Roman Reigns has been the recipient of a strong backlash from the WWE fans who feel he is being shoved down their throats and positioned as the new babyface of the company, taking the mantle from John Cena.
Winning the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia certainly didn’t do the former Shield member, any favours.
After the eliminations of Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose and others, the crowd fully let the WWE hierarchy know their feelings as to the booking of the 30-man contest.
After overcoming Big Show and Kane in the closing stages to win the Rumble itself, it was more evident than ever that the fans clearly aren’t taking to Reigns – had the company let him grow organically and have him headline WrestleMania next year then in all likelihood, it would have been a different story.
Even an appearance from The Rock couldn’t help the sound of Reigns being booed out of the building – a situation ‘The Great One’ was rumoured to be less than happy to be put in.
Reigns has made some very disparaging comments regarding the fans’ negative reaction towards him claiming: “The majority of critics, I would say, are people who have no clue what they’re talking about and have never been in a wrestling ring. They’ve never been a public speaker. They wouldn’t even know how to lock up with me if I allowed them to.”
These are certainly unbecoming comments from the man the WWE hopes to take over from John Cena as the face of the company – and quite disrespectful to the fans who pay their money and are free to boo and cheer whomever they wish.
Cena knowingly realises the fans are critical of his character, both in the ring and on the microphone. But he doesn’t belittle the fans in such a way – he fully acknowledges that the fans are entitled to do what they want once they’re through the door.
Reigns is good in the ring, he has come on a lot since his days with The Shield, although his promo skills are still severely lacking.
Had the WWE booked him as a silent but violent babyface – in a Goldberg-like way, then there may not be such resentment. His inability to cut a great promo are certainly hindering him, which begs the question, what if he were to gain a mouthpiece in the form of a manager?
Step forward, Paul Heyman.
Heyman is the greatest talker in the WWE right now and his pairing with Brock Lesnar, who, like Reigns isn’t the greatest on the microphone, has been an entertaining double act for over ten years now.
So what if at WrestleMania, Heyman turns on Lesnar and aligns himself with the younger Reigns?
Brock is verging on babyface territory now and has been since SummerSlam and his unbelievable beating of Cena and the fans rallied behind him in the build-up to the Royal Rumble and in the WWE Championship match itself at that very event.
During the Raw special from WWE headquarters, Heyman was very effusive about Reigns and his family, almost trying to butter him up. It could play into the story that Heyman admires the lineage of Reigns and sees him as ‘THE’ superstar, able to dominate for the next decade as Brock has, both in the WWE and UFC.
This would allow several things to happen.
Pressure would be alleviated on Reigns to cut lengthy promos, he is more than capable of doing what Brock currently does, stand behind Heyman and look menacing.
Brock can be turned, or at least become a tweener which is what the fans are crying out for, regardless of whether he stays with WWE or not, it’s what the fans want.
And it will also turn Seth Rollins, who the fans are also rallying behind, and are beginning to accept as a future WWE Champion.
Although a confident heel, Rollins’ money is as a babyface. He just has that look – the way he carries himself and the way he bumps around just scream ‘good-guy’.
These turns will create the path for a future spring/summer series for the WWE Championship in which Rollins should finally cash in his money in the bank contract and possibly lose.
The money is in the babyface chasing the gold, and Reigns will need at least a 3 month run as champion to solidify himself as a major player and give him the confidence to be at the top. You could add Ambrose to the mix and have The Shield members battle it out for the WWE Championship – a match that all three men will surely want, such is their obvious closeness despite their on-screen battles.
So Roman Reigns may be the man to take over from John Cena as the face of the company, but it may not be for another year at least. He certainly needs more time, and an alliance with Heyman will give him that and the fans will have more time to accept it.
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