Opinion: Does Roman Reigns Need the Shield To Get Over?

#4 Counterpoint: The Unexploited Heel Turn

We still don't know how over Reigns might get based on a heel turn.

Reigns debuted with The Shield as a group of heels, but the trio quickly arrived as cool heels whom fans were as apt to cheer as boo. They would ultimately turn properly face, and so Reigns has remained ever since.

For all of the pushback Reigns get, he does command attention, and arguably had his biggest reaction from fans when he’s behaved most heelishly, including proclaiming that WWE was his yard the night after beating The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33.

When it comes to ways of getting The Big Dog over with WWE fans, grouping him with his Shield running buddies is certainly one way of going about it. There’s another route WWE hasn’t exploited just yet, though—actually turning him heel. Not only could he get more over as a bad guy, but like his older cousin The Rock, it’s possible that would be the key to Reigns ultimately getting over as a face in the long run.