2 Ups & 7 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 21)

2. Butting Heads With Fans Again

Roman Reigns The Usos Bloodline
WWE.com

Years ago, WWE stubbornly presented Roman as a heroic babyface despite the fact he was getting booed heavily. In 2020, he struck gold as the heel 'Tribal Chief', and his "Acknowledge Me" routine has been a raging success. Fast forward to 2022 and the promotion has programmed Reigns against fellow heel Seth Rollins.

Or...not?

The writers want to keep Roman heel so he's the villain against Brock Lesnar heading into WrestleMania. Honestly, that's pointless, because people will likely go back to jeering Reigns when he's feuding against a strong face anyway. Seth isn't a strong face. In fact, his character has no likeable traits whatsoever.

It'd be much more logical if Roman was cast as the default "babyface" here. Then, he can slot back into a heel role afterwards. It's so odd that WWE don't see that. Or, at least, don't want to acknowledge it. How fitting is that, eh? "Acknowledge Me", but don't acknowledge that you like Roman for real this time.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.