The Problem With Roman Reigns That Nobody Wants To Talk About

WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2021 Roman Reigns Cesaro
WWE.com

Cesaro lost clean at WrestleMania Backlash and demanded another "opportunity" on the next SmackDown. He had no claim. No wonder Vince McMahon thinks he's an "entitled millennial"; he friggin' books him like one. Ricochet is a pissy, prankster loser with sh*te patter. Kofi Kingston, babyface, entered the WWE Title picture by winning two matches on the same show via distraction roll-up.

Even if Roman's excellent work were to improve WWE's viewership and profile in any measurable way, the cloud that is WWE itself hovers over the company to undermine it. What happens after Roman Reigns drops the title? Does Big E make fun of his first heel challenger, Seth Rollins probably, by Photoshopping dog sh*t on his lip in the time-honoured Titan Tron visual gag? Nobody who isn't ride or die on the promo train reasonably expects WWE to do something else that is good after it. It's a miracle they did something this good in the first place.

Roman Reigns is the Head of the Table. He is responsible for the entire company and everybody in it. This story beat is accurate, but it also isn't. He's playing the Ace in a company that does not need one, even if he is received as such in fan circles. The reality is that this character is the best thing to happen to professional wrestling in the United States.

In 2015.

CONT'D...(5 of 6)

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!