Millenial fans want a leader out of pro wrestling that can speak their language and walk the walk for them. This requires a sort of unrestrained aware-speak that was popularized by CM Punk mixed with the ring-generalship of Daniel Bryan and the rock-star charisma of Dolph Ziggler. Every time Roman Reigns speaks, he sounds like he's reading from a cue card written for him by Vince McMahon. As well, he lacks that certain swagger and confidence in the ring to make the impossible look flawless literally every single time. As well, the charisma is there - but when all else is lacking, it's just not enough to help him connect with the (all-important) WWE millenial demographic.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
