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Roman Reigns Return Announced For WWE SmackDown

By John Canton • Published 9th December 2023
Roman Reigns Paul Heyman

Roman Reigns is returning to WWE SmackDown where he might be confronted by some rivals.

The last time that WWE fans saw the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns was at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia on November 4th.

At WWE Crown Jewel, Roman Reigns defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, who earned the title shot due to all the momentum he had built up in the months leading up to the match. Reigns found a way to win thanks to interference from The Bloodline, which is a match finish that has become all too common over the last three plus years.

On WWE SmackDown in Providence, the company announced that the “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns will make his return to the company on the December 15th edition of SmackDown.

What’s interesting about Reigns returning to SmackDown on December 15th is that WWE is also taping the December 22nd episode of SmackDown that night as well. That’s because WWE is giving its talent roster the week off right before Christmas, so that’s why two episodes will be taped in one night in Green Bay.

Who Will Be Roman Reigns’ Next Challenger?

By the time Roman Reigns returns on December 15th, his Universal Title reign will pass 1200 days, which is an incredible number. Critics of Reigns would cite the fact that he only wrestled 11 matches this year, but he’s still the man holding the biggest prize in WWE.

In the main event of SmackDown on December 8th, Randy Orton & LA Knight defeated Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa with Orton pinning Jimmy after an RKO. Since Orton’s return at WWE Survivor Series, he has made it clear he is coming after The Bloodline and specifically Roman Reigns.

It is expected that Reigns will likely have to face Orton at some point soon, perhaps at the Royal Rumble on January 27th.