WWE SummerSlam 2015: 12 Biggest Takeaways
6. Reigns Still Has Problems Connecting With The Audience As A Face
Out of the four performers in that ring during the tag team match, Roman Reigns had the biggest problem when it came to crowd reaction. Bray Wyatt was still getting his typical loud reaction during his time in the ring and some respectful silence during his entrance. Luke Harper was cheered as a workhorse who can move around well in the ring. Dean Ambrose got the best reaction out of all four of them.
But Reigns was only cheered audibly enough during his entrance and immediately following his win. Between the bells, he was getting booed...loudly.
Whenever Reigns was tagged in, the audience would turn on him vociferously. For example when Ambrose hit his Dirty Deeds finisher on Wyatt, the crowd erupted in cheers. But as soon as Reigns was tagged in and prepared to his his Spear, the crowd's reaction took a decidedly negative turn.
This is a major problem for Reigns going forward. If this were a singles match without Dean Ambrose on his side, Reigns would've been booed out of the building. Despite WWE's attempt to salvage his main event push and take a longer time with him, the fans in the Barclays Center must've still had the 2015 Royal Rumble match fresh on their minds.
If Reigns wants to be successful in WWE, he cannot be presented as a new John Cena; he needs a different creative direction, and he needs it soon.