5 Times WWE Tried To Pass The Torch To Roman Reigns
John Cena is the latest megastar in a long line set up to make Roman the top guy.
For the past two weeks, we’ve seen Roman Reigns verbally square off against John Cena, pitting two of WWE’s top stars against each other. And while the battle of promos is clearly a mismatch, it’s also clear that the company is setting their match at No Mercy up as a possible “career-defining moment” for Reigns.
If he wins, Roman has toppled the 16-time world champion after Cena called him out, and he proves that the ring is his yard. If he loses, then Cena’s blistering promos ring true, that Reigns isn’t ready and can’t hack it as “The Guy” and is just a cheap John Cena bootleg.
As much as this seems like it’s being set up to be a “passing of the torch” moment from Cena to Reigns, it’s important to note that this wouldn’t be the first time WWE has tried to pass the torch from another megastar to the Samoan superstar. In fact, it’s easily arguable that no wrestler in recent history has had more “torch passing” attempts directed at him than Reigns.
And while these attempts haven’t really germinated, there are different reasons why each effort has fallen short.
Let’s take a look at some of the times WWE has tried to pass the torch from a big name to the company’s next big name, Roman Reigns.
5. The Rock At Royal Rumble 2015
While Roman Reigns’ coming-out party as a solo act arguably
came at the 2014 Royal Rumble – where he eliminated a record 12 men – it was
his turn in the 2015 Rumble that started his elevation to the top of the card.
It also marked the first major backlash against Roman and sparked this ongoing see-sawing of his career.
That Rumble was supposed to be Reigns’ coronation, with the conquering hero entering at #19 and eliminating six men en route to earning a WrestleMania title shot against the invincible Brock Lesnar. But there were two problems with this plan: Daniel Bryan was in the match, and the Rumble took place in Philadelphia.
Bryan entered at #10 and fans went crazy. But when he was eliminated just before Roman entered the match, they went ballistic, turning on the entire Rumble and booing everything Roman did.
Even The Rock coming down to ringside to stop an Authority beatdown on his cousin couldn’t stop the boos, as the Philly crowd mercilessly jeered Roman, even as Rock raised his hand in celebration, anointing him as the man with a date with destiny.
When The Rock can’t overcome a crowd’s animosity, you know something is awry.