The Problem With Roman Reigns That Nobody Wants To Talk About

Roman Reigns is a tremendous wrestler, promo, character, and presence.

The presentation of the character is unfathomably great, given the organisation that presents it. Roman projects a sinister aura as a man not to be f*cked with. He's no one-dimensional mean-mugging villain; there's a mischievous quality to his range of facial expressions that is, at times, hilarious. He is incredulous when confronted, as if the very notion that he can be defeated delights him. This is a challenging role. Roman has to get himself over as invincible, and the man can do it without forming a single expression on his face. He just exudes it.

The act isn't quite perfect - offensive phases of certain matches can feel aimless, and the trademark talking is sometimes a broad substitute for actual storytelling - but then again, few are. When the act doesn't descend into melodrama, barking story beats into your face by way of Jey Uso's, Reigns is one of the best pro wrestlers on the planet. He can orchestrate a sense of peril and danger that few can. When he lays those forearms in, shedding his aloof exterior as the fight is finally brought to him, his opponents legitimately look like they're up sh*t creek. His range is something else, too, and again, it's all the more impressive for the repetitive trope churn he presides over. His WrestleMania Backlash match against Cesaro was as intricate and sophisticated as his stunning Triple Threat match at 'Mania itself was dramatic and explosive. Despite widespread cries of bias, the critical community is fervent and unanimous in their praise of an almost objectively great TV performer.

He sits at the head of the table as virtually all of his peers play musical chairs around the kid's table. The problem with Roman Reigns is not Roman Reigns himself. The problem is that the Tribal Chief is a character on WWE television.

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