15 Exact Moments Failed WWE Gimmicks Actually Got Over
5. Bronson Reed
This entry is conditional and situational because Bronson Reed never actually stays over, does he?
His late 2022 main roster arrival, in which he debuted as the Miz’s heavy, fell flat. This was when Triple H couldn’t bring back every wrestler he half-liked in NXT fast enough to a series of diminished pops, if these people even generated a reaction at all. Most got lost in the mix as soon as they debuted; Reed, who bounced around the United States and Intercontinental title scenes without making much of an impression, was no different.
The thing about Reed is that his size does not inspire any fear - he uses his frame as something that he’s nimble in spite of, as opposed to an actual weapon. Reed also lacks any authentic intensity, and his face is too smooth and smug to radiate real menace. He seems more snarky than mean. Nothing seems to take with him - what did those matches with Roman Reigns achieve, ultimately? - unless he is inserted into gloriously OTT action set-pieces.
Reed did get over, for a bit, in a marvellous programme with Braun Strowman. Their meathead, arena-wide brawl, in which they threw security guards at each other and played a Here Comes The Pain backstage brawl IRL in September 2024, was fantastic. Reed was also awesome when called upon to write LA Knight and Seth Rollins out of storylines.
The lesson here is that WWE should reintroduce the Hardcore title and let Reed hold it forever - that way, he might actually get over on a permanent basis.