Over the last few months we’ve seen Erick Rowan’s dark side that had been nurtured by Bray Wyatt previously take over as he repeatedly attacked Roman Reigns and forced a split with Daniel Bryan. Since, he’s been rebranded as a psychotic-type of heel and has a new friend he carries around in a cage. While the biggest questions have been about what’s in the cage, mine is, what’s the key to Erick Rowan?
I’m not the only one, as my colleague at the Overtimer, Matthew Blanchard, discussed this topic.
Like Mathew mentioned, it seems Erick Rowan is lost in a sea of confusion created by WWE creative’s lack of mid-card storylines. But maybe there’s something more to it.
Rowan was in the Wyatt Family
The WWE is all about bringing back what was tested and true before, and the Wyatt family could be next on their list of things to reinvent. Sure, it had some rough spots, but with the huge success of Bray Wyatt’s character, the Fiend, and fans’ seemingly unwavering love for it, it stands to reason they’d try to cash in on it.
This is purely speculation on my part, but Vince McMahon isn’t one to sit around and let a chance to make money and grow his success (2019 is a bad example of this, but maybe it woke him up?), so this is something he’d probably be willing to investigate.
With that being said, it’s been reported by Brad Shepard and ringsidenews.com that Rowan is receiving a “big man’s push to see what he can do with it.”
https://twitter.com/TheBradShepard/status/1194348332837220352
There’s no denying Rowan’s been receiving a push as he’s been mauling jobbers week after week. The fact his Royal Rumble performance may have been subpar, but there could be a reason for that, too.
What’s in the cage is the key to Erick Rowan
Rowan’s character has always been one that’s needed guidance, someone that helped show him the way. Whether it was Bray Wyatt or Danial Bryan, the results were the same. He’d be dominant with them, but after drifting away he’d seem lost and the WWE writers are at a loss.
While speculation over what’s in the cage has seen some interesting ideas pop up, most of them are focused on is being an animal, most likely a rat or something similar. I wrote a piece on him resembling Jake Roberts a while back, but I’ve had a different thought.
Maybe the key to Erick Rowan is going home again?
Here’s how I think it’ll work. There’s simply no animal, and let’s be honest, virtually no way any item could survive the build up we’ve seen.
We’re bound to be disappointed at this point, so why not go for the gold?
In short, I believe the cage holds… his Wyatt family mask.
Rowan’s Wyatt family mask is his future
My thinking is pretty simple, or twisted, depending on your point of view.
With Daniel Bryan turning on him, Rowan became extra sensitive to people embarrassing him, to laughing at him, and he needed something that provided comfort.
His old mask is perfect for that, and with his deranged mind, he could think it’s biting him when he reaches inside, like his past if trying to claim him. If/when the cage is broken open, Rowan could have a psychotic break and go on a tear as he’s done when someone’s tried to sneak a peak. Lately, he’s even tried to make then look before pounding on them. And being tossed out of the Royal Rumble so early could give him reason to dive deeper into the mask for its “power,” like the Undertaker and Paul Bearer’s urn.
Him communicating with his mask would be reminiscent of Al Snow and Head, but on a darker level. It’d also open the doors for him to possible join Wyatt’s Firefly Funhouse and/or challenge Wyatt for the top spot in the family.
Rowan can be something special if they allow him to play out the storyline they have set up. While he may not be at a top championship level yet, having him challenge the Fiend openly could bring them together and really start something special. Let’s hope the WWE doesn’t mess this up.
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