Roman Reigns is the most hated man in WWE. He’s not supposed to be, and the fact is he shouldn’t be. He’s worked hard to get here, he’s done everything a babyface should do, but every time he comes through the curtain, he gets booed out of the building.
But the funny part is it’s not his doing. WWE has once again created a monster that can’t get over. Reigns has always been compared to John Cena, but never before has that comparison been more appropriate than it is now. All of the hype in the world can’t make fans love him, and now that WWE could turn him heel, it’s just not happening.
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However things could be changing for Roman and it’s starting with AJ Styles. While it’s hard to know where this feud will eventually go, the fact is that something is definitely different about WWE’s new top guy right now.
Reigns is more intense, he’s more driven, and more importantly, he’s more focused. Gone are the cheesy one-liners, and silly smiling that denotes a carefree attitude. This is not the same Reigns that was hated for committing those sins; this guy is ready to prove himself like never before.
Could it be that Reigns’ killer instinct is finally returning? It has only come in flashes since The Shield dissolved, and every time it does, he benefits from it. Fans want to see a beast, a brawler that will crush everyone in his path if necessary. They want to see Roman cut loose and destroy.
That is the Roman Reigns that attacked Triple H with a steel chair and Superman-punched Vince McMahon. That Roman Reigns was cheered for his efforts, and for the first time, he finally seemed to fit his own skin. WWE had taken the governor off of him, and just let him rage. When that happened, fans believed they were seeing a new attitude being born.
But as soon as it began, it ended. Roman was back to being the smiling and snarky champion that laughed at Stephanie McMahon, and lost his title because of it. He showed weakness as a character and that weakness led to his downfall in the eyes of fans. Disposing of Triple H at WrestleMania didn’t help his cause; the ending was predictable and unwanted.
But now he appears to be getting back on track. His fans are likely holding their collective breath on this, and his critics are surely waiting for it to fall apart again. But the new look Roman has is doing a world of good for him. He now looks more like a champion under fire than he ever did a challenger under fire.
Roman knows that AJ was fully capable of beating him at Payback. He also knows that Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson are Styles’ former teammates and friendly muscle. They have his back, and Roman is left to lean on his cousins The Usos. This is not just about the title anymore, it’s about family, and Roman is very personal when it comes to family.
This has put him on the edge, and caused fans to once again see the intensity that made him the most popular member of The Shield when the group turned face. But this is being facilitated by AJ Styles, who is making Roman look like a million bucks.
AJ is accustomed to making his opponents look good, and Roman is no exception. It’s not about trying to look great on an individual basis, it’s about making the match itself look great, and AJ understands that. Roman couldn’t ask for a better challenger, and he definitely couldn’t ask for a better match than the one he had at Payback.
To his credit, Roman held his own. His pacing was perfect, his attitude was right, and he begrudgingly received a modicum of respect from even his most ardent critics. Thanks to AJ, this will likely continue. The two men are not yet finished with their rivalry, and it could very well be that it lasts for a three match series.
This is great for Roman, who is finally showing some teeth as a character. He’s in the ring with one of the industry’s most talented workers of all time, and he’s having a feud that feels like a legitimate contest for the championship. He’s in very good hands with AJ, and that was surely the idea behind the rivalry in the first place. As hard as it is to believe, WWE may have actually put some serious thought into this one.
While it’s possible AJ could win the feud and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, the fact is that just may not be in the cards. The company is consistently trying to showcase Roman as an improving talent whose resolve is matched only by his toughness. He pinned AJ clean in their first match, and that result will surely not be forgotten as this rivalry continues.
But it’s not the destination that’s important here, it’s the journey. WWE wants Roman at the top, and it wants him as the top face. If that’s going to happen, then he must begin showing some qualities that draws fans in. He needs more than just a promo and a catchphrase; he needs strong competition to help him grow as a performer.
AJ Styles is that competition, and it can only get better from here.
Tom Clark can regularly be found on Sportskeeda. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
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