10 Times WWE Did Something You Never Thought Possible
2. Made Roman Reigns Their Biggest Attraction
On paper, the idea of Roman Reigns being the biggest star in WWE shouldn't be too shocking. The man has a fantastic look, the great Anoa'i name behind him, tons of in-ring talent, and the entire promotion's support. But this is WWE, a company that will jam stuff down your throat so hard you'll come to hate it.
Reigns was not having a good time after The Shield broke up. The company had its sights set on glory for him, but fans simply didn't want it. His constant presence on TV and PPVs made them feel like he was being forced upon them, making them resent and reject him.
This frustration came to its boiling point after he won the 2015 Royal Rumble, making Mysterio's boos look like admiration by comparison. WWE's dire attempts to make fans love Reigns backfired utterly. But, then, things started to change, and the Tribal Chief began to emerge.
After taking a leave of absence due to the pandemic, Reigns returned to SmackDown with a new attitude, look, and Paul Heyman by his side. From there, he would do everything fans wanted from him in the first place, I.e. looking cool, obliterating opponents and avoiding stuff like suffering, succotash, son.
It's a miracle that Reigns is such a big deal now, and WWE deserves props for it.