SmackDown: "He knew he was f*cked" - Video of John Cena burying Roman Reigns unites WWE fans six years later

Roman Reigns has made The Tribal Chief the most dominant WWE gimmick since taking on the role. But that was not always the case, especially when he was "The Big Dog."

Reigns has always been a top superstar in the company, but he hasn't always enjoyed support from fans. Fans didn't enjoy how he was pushed as a babyface previously, and his segments used to go differently a few years ago.

In 2017, Roman Reigns feuded with John Cena to set up their match at No Mercy. The two superstars engaged in a war of words, resulting in one of the most embarrassing moments on WWE television.

Reigns was in the middle of dishing out insults to John Cena when he, unfortunately, forgot his lines. The latter saw his opportunity and destroyed his opponent by saying he needed to learn to cut a promo if he wished to be a top superstar.

Although the feud ended with Roman Reigns' win over John Cena, fans will never forget the moment when the 16-time world champion casually destroyed the biggest superstar on the mic.

Years later, the video went viral on Twitter recently when the Public Enemy Podcast's account shared the clip. They described the moment as Roman Reigns' villain origin story, and the WWE Universe agreed. Many noted how uncomfortable it was to watch John Cena bury Roman Reigns on TV.

Others praised Reigns for recovering from the moment and reinventing himself as one of the best heels in pro wrestling history. Here's how fans reacted to the six-year-old video of the unforgettable promo war between the two iconic superstars:

Roman Reigns returns on WWE SmackDown this week

Roman Reigns recently defended his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber. He is now set to return on SmackDown for the first time since the last premium live event. Reigns is expected to address Jey Uso's apparent disobedience and the conflict between The Bloodline.

Jey has maintained his distance from his family since they attacked Sami Zayn at Royal Rumble. He also tried to stop Reigns from hitting Zayn with a steel chair during the title match at Elimination Chamber. Last week, Jey Uso didn't interfere in the brawl between Jimmy Uso and Zayn, letting the latter escape.

Cody Rhodes is also scheduled to appear on SmackDown this week, where he might cross paths with Reigns for the first time in WWE. Additionally, Roman Reigns and The Bloodline will also have to look out for Sami Zayn and potentially Kevin Owens, who are plotting the fall of the heel faction on SmackDown.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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