Roman Reigns Says WWE Off Season Would Be Great For Performers And Fans

We previously noted that Roman Reigns recently said that he thought an off season in the WWE would be a good idea. In the full interview with Talk Sport, Reigns explained his stance, saying that the current WWE formula works but an off season would be great for both the performers and fans. Here are highlights:

On an off season in WWE: “We do it the way we do it, and I’m never opposed to trying something new. This formula has worked and Sports Entertainment is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ industry. Unfortunately, we don’t have an off-season like most sports or other kinds of forms of entertainment or competition but, you know, I think if we could make it work, it would give a great benefit to our performers and our fans as well. It would definitely give our performers another couple of months if not a full quarter to rest and recover, not only just from a physical standpoint, but creatively. When you go year-round, we’re always trying to evolve, trying to grow as far as our stories and our character goes and when you’re doing it over and over and over it can be tough. I think that’s what makes WWE and its superstars so tough and it’s an accomplishment to get to where we are. Only we can handle this and we’ve proved it, so it’s just a part of the gig. I don’t think it’s something that shouldn’t be looked into, but if the schedule stays the same I’m gonna be the guy that’ll run it.”

On the fans’ reaction to his return from leukemia: “It felt awesome. The reaction … you can’t really predict. You can assume, but for me, at that point, I was just so grateful for the outreach of support from when I broke the news. I was immediately insecure about how people would take to it and there’s obviously a very certain and particular view of what people look like and how they act and recover to cancer and leukemia, so I had my concerns about just how this story would develop and how people would take to my real life situation, how they would take to Joe. At the end of the day, this was real life,” Reigns affirmed. “I did not care at all about the storylines. The only thing that truly hurt me was having to drop the title because I just put so much time into chasing it – I just wanted it. Not only did I want it, but I just wanted to be that champion that I said I would be and I wanted to defend it and put it through its best run that it has had thus far. But, at the end of the day, I was more concerned with my real life relationship with the crowd.

I didn’t care what the reaction would be when I got back, I was just happy to be able to share a piece of me and the fact that they were accepting and they were there to kind of cradle me and take care of me and give me that support when I was insecure… I could care less what they do for me out there [in the ring]. The fact that they were there for me in real life, it speaks volumes to our fans and the people of this world and how we can rally behind each other even if we are indifferent to each other. For that I’m grateful and they can react to Roman as much or as less as they want, that’s not a concern of mine. I’m just extremely proud and extremely grateful for the way they reacted to Joe and the warm love and embracement they gave me and my family. To secure us and let us know we’re not alone and to not have those insecurities and to not be afraid – that’s the only real thing that mattered to me. Storyline stuff, character stuff? We’ll take care of that, we’ll bust our ass to get back on point and get all that rolling, but when it comes down to it, as Joe, I’m just grateful and happy to be here, happy to clock in.”

On who he’s friends with backstage: ““I think I put a little bit more pressure on myself to be more than just a friend and a peer. The Usos… obviously they are my family. But Dean is the same way. A lot of these guys are. That’s what people don’t realize, it’s not just these names that you know, but I’m so close to so many of these guys. All the way from the B Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) to Finn Balor, the Good Brothers – there’s so many guys that I’m so close to. Heath Slater – all up and down the card. It doesn’t matter who you are and what you do for this company, if you’re a good person, you care about what you’re doing, you’re passionate and have fire for it every single day, then you’re probably going to be one of my guys.”