Tuesday 27 February 2018 09:24, UK
Brock Lesnar failed to show up for his schedule appearance on Raw, leading Roman Reigns to deliver an impassioned attack on the Universal champion.
Reigns made his way to the ring to the usual mixed response of cheers and jeers but, four minutes of superb monologue later, and he was returning to the locker room to a standing ovation.
WWE is absolutely at its best when the lines between the on-screen product and the behind-the-scenes reality are blurred. When black and white becomes shades of grey.
Reigns said during his promo that he would likely find himself in trouble "back there", meaning with the corporate hierarchy of the company, for the "truth bombs" he was about to drop in Anaheim.
It is unlikely the script was completely unsanctioned but the decision to run it must have been made very late in the production day; Lesnar, it is alleged, was scheduled to appear until around 30 minutes before air time.
Mention was made of the champion's links with a return to UFC in an excellent piece of oratory skill by Reigns, who with it injected new life into his WrestleMania match with Lesnar and maybe even hit a turning point for his own career.
Watch the brilliance unfold by clicking on the video above.
