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

#3 Point: Friends To Stick Up For

Fans appreciate Reigns when he's protecting or avenging Ambrose and Rollins.

Not only do Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose add excitement to Roman Reigns' matches via their better diversified, more electric style. They also have the capacity to be a source of sympathy for Reigns.

One of the reasons big men are often cast as heels is because it’s hard for fans to feel sympathy for them. After all, tall, strong guys don’t exactly look vulnerable to getting beat up by smaller opponents, much less for the average wrestling fan to relate to them.

Rollins and Ambrose are both popular and, by WWE standards, on the smaller side. Thus, they’re ripe to garner sympathy on behalf of Reigns when they get hurt, and they’re a great source of popularity for him when he’s cavalry to stand up on their behalf against the heels who came after them.

Left to his own devices, Reigns has only himself to stand up for, or makeshift alliances without any real, organic connection. The fans readily identify Rollins and Ambrose with Reigns and are by and large prepared to get behind all three.