Veteran NFL writer and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly lists his “Top Dogs” currently in the WWE in response to the return of Roman Reigns – the original “Big Dog” after nearly a three-month hiatus.
THE SETUP
With the return of Reigns at Raw last Monday and with his sights surely set on SummerSlam and getting even with Paul Heyman and his new crew, it got me thinking about the ever-growing group of the hardest-working Superstars that can lay claim to being “The Top Dog” of WWE. Now, “top dog” can be defined in a multitude of different ways, spanning from being a main-eventer to their mic work to their in-ring work to the titles they hold to a combination of all of these. I like to define it as a little bit of it all with a heavy emphasis on who the company can’t afford to be without.
Honorable mention
• Gunther: Nobody has been more dominant than Gunther since joining the main roster, and that instantly puts him as one of the top competitors in the business.
• Jey Uso: Not many have come out of singles obscurity like Uso to be a main player like Uce has been over the past year. Sure, he might get beat up and lose some matches, but he’s always in the mix as a low-key big dog.
• Drew McIntyre: The Scottish Psychopath may not be in the upper echelon of big dogs in the company at this very moment, but he’s not that far away. At any point, he can step up and take any title.
• Randy Orton: If you want to make a name for yourself, go after Orton. That just might be the definition of being a top dog in the company.
• Jacob Fatu: The Samoan Werewolf might not be in that category yet, but it won’t be long.
5. CM Punk: You can never count out Punk, and if you do, you are making a big mistake. He’s been somewhat on the back burner in terms of the championship chase recently, but that only makes him more dangerous. Punk is still The Best in the World and will get a chance to remind people of that at SummerSlam against Gunther – another dawg. Punk still gets big pops and still puts on solid matches. He just needs a title opportunity and to make the most of it. Punk hasn’t held a WWE title in now 14 years, but The Second City Saint is always in the mix with the big dogs of WWE.
4. John Cena: Cena’s promise to ruin wrestling on his way out the door with WWE sure looks like it could become a reality. Winning his 17th World Championship and main-eventing at WrestleMania 41, WWE Backlash and WWE Night of Champions to go along with a resume like no other makes Cena a de facto big dog. Like it or not, everybody wants what Cena has, and that goes beyond the Undisputed WWE Championship.
3. Seth Rollins: I know what you are thinking: Rollins is going to be out of action for some time after suffering a knee injury during Saturday Night’s Main Event, so how in the world is he one of the top dogs heading into SummerSlam? Well, because he’s Seth “Freakin” Rollins. That’s why. There is a reason why he was on an upward track toward the World Heavyweight Championship, and make no mistake about it, he was and still is, especially with the Money in the Bank contract in hand, Paul Heyman as his Oracle, and up-and-comers Breakker and Bronson Reed watching his back. Unfortunately, Rollins endured an injury, but he will continue to be allowed to hold the contract for another 11 months, which makes him dangerous. It just might not be anytime soon.
2. Cody Rhodes: Don’t take my word for it, but The American Nightmare might not be The Top Dog (he’s close), but he’s the guy that everybody is gunning for. Rhodes hasn’t been a champion since losing to John Cena at WrestleMania 41, yet the roster seems to be still gunning for Cody. Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Cena, CM Punk, Kevin Owens (before he was injured), and maybe even Dominik Mysterio, who has dropped a nugget or two recently about his mindset, make your mind wander. Surely there are others that I’ve forgotten who weren’t shy of telling Cody that they are coming after him. So, to me, Rhodes is the face of WWE, and many want a piece of him automatically puts him near the front of the big dog list… near the top but not at the top.
1. Roman Reigns: The original Big Dog has worked a limited schedule that has included one singles match since he lost the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship over 15 months ago at WrestleMania 40. Yet, that has done nothing to minimize him as the face of WWE, and his ability to raise the profile of any PLE he’s a part of. To me, that’s the true definition of being a big dog. The pop from the crowd when his music hit during Raw last week illustrated that he is still a pretty big deal, regardless of how long we haven’t seen him. When Reigns is around, something significant is about to happen, and if that doesn’t scream big dog to you, then I don’t know what would. You add all that with the title history of him holding onto the championship for 1,316 days; that puts him in the conversation with Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, and Hulk Hogan, so how can’t he be on the top of the list in the conversation of who’s the best?
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