10 Best Moments Of WWE WrestleMania 33 Weekend

3. Roman Reigns: Furnace

Lesnar Mania 33
WWE.com

The beginning of last night's RAW was sensational.

The camera panned around the crowd, who deafeningly chanted "Thank you 'Taker!" Those chants gave way to "Roman sucks". After several minutes, the opening strains of The Truth Reigns hit. The boos were even louder. The company's nominal top face and real top heel emerged with a glib expression on his face.

When he first raised the microphone to his mouth, the crowd grew louder still. Reigns lowered it and looked on at them dispassionately, only managing a mild, barely perceptible smirk. When he stalked the ring, taking his time, fans chanted "Go away". The smirk grew that little bit wider. Fans, even more incensed, chanted "F*ck you Roman". He at last capped off the bravura performance with a simple, devastating kill shot: "This is my yard now."

WWE PR rhetoric has it that the reception of Reigns is a Death of the Author, postmodern exercise in a post-kayfabe world. It's nonsense - the company has done everything possible to cement him as the top babyface - but Reigns' performance last night was as clever as the company is pretending to be.

What Reigns accomplished last night should not go unnoticed. He entered the echelon of greats - one occupied by 'Taker himself - by conducting the crowd into fever pitch using nothing but body language.

Batista drew massive praise for his silent promo during his first main event heel run. Reigns should too - but he won't.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!