8 Exact Moments WWE Fans Turned On Popular Wrestlers

4. Roman Reigns (Royal Rumble 2015)

Roman Reigns Royal Rumble 2015
WWE

A year after the Batista debacle, WWE somehow contrived to accomplish the exact same piteous Royal Rumble ending - with a man fans had desperately urged to thwart the movie star's depressingly inevitable triumph.

Before being tossed by the eventual winner, Roman Reigns had forged a path of destruction through the Rumble. The Shield member eliminated an impressive 12 opponents as the crowd, optimistically but ultimately futilely, pinned their hopes on any underdog outcome. If not Bryan, then Roman would do.

Little did they know the seeds of their own rekindled animosity were being sown that night in Pittsburgh. WWE had already earmarked Reigns as a replacement for the aging John Cena, and his breakout performance in the Rumble was designed to kickstart the process.

Twelve months on, the cat was completely out the bag. Everybody knew Roman was the newest golden boy, and with it, his rejection was inevitable. Even the interjection of The Rock, guaranteed a good response at the worst of times, couldn't save his cousin from a shower of boos as he secured his WrestleMania slot. It'd take another four years - and the intervention of real-life strife - to get fans finally on board.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.