WWE: 8 Ways WrestleMania 30 Is A Modern Day WrestleMania 13
8. The Samoan Family Wrestling Dynasty
Both the Rock and Roman Reigns are products of the illustrious Samoan Wrestling family, going in to Wrestlemania 30 this is however not where the similarities between the cousins end.
Brought in to the WWE in late 1996 with only a years experience it was clear the company had huge plans for the Rock, within four months of his debut he would win the Intercontinental Championship. Unfortunately a complete misstep by Vince McMahon and the creative team nearly ended the Rocks rise before it had even begun.
With a terrible haircut, feather boas and what seemed to be 36 pearly whites smiling at every opportunity, the future megastar was portrayed as a clean cut babyface much like Hulk Hogan ten years prior. Far removed from the glory days of Hulkamania and with the emergence of the Attitude Era this gimmick however should have been a career death blow.
At Wrestlemania 13 in a completely forgettable match the Rock defended his Intercontinental Championship against fellow Samoan family member Rikishi. Clearly not perturbed by the burgundy jockstrap on Rikishis face or the horrendous Sultan gimmick, the then Rocky Maivia won in a rather lackluster Wrestlemania debut.
The fans didnt care at all and would continue to mock and boo The Rock for the next year. With his career going absolutely nowhere the WWE turned him heel and aligned him with the stable the Nation of Domination. Now a cocky heel the Rock almost overnight seemingly found a new sense of confidence and charisma, the signature catchphrases and the now world famous peoples elbow would follow.
He would soon break out from the Nation and from that point on the Rock hasnt looked back.
Ever since he debuted just over a year ago, the WWE have clearly had the same lofty aspirations for Roman Reigns. In the very talented group that is the Shield, Reigns is the one the company is behind the most. Their faith in the former NFL defensive tackle never more apparent when he eliminated 12 men in this years Royal Rumble, in doing so breaking a 13 year company record.
At the time of writing the breakup of the Shield seems to have been momentarily been put on hold. All signs however point to Reigns sooner rather than later breaking out of the Hounds of Justice and being pushed to the moon just like the Rock did when he broke out from the Nation of Domination.
2 years after his Wrestlemania debut, the Rock went in to the main event of Wrestlemania 15 as one of the two biggest stars in the company. Roman Reigns will be at the same point in his career just over a year from now going in to Wrestlemania 31. With the company truly behind him and the world at his feet you wouldnt bet against Reigns doing the exact same thing.