As SmackDownfinishes up WWE TLC, Rawcounters with its next PPV, WWE Roadblock: End of the Line 2016. Yes, this second iteration of the PPV gets its own snappy subtitle. Why? Because there was already a WWE Roadblock 2016back in March!
That one was all about being a placeholder show for minor WrestleManiabuild. Roman Reigns was off TV for a while and Roadblockgave them an excuse to focus on Triple H vs. Dean Ambrose in the meantime. Ultimately, the show was completely meaningless outside of a strong main event. Even the blow-off to the Brock Lesnar vs. Wyatt Family rivalry born out of the Royal Rumble was questionable at absolute best.
This time, Roadblock: End of the Line appears to be some semblance of closure before we move into Royal Rumble, which is the first chapter of WrestleManiaseason.
WHEN IS WWE ROADBLOCK: END OF THE LINE 2016?
The show will take place on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CONFIRMED MATCHES
KEVIN OWENS (C) VS. ROMAN REIGNS
WWE Universal Championship
Recently, Roman Reigns won the United States Championship from Rusev and promptly retained it in the rematch. Since then, Reigns has barely acknowledged that he’s even US Champ and doesn’t even defend it. And people call him the next John Cena.
Kevin Owens has been able to thwart Seth Rollins’ constant attempts to win his Universal Championship due to constant help from Owens’ BFF Chris Jericho. Reigns confronted Owens about a title shot and in the middle of it, Owens snapped at Jericho. Jericho took offense and left. Without Jericho around, Owens faced Reigns in a non-title match. Reigns ended up winning, making their Roadblock match official.
Then again, the PPG Paints Arena announced this main event well in advance, so all of this was obvious.
LIKELY AND UNCONFIRMED MATCHES
As an aside to the Reigns/Owens bout, Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho seems likely. Part of the reason Jericho didn’t help Owens during that non-title match was because Seth Rollins attacked him in the parking lot and Pedigreed him onto the top of a car. This was payback for months upon months of Jericho interfering in Owens’ matches.
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte will happen because they can’t go a week without having a match. Mainly because of their never-ending tendency to have Sasha win the title on Rawfollowed by Charlotte winning it back at the next PPV. Rinse, repeat.
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman is very likely. Sami’s been a thorn in Braun’s side for a while and Braun has conquered him every time. Sami was put in a match with him post-Survivor Series for failing to win the Intercontinental Championship, but Braun blindsided him and beat him to paste until Mick Foley stopped the match out of pity. Foley and Sami have argued about Sami’s constant interest in fighting Braun due to Foley believing that Sami can never hope to win and Sami thinking Foley is a hypocrite.
New Day vs. Sheamus and Cesaro will finally put this tag title run to rest. New Day have been champions forever and the main reason they haven’t dropped it yet, even for a bit, is because WWE really wants them to break Demolition’s record, especially since Demolition’s currently suing them. Luckily, by Roadblock, they’ll have broken that record. Which is good, since Sheamus and Cesaro – two rivals shoved together to be a tag team – have finally gotten on the same page. That means we can move on with it.
Check back for more news on WWE Roadblock: End of the Line 2016!
Gavin Jasper wonders if it’s worth rooting for Roman Reigns just to keep him out of the Royal Rumble. Follow Gavin on Twitter!