due to his likable personality, great smile, and just his overall presence wherever he finds himself. He was a big reason the Tag Team division has had a life during The New Day’s runs, which has been a tough task for everyone since the days of the Attitude Era. Last but not least, his work outside of the ring is top-notch. His Up Up Down Down platform is a success and allows fans to see a different side to his personality. It has allowed him to transition to co-host of the revamped G4 which is a very big deal. Imagine having your Universal Champion wearing the title on a gaming network for non-wrestling fans to see. It would definitely be an enticing way to bring new eyes to the product.
Woods is well-spoken and is impossible not to like. He’s the kind of guy you can definitely see on talk shows with his bright smile, charming over the viewers, and bringing new eyes to the product. Simply put, he is very marketable.
Every Loves A Good Underdog Story
Who doesn’t love a great underdog story? We saw it with his New Day brother Kofi and it was one of the all-time great WrestleMania moments. With Xavier never having a chance at singles gold, he would be the ultimate underdog babyface for fans to get behind(as if they already aren’t). And before you say that story would be too similar to Kofi’s, I’ll just ask you to pump your brakes.
Xavier has a story going with Roman right now. We all know how hard Woods fought to become King of the Ring and how much it means to him. In a matter of 2 weeks, Roman was able to take all that away from him and it’s only to get at Big E. You could argue that this is the most heel heat Roman has had during his run, and Woods is selling it so brilliantly. So once Big E is out of the picture, what is next for Roman? I’m sure it’ll be someone like Jeff Hardy but Xavier Woods will still be sitting there, plotting his revenge on the man that took everything from him.
The Royal Rumble is right around the corner. All Xavier has to do is give an awe-inspiring performance to really get those fans behind him and when he wins, the title shot is his. But you don’t have to sell that match on the fact that Woods just won the Rumble. Roman took everything from him and Xavier has gone and will continue to go through hell and high water to return the favor. We all know Woods would deliver the promos for this. We’ve seen recently that he can sell heartbreak with his facials. This would bring out a whole new side of Xavier and based on his past, there is no reason to believe he wouldn’t deliver. And when he has climbed the mountain and is hoisted in the ring by Big E and Kofi after his crowning moment, he will have achieved that goal by taking a very different route than both his New Day brothers. The perfect underdog story.
It’s Just His Time!
When KofiMania happened, Big E and Woods took the backseat and allowed Kingston to ride that wave of momentum and have his moment. When Big E finally had his moment, Xavier and Kofi were doing their own thing and allowed E to embrace his time by himself. Those two moments alone are enough to make you consider The New Day to be the most successful group in WWE history. The man that made it all possible has never once shown jealousy or animosity towards his brothers and that is a very rare thing these days. When the rumors of a split would pop up, they would shut them down. And to much people’s surprise, it has been the right call. It is almost unheard of these days for a group to stay together as long as they have, but here we are. They have achieved everything they possibly could as a group, so what is left?
Xavier Woods has earned this moment. A selfless competitor, he has watched Kofi and E reach the highest level in wrestling by becoming WWE Champion. Winning the Universal title would cement himself alongside the other members of New Day as the greatest success story in modern-day WWE history. Sure the Shield did it but their success came after the group had split. It’s much easier to reach the top of the ladder when you’re a singles competitor. Not so much as a group, especially when 2 other members of that group have already done what you are trying to accomplish.
Woods has never failed. You want him to get over? He did it. You want him to put on fantastic matches with anybody? He has done it, time and time again. You want to hold him back because he doesn’t fit what you think works? He’ll break through those walls and shine anyway. And he has done this all without ever changing who he really is as a person, and that is absolutely incredible. Xavier Woods’ time is now.
I know this is all very unlikely. Woods’ name doesn’t carry the same weight as The Rock, Brock Lesnar, or even Drew McIntyre(all names that have been rumored to be Roman’s opponent at Mania) but that doesn’t mean this can’t happen and be successful. If Roman can keep doing what he has been doing, any opponent he has is going to not only look credible during the match but the match itself will be very entertaining. The story is there if they just find a way to stretch it out over the next few months while keeping it entertaining, which is not impossible. I don’t think anybody expected KofiMania to be as successful as it was either, but look what happened. Xavier Woods beating Roman Reigns makes him an instant main event star, and with all the work Woods has done to get himself at the point he is at now, it would catapult him into Superstar status.
Would love to hear what you think. Whether you agree or disagree, I’m all ears. even if you want to tell me how insanely stupid I am for thinking this, I want to hear what you have to say.
About Author
