My Friday Pittsburgh Tribune-Review column looks at Roman Reigns at WWE Champion. Here’s an excerpt:
Roman Reigns isn’t a good guy. He isn’t a bad guy. He’s just the guy. That’s the right focus to take.
Those comments about no good guy or bad guy was the highlight of Reigns’ promo the night after “WrestleMania” amid the typical hostile crowd that sells out “RAW.” WWE and Reigns have had plenty of time to prepare for how to handle Reigns once he had his “WrestleMania” moment and his era officially began. So far, it seems they’ve used the time to prepare correctly.
I hate the term “tweener” when describing a wrestler who isn’t a complete babyface or heel. I’ll settle with “middle of the road” instead. It’s four words to say rather than one but sounds less like someone with an exotic job being featured on Discovery Channel.
Reigns projected the right kind of attitude given the reality of the situation. He didn’t insult the crowd or do anything cowardly like a heel would. He didn’t pander to the audience like a clean-cut babyface. He was proud to hold the world title after the work he’s put in and kept a no-nonsense attitude.
He still has a strong fan base despite it being drowned out by the more vocal opposition. No need at the moment to alienate that fan base by being a heel. But him having an edgier tone can’t make the fans who hate him hate him any more. If anything, it might grow on them, and he might gain a few of them as supporters.
Nothing needs to be rushed with Reigns’ attitude. If it ultimately is leading to him being on the heel side of the fence, then let it build slowly. Get as much out of Reigns being polarizing.
I still roll my eyes at so much of the dislike for Reigns. I had a large sample size to poll in Dallas for “WrestleMania” weekend, and too much of the anti-Reigns movement doesn’t have a solid foundation.
Much of it is a bigger enjoyment or frustration to make noise at WWE management. It’s a counter culture kind of society right now. Just look at the candidates for president.
Many don’t like Reigns because they relate more to the underdog like Dean Ambrose. Others still feel resentment toward Reigns as if he had anything to do with Daniel Bryan’s last two years being the beginning of the end and Reigns constantly crossing paths with Bryan’s moments. Then there are others who feel he can’t talk or wrestle. Again, they are entitled to their opinion, but I feel it is based off what satisfies them. It’s like saying he doesn’t know as many moves or wrestle as fast as an AJ Styles so therefore he isn’t good.
CLICK HERE for the possibilities and swerves with Reigns fighting Styles.
