Setting: A Week Before Battleground
Focus: Roman's mindset before the war. Charlotte's interest grows. Dean Ambrose returns—but the Shield's scars haven't healed.
[Opening Segment – Sit-Down Interview with Renee Young]
The camera fades in slowly. A dark, almost intimate studio. The only light filters down in muted amber tones, casting long shadows over the face of Roman Reigns as he sits across from Renee Young. He's in a black tactical hoodie, the sleeves pushed up just enough to expose the tribal ink twisting along his forearm. His eyes are low, unreadable, as if carrying the weight of every betrayal, every match, every wound.
Renee speaks softly, sensing the atmosphere.
"Roman… you've been silent since The Shield collapsed. You've turned down interviews, walked past the press… until now. Why speak up tonight?"
Roman doesn't blink at first. Then, with a slow inhale, he lifts his gaze, voice calm but thunderous in its conviction.
"Because talking doesn't fix anything. Talking doesn't heal betrayal. I don't believe in it."
He leans forward slightly, eyes burning through the lens.
"I believe in handling business."
Renee gently presses.
"And Seth? You've got a war coming with him at Battleground. What's going through your mind when you see his face?"
Roman looks up again, the corner of his jaw tightening as he answers.
"He's not my brother. He gave that up when he stuck a chair in my back. Now? He's just another name. Another body I'm gonna spear straight through the mat."
Renee's brows furrow as she inches in with the final question.
"So, is this about revenge?"
Roman exhales through his nose, voice cold as stone.
"No. This ain't about revenge. This is about putting him down—permanently."
The camera lingers on his expression. Controlled fury. Then fades to black.
[Training Montage – "The Big Dog Evolves"]
A pounding tribal beat plays under a gritty, fast-cut montage. Roman Reigns is shown pushing his body to the limit in a secluded training facility—bare walls, flickering overhead lights, no distractions.
He launches into spear drills on a reinforced dummy, hitting so hard the entire apparatus trembles on impact. Over and over, he hits it with more speed, more drive, until his shoulder starts to bleed through his taped hoodie.
He's on the top rope next, a rare sight—launching off with Avalanche Samoan Drops on a 300-pound sparring partner. The ring beneath them thunders as the partner crumples.
In the grappling ring, Roman locks in a guillotine choke on a massive MMA-style wrestler, dragging him to the mat in seconds before rolling to his feet and glaring at the camera.
He slams into a heavy bag, sweat flying from his body with every hook and elbow. His knuckles split open, but he doesn't stop.
Roman's voice speaks over the chaos, calm and sure.
"The Spear ends everything. But now? I'm giving them a little something before they fall."
Cut to black.
[Match of the Night – Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro]
The lights flash and the energy in the arena surges as Cesaro's theme hits. The Swiss Cyborg walks out with focused intensity. The fans are on their feet, a mix of cheers and admiration. Cesaro adjusts his wrist tape as he strides to the ring, shadowboxing with crisp, technical strikes.
Then—
"Sierra. Hotel. India. Echo. Lima. Delta… SHIELD."
The crowd erupts as Roman Reigns' theme explodes into the arena. The "BIG DOG" chants rain down like thunder. He steps through the curtain with purpose, his black vest catching the lights, eyes locked on the ring like a predator tracking prey.
Michael Cole shouts over the roar of the fans.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't just a wrestling match—this is a WAR. Cesaro, the most technically gifted athlete in WWE. Roman Reigns? The most dominant force since the Attitude Era!"
JBL bellows, "This is strength versus precision, power versus perfection!"
The bell rings.
Cesaro wastes no time—he surges forward with a blistering series of uppercuts, driving Roman into the corner with rapid-fire shots. Roman absorbs them, gritting his teeth as he shoves Cesaro back with brute force. Cesaro ducks a clothesline, rebounds, and nails a double-leg takedown straight into a deadlift gutwrench suplex!
