Roman Reigns: ‘I’m Neither’ Babyface or Heel in WWE
Roman Reigns’ recent comments about his status as a babyface or heel on WWE programming will get the interest of many.
Roman Reigns is one of WWE’s most polarizing figures. He’s made to be one of the company’s top stars, but is either loved or hated by the majority of the fans if the crowds at WWE TV shows are any indication. This was on full display on Monday’s episode of Raw, when he and John Cena cut some of the most vicious promos you’ll see from WWE superstars. Both men got booed, but there were cheers for some things said, too.
Especially with Reigns, there have been questions, if he’s a heel or a face. WWE didn’t portray him as either after he defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33 and hasn’t swung in either direction since.
According to the Big Dog himself, there’s potentially a reason for this. In an interview with ESPN.com, he said he’s neither a face or heel, but in a “gray area.”
"“To me, I’m neither,” said Reigns on whether his role is as a babyface or a heel. “If I’m totally off here, then I’m totally off, but I’m the first of my type. I’m the first true gray area guy … just being what he was born to be.”"
This “gray area” Reigns spoke of was something that arguably began after WrestleMania 32, when WWE decided to embrace the heat he received on programming. This intensified after he defeated Triple H at this Show of Shows and only carried into the Wellness Policy violation, which happened just two-plus months later.
However, is Reigns actually the first one to be in this “gray area.” If anything, for most of the 2010’s, Cena was and still is in this section of the WWE. His feud with The Rock from 2011-13 showcