Acknowledge It - WWE's HUGE Problem With Roman Reigns

WWE have given Roman Reigns everything. Again. And failed him. Again. How does this keep happening?

Roman Reigns Paul Heyman Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
WWE

Everybody lies in pro wrestling.

Pro wrestling as an industry exists because everybody lies. Everybody lies in pro wrestling and everybody lies about those lies by calling the lies “a work". It's a cycle of lies, but as fans it's easier to be complicit with just enough of them that the work feels more like magic than deception.

A good work draws eyes, attention and money, and it's much nicer to feel like you're paying for the quality of an art form than funding the commerce of lies. There's a massive difference between the two, and it's highlighted every time WWE holds an investor call.

There, emotionally disconnected and disparate rich folk listen out for what's keeping them rich. Decade-long deals with the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, the likelihood of securing another billion dollars from Fox in a few years, that the company have cut costs while generating record revenue. Big money rooted in little falsehoods and fibs.

Those same investors aren't as fussed about white lies such as Kevin Owens hating Texas enough to justify Steve Austin battering him, Cody Rhodes spinning whatever yarn is currently key to his ever-evolving career, or Roman Reigns Vs Brock Lesnar being nothing remotely close to "The Biggest WrestleMania Match Of All Time".

Those were the tall tales just for us. And they were mostly good ones! Owens/Austin was a riot! 'The American Nightmare' remains an aloof treat! Reigns Vs Lesnar was...a major, major bust. A lie too big to buy.

Why?

CONT'D...

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett