Roman Reigns popped a good rating on the most recent Monday Night Raw. His hour drew 3.91 million viewers. The prior hour did 3.63 million. The final hour did 3.35 million. The “Miracle on 34th Street” fight was a definite tune-out.
Dean Ambrose was “lunatic fringe.” Now, he’s just fringe.
Odd contrast: Even though Reigns upped the ante on TV, he drew a muted live reaction at Minneapolis’ Target Center.
What should be trusted: The rating, or the reaction? Tough call.
I don’t think Reigns is ready. He doesn’t carry himself like a main-eventer. He carries himself like a guy trying to be a main-eventer.
Reigns can’t talk well enough, either. But that doesn’t matter when you deliver somebody else’s words. Promos have never meant less, or been less effective.
WWE wrestlers aren’t allowed to establish their own personalities. They’re forced to execute somebody else’s vision. Imagine Steve Austin not having input. Or The Rock. If you’re tired of reading it, I’m tired of having to write it.
That’s the trickle-up. Perhaps WWE’s biggest problem. When something’s wrong, they keep doing it.
Reigns, right now, reminds me of Sting in 1990. Not in terms of talent, execution or character, obviously. But in terms of how he’s positioned, and the likely result.
Sting had that great 45-minute draw with Ric Flair at the first Clash of the Champions in 1988. Not long after, it was determined that Sting would succeed Flair as the long-term NWA world champion. The build started.
The crowds loved Sting. He got huge pops.
Sting beat Flair for the NWA belt at the 1990 Great American Bash. I was there. The Baltimore Arena exploded. It was one of fake wrestling’s last true mark-like pops. Just amazing. It really felt like a new era had started.
It hadn’t.
Chasing the title was one thing. The fans liked that. But when Sting got the belt, his buzz diminished. Sting just wasn’t seen at that level. Crowds and PPV buys dwindled. After six months, Sting dropped the title back to Flair.
Sting wasn’t ready.
That was a different time. Championships – especially the NWA championship – meant so much more. But Reigns now feels like Sting then.
Never mind Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar. I want more Reigns vs. Big Show.
It looked like Reigns really potato’d Show with a Superman punch on the Dec. 15 Raw. Show no-sold. Didn’t even go down. Unless my lip-reading fails me, Show told Reigns he “hits like a bitch.” Reigns told Show he “looks like a bitch.”
Didn’t look storyline to me. Can’t believe a bigger deal wasn’t made.
Then, this week, the match between Reigns and Show pops a rating.
See? Reality sells.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
