In the rich and chequered history of professional wrestling, Roman Reigns is an interesting character indeed. Perhaps no other babyface in wrestling has received the overwhelmingly negative reaction that he does.
Yet he continues to remain the top guy on Raw, constantly appearing in opening segments and main events where the heels get a comparatively positive reaction when pitted against him. So why is Vince McMahon still so hell bent on making him the face of WWE? We analyse the factors that have kept him in the top spot.
#5 The traditional ‘Champion’ look
Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, Lex Luger, The Rock, John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton.
All of Vince McMahon’s favourites have looked a certain way so that when you’re flipping channels, you pause to check out the man in question. Roman Reigns, like him or not, fits this mould and at a time when ratings are falling, he seems like the time-tested solution for someone like McMahon.
There’s a reason Rey Mysterio did not have a long run as Champion, and Brock Lesnar did, despite the fact that he is a part-timer.
Roman Reigns is one of the last legitimate bad-ass looking performers at a time when the athletes are smaller. While the hardcore audience will not necessarily have a problem with a champion like AJ Styles or Kevin Owens (or a future champion like Sami Zayn); the mainstream audience tends to tune out when Champions do not look like old-school professional wrestlers.
Vince believes that because nobody sports the ‘look’, ratings are falling.
#4 100% homegrown
There was a time when WWE produced the top talent of the company at a developmental level. John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Shelton Benjamin, The Rock, Kurt Angle and Dolph Ziggler, among others, came into the company without any prior indie experience.
Compare that to the current WWE landscape. Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Neville, Dean Ambrose, heck even Becky Lynch hail from the independent wrestling circuit. Roman Reigns stands out from the clutter, as a top guy who was created by the WWE developmental system and hence is Vince McMahon’s source of joy indeed.
Sometimes believing in 'your guy' is a matter of ego and pride. Vince wants a guy that he discovered and honed for the top role to lead the company, and not have performers from the indies in that spot.
#3 Constantly improving
There was a time when Roman Reigns was absolutely atrocious on the microphone and limited inside the ring. Over time, he’s grown leaps and bounds and is a far better performer than he used to be.
His matches against AJ Styles were absolutely off the charts. The fact that he main events the flagship show of WWE and puts on fairly entertaining matches on a weekly basis, is a testament to how much he's really grown.
One does wonder why Roman Reigns is still booed despite the fact that he’s challenged himself at every given opportunity and grown into the top guy role. We believe that it is because it has just become part of the WWE experience now. Show up at an event and well, just boo ‘The Guy’.
#2 Loved by certain demographics
Roman Reigns may be the bane of the adult male demographic but he's certainly not equally hated among women and children. Yes, believe that! He remains a popular merchandise seller among those demographics and when the crowd is split into the ‘Let’s go, Roman! Roman sucks!’ chants, if one plays close attention he/she can tell the difference between the voices.
The former belongs to girls who’re rooting for 'the guy’, and the latter belongs to grown men who are rooting for their favourite independent wrestler. Even in certain markets like India, fans remain big Roman Reigns marks even now.
#1 WWE needs another John Cena
John Cena has too many commitments outside WWE now, and it’s only a matter of time till he starts winding down. WWE needs a top white meat babyface, who's good looking, durable, does not get injured and is a total company guy, through and through.
Roman Reigns, like it or not, is that guy, at least according to McMahon. Cena doesn't get a wholly positive reaction either but has carried the company on his back with the polarising chants from fans. Vince likely thinks that because the crowd responds to Reigns (and is not dead like for 205 Live), that he is the man to carry the brand.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
