During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Baron Corbin expressed his frustration with the character development of some talent, highlighting the case of Bronson Reed. Corbin recalled a particular creative pitch that he found bafflingly simplistic, questioning the depth of the gimmick presented for the powerhouse.
You know, like, one of my frustrations…Bronson Reed is there. And I know you’re a fan of his, and for me, but who is he? What does he do? There’s no…I even remember one time, the character pitch was like ‘He’s a guy that wears sunglasses.’ What the f**k does that tell me about him? And that was real. If you watch his first promos when he was coming up, he was in sunglasses. That was in character. I don’t know. I struggle with that a little bit. So that’s why I do love what they’re doing in ‘NXT.’
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Corbin’s comments have a particular irony given Reed’s current role on WWE RAW, where he is frequently seen in formal attire and sunglasses alongside Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker. This presentation is part of his newfound alliance with Rollins, serving as an insurance policy for the former champion.
The faction was cemented in late May 2025 at a Saturday Night’s Main Event, where Reed made a surprising return from an injury to assist Rollins and Breakker. The move came as a shock, as Reed and Rollins had engaged in a heated rivalry throughout 2024.
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Speaking on the Up & Adams show on June 6, 2025, Rollins addressed the partnership, attributing it to a foundation of mutual respect that developed after their past conflicts.
Bronson Reed, we had a little thing last year, but now there is a lot of respect between the two of us, and now we’re off to the races.
The Strategic Purpose Behind Reed’s Alliance with Rollins
Beyond the on-screen explanations, a late-May report on Wrestling Observer Radio provided insight into the strategic booking behind Reed’s inclusion. The analysis suggested that Reed’s role allows the faction to absorb losses in tag team matches without damaging the protected status of Bron Breakker, whom WWE reportedly views as a future WrestleMania main-eventer. This positions Reed as a formidable presence who can take a pinfall when necessary.
However, since Reed’s integration into the group, questions have arisen regarding his specific function, as Breakker already serves as the faction’s primary enforcer. Discussions have surfaced about whether Reed’s addition was a spontaneous creative decision to balance the numbers in potential rivalries.
Looking ahead, one potential direction for the group involves Reed and Breakker pursuing the World Tag Team Championship to establish the faction’s dominance across Monday Night RAW. Meanwhile, recent fan speculation about Reed potentially betraying Rollins to join The Judgment Day, sparked by an out-of-character photo with Dominik Mysterio, is considered highly unlikely and not indicative of a planned storyline shift.
