Perhaps, the fate of Roman Reigns in the starring role cant be found in history and we need to look to the present. The overall television product of WWE is scripted; sponsorships and stock holders dictate the companys every move; and when push comes to shove, its more about the corporate portfolio and the brand than anything else. The performer is a close, and sometimes distant, second. When John Cena became the top guy, WWE was slowly exiting the Attitude Era and transitioning to the current PG era where things were done differently than ever before. The mixed reaction hes received over the years could be a product of a shift in philosophy without a solid foundation while going from the Doctor of Thuganomics to the tepid Hustle, Loyalty and Respect persona. John Cena is Fruity Pebbles, he is Be A Star, he is the epitomy of kid-friendly. But how do you make a badass in Roman Reigns kid-friendly? The PG way of doing business is here to stay, and now that WWE is firmly entrenched in this model, it gives them a better chance on paper of succeeding with Reigns than they presumably have with Cena. If WWEs commitment to a family-approved product is solid and Reigns can develop into the wrestler and overall performer that most believe he can become, we will be looking at a superstar of a different magnitude. Influence from the Internet Wrestling Community notwithstanding, being different, stoic and fierce instead of a carbon copy of Cena will pay huge dividends for everyone involved.
Atlee Greene is a freelance writer for various sites, including ForcesOfGeek.com, Gerweck.net, CamelClutchBlog.com, and WhatCulture.com. He is also a former independent professional wrestler and promotes shows in the Massachusetts area.
