10 Embarrassing Times Wrestlers Tried To Look Cool

7. Roman Reigns For Virtually All Of 2015

Stephanie McMahon
WWE

Roman Reigns is cool now.

This has to be mentioned because not only is it true and fair - and impressive, given that WWE at large is so powerfully lame - but also because his stans are particularly deranged. The Head of the Table is a tremendous act, and even if you can't get jazzed by WWE's creaking, standstill promo-heavy format, that has to be acknowledged. He has developed a menacing superstar aura, and he is as unsettling as he is badass with his facial expressions.

Roman Reigns was not cool in 2015. At all.

Roman Reigns was not cool because he was instructed to emulate a gurning children's clothing line baron in John Cena. This manifested, variously, as Roman reciting fairytales and winking to the camera after "nailing" what was literally the most embarrassing line of dialogue in professional wrestling history. Roman winked to the camera after saying "Sufferin' succotash," which is rather like a vet saying "WASSUP?!" after putting down a cat.

At Fastlane '15, opposite Daniel Bryan, he actually did something like "WASSUP?!" when trying to pin Daniel Bryan. He did the radical "hang ten" sign and headbanged a bit.

Because Michael Hayes probably produced the match thinking Roman would get over as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Tribal Chief.

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!