The crowd gasps as Roman hits the mat hard.
"He's throwing Roman around like a sack of bricks!" Cole yells.
Cesaro rolls through into a crossface, trying to lock it in tight—but Roman powers out, lifting Cesaro onto his shoulders and spinning him into a pop-up Samoan Drop! The ring shakes as Cesaro bounces.
Roman gets to his feet slowly, wiping his face with his forearm. He goes for the Superman Punch—Cesaro dodges, wraps him from behind, and lifts Roman into a Neutralizer setup—but Roman flips off Cesaro's back in an explosive backflip escape!
"OH MY GOD! Did Roman just—" Cole's voice cracks.
Roman lands on his feet and, without hesitation, flies off the ropes with a Superman Punch, driving it into Cesaro's jaw! The audience erupts.
Cesaro stumbles, but he's not done. He ducks another punch, hoists Roman with almost unnatural strength, and delivers a Corkscrew Gutwrench Suplex from a standing start!
"Are you kidding me?!" Corey Graves roars.
Both men are down. The crowd rises to their feet, clapping in unison.
Cesaro crawls to the corner, slapping his own chest as he readies for one last charge. Roman slowly rises—
Cesaro sprints forward—
"OOAAHHHH!"
SPEAR!
The air is sucked out of the arena as Roman explodes through Cesaro, folding him in half.
The referee drops.
1…
2…
Michael Cole screams, "HE GOT HIM! The Spear connects—it's over!"
JBL shouts, "No one survives it. No one gets up from that!"
Roman breathes heavily, kneeling over Cesaro for a moment before slowly rising to his feet, arms lifted in victory as the crowd roars with energy.
[Ringside – Charlotte Watches]
Just beyond the barricade, Charlotte Flair sits in a black leather jacket, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. She hasn't blinked once during the entire match.
As Roman's hand is raised by the referee, she leans forward slightly and murmurs under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.
"He's not just powerful… he's smart. Calculated."
Her lips curl into a thoughtful smirk.
[Backstage – The Return of Dean Ambrose]
Backstage, Roman walks with slow, deliberate steps down the corridor. The adrenaline is still buzzing through him—but then he stops.
From the shadows, Dean Ambrose steps forward. His hood is half-draped, wild eyes narrowed, mouth twitching with something between a grin and a grimace. There's silence between them for a beat.
Roman's tone is flat, guarded.
"You good?"
Dean tilts his head, sizing him up.
"I don't trust you."
Roman nods, almost expectedly.
"You don't have to. Just don't get in my way."
There's another pause.
Then Dean smirks faintly.
"Don't worry. I'll be there… when you finish him."
They turn and walk in opposite directions. No music. No fanfare. Just heavy tension still pulsing in the air.
[Ending Segment – Seth's Final Warning]
The lights dim across the arena as Seth Rollins walks out with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon flanking him. He's in a tailored suit, WWE Championship slung over his shoulder, mic in hand.
He smirks as the crowd rains down boos.
"I built this era," Seth begins. "I bled for it. I sacrificed my family, my brothers, for the greater good. And now? Roman thinks he's the one who deserves to stand at the top? Nah…"
He paces the stage.
"Roman's just a hammer—too dumb to build anything, too dangerous to leave lying around. At Battleground, I end him before he becomes something none of us can control."
Cut backstage.
Roman stands watching the monitor. His eyes are dark, jaw clenched. The last word he mutters is nearly a growl.
"Too late."
[Post-Credit Scene – Charlotte's Decision]
In the women's locker room, Charlotte Flair stands alone, staring at her reflection. She slowly removes her earrings, focused.
Sasha Banks walks by, giving her a sideways glance.
"You've been watching Roman a lot lately. What's the deal?"
Charlotte doesn't break eye contact with the mirror. Her lips barely move as she answers with a smirk.
"Because power… recognizes power."
She turns and walks away, leaving only silence behind.
To Be Continued…