1. Disparaging Comments About John Cena
Yup, you guessed it - more interview controversy courtesy of one Mr. Reigns. Ever since his singles push began, following the breakup of The Shield, Reigns has been constantly compared to John Cena. It's easy to see why, too. Both wrestle a fairly basic, power-based style (although it could be argued that Roman puts more of an emphasis on striking, while Cena prefers slams and throws). Similarly, both have "the look" of WWE's preferred superstar archetype - muscular, tall and handsome - and both are pushed as ultra-popular babyfaces, even if the reality of the crowd reactions may say something slightly different. In a 2014 interview with the
Reno Gazette Journal, Reigns reacted to such a comparison in an incredibly negative fashion, saying:
'Last time I checked, I'm 6'3" 265 pounds, which is bigger than John Cena. Last time I checked, my hair is long and jet black, and last time I checked John Cena's isn't. I'm way better looking and I'm way more athletic than he is, so for anybody to compare me to him is completely asinine'.
It's worth pointing out that, yes, Roman had already turned face when this interview took place. Of all the foolish things to do in WWE, speaking about the locker room's undisputed top dog in such a disrespectful way ranks pretty high on the list. It's the sort of thing that could perhaps be brought to light in the event of a Reigns vs. Cena feud, whenever that inevitably goes down - but for the time being, WWE will certainly wish that Roman had just kept his mouth shut. Not for the first time, either.