NOBODY Should Acknowledge Roman Reigns Because...

There were long periods in recent WWE history where it was suggested that a run like Roman Reigns' current time with the company's top title could never be done again.

The four-figure runs of the 60s, 70s and 80s were thought to be relics that belonged in the past with the wrestlers themselves. Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund all clocked well over 1000 days with the gold, but footage of their glory days was often sepia-tinged during the Hulkamania era as a tacit burial, as was Hogan's industry-altering 1474 day stint when Vince McMahon tried desperately to move on from him during the New Generation and Attitude Era.

John Cena's 380 days between 2006 and 2007 defined him as WWE's top guy, but CM Punk's 434 days four years later didn't. And to the point of great contention, as it later emerged. It felt like Triple H held the World Heavyweight Championship more than all of these figures combined at various points between 2002-2005, but counting the days actually betrays what a slog it all was. Brock Lesnar's impressive 503-day run as Universal Champion pioneered a part-timer aura Reigns has also benefitted from, but Seth Rollins and 'The Big Dog' himself were considered liberators when they rescued the gold from his oft-absent grasp.

To smash through 900 days and even approach four figures shows incredible faith from those behind the scenes, but with the cameras rolling, Roman's reign has scanned as a platonic ideal of Lesnar's dominance mixed with Cena's star power and Punk's will to hold on. It's little wonder thousands of fans throw their Ones in the air when his music hits, or that - to this day - Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa remain beholden to him despite Jey once again asking questions and Sami Zayn courageously being the first to break away.

That it now falls to one of those two or Cody to end the tyranny is fitting.

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