wrestling / Columns

The Misconceptions Of Roman Reigns

May 10, 2017 | Posted by Justin Watry

Image Credit: WWE

“I have been reading your stuff on 411mania and nodq.com for the longest time now and I have never felt inclined to email in. The general consensus of you not being most popular is harsh at times but also can be well-founded too. But I still read your stuff because I do enjoy your articles and find your perspective interesting most of the time.

That said, your article about your friend Megan and trip to Wrestlemnaia was the greatest thing you have ever wrote. Forget about the predictions you brag about getting right. This is your crowning piece. Maybe it is because I can relate as going to Wrestlemania is my ultimate dream and it will be happening next year. But I genuinely loved your article.

Thank you for the great stuff.”

– wrestling fan

Backstory

As noted the other day, I really have tried my best to avoid the entire “thing” between John Cena and the fans. The entire heel turn discussion is not one I ever cared for. pretty sure I even banned it from my Jay’s Ways column in 2013 or 2014 because the question was sent into my email inbox wayyyy too much. Nonetheless, I have never predicted a heel turn for Cena nor have I cared about the conversation. It has always struck me as pointless and a lazy writing topic to just throw it in the headline and watch the arguments begin.

Why am I telling you this? Well, because all of that can, has, and will be said about Roman Reigns for the next decade or so. Sad but true. Like Cena, I don’t get it. That is why I am going to write this definitive column on all things fans complain about with him…and give the logical (and correct) response. Ready to steal this for years to come and win every debate? Cool. Let’s do this.

Complaints Against Roman Reigns Shot Down

“He can’t wrestle!” – Ugh, sure. Why not start with the dumbest and one most forwarded to Cena as well? Roman Reign has had great matches as a heel, as a face and as the mythological tweener. He has done so in normal matches, gimmick matches, and against a plethora of opponents ranging in all sizes and skills levels. Tag match or on his own – Reigns has done nothing but prove his worth inside the squared circle for over four years.

“Vince McMahon loves him above others!” – First of all, that is a rumor and nothing anybody has ever confirmed (those that matter mind you). Seocondly, even if Vinny Mac does have a special interest in Reigns, newsflash folks – ALL TOP STARS HAVE CONNECTED WITH TE BOSS! Not just WWE but in any business. Anywhere. You are an idiot if you don’t think Vince hung out with Hulk Hogan backstage or had beers with Stone Cold every weekend or joked with The Kliq or had those mysterious late night text chats with CM Punk. Heck, even Daniel Bryan apparently won over the boss during his run with Kane and those silly skits. From there, it was more television time and more opportunities.

Just seems so petty and jealous for others (usually failing or below you) to mention the boss is your friends. Um yeah, welcome to the real world. If you are a clown and mouth off to the boss and suck at your job, you likely won’t get the promotion. You deliver big money and are friendly with the staff, guess what? A promotion is headed your way. Common sense really. My guess is this complaint comes from those either a) not working OR b) nowhere near the level of talent of somebody that has made it to the top.

“He needs to go heel; then I will like him!” – That. That right there sums up everything right there. Go bad, so I can cheer him. Yep, pretty much why I ignored the dull Cena/heel junk for nearly a decade. You want to boo Reigns, like the night after WrestleMania 33? Go ahead, that was one of the coolest segments of 2017. You want to cheer him and see the big dog overcome Braun Strowman? Awesome, should be a fun story. Whatever. Why do you need permission to feel one way or another? Everybody whines that fans should be able to do as they please in an arena, right? Okay, so do as you please then.

“The guy doesn’t draw ratings.” – I am a numbers guy. Trust me when I tell you that. Now, if you want to get into the dollars and cents/sense of WWE, you will notice they are profitable and have a clear cut plan to remain so for the viable future. If you want to break it down detail by detail, we could be here all day. Not one man is going to bump TV numbers AND keep them up. Not The Undertaker. Not Bill Goldberg. Not The Rock. Not Daniel Bryan. No, not even the beloved CM Punk. Somehow, ‘blaming’ stuff on Reigns is about as effective as blaming Seth Rollins or Samoa Joe or Braun Strowman or Dean Ambrose. Heck, those guys have been on the most for the past few weeks…but nah, let’s just keep piling on Roman Reign for some odd ball reason and dismiss all the other facts about him bringing in the company money. Sure.

“He is always kept so strong!” – One of the silliest quotes from the laughable CM Punk/Colt Cabana podcast. Another gem still repeated years later. How’s that lawsuit going guys? Anyways, this is another dumb complaint. Shouldn’t we all like that certain stars are protected? That is the whole point. Your top/upper faces lose but only by getting cheated or screwed. A rare clean loss is a big deal and benefits the person who defeated him. Pro wrestling 101 logic. Or let me guess – you only agree with that when it is your favorite. That’s it. When Punk or Bryan was winning every week and on top of the world, there were not “HE’S STRONG!” jokes. Just high fives all around online.

Now, here is the real kicker. Like Cena, I could actually make the case that Reigns has lost TOO MUCH as of recent years. Yes, that is right. Lost too many times. Cena has also started taking way too many pin falls for my liking. Heck, Justin Gabriel pinned him clean on Raw in 2010. Dean Ambrose just defeated him clean on Smackdown last year, and nobody even noticed. That shouldn’t be happening, part-timer or not.

Reigns just lost to Strowman clean. Lost at the Rumble. Failed in December at Roadblock (won by DQ). Lost the Survivor Series tag team match. Did the brawl with Rusev at Summerslam, no match. Lost (with Seth Rollins) in a triple threat match to Dean Ambrose with all of The Shield battling last July. Lost clean to Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank (and Finn Balor a month later on Raw). That is not even discussing his 2016 Royal Rumble loss to Triple H (final three, not two) and back to back defeats against Sheamus on pay-per-view (TLC and Survivor Series 2015).

Yeah, see how actual facts look versus the false STRONG jokes! Thanks for that Punk.

Summary: If I missed one, please feel free to write it. I think that is the main arguments made against Roman Reigns. Each one more ridiculous than the next. Bottom line is the dude is clearly a top star in WWE and has proven it a million times over. Please do NOT turn this into a never ending Cena like comparison for the next ten years. Got tired with him back in 2007, yet is still chugged along for years until people finally realized how out of touch THEY were on the issue. Same rules apply here with Reigns. Think people. He is THE GUY. Believe that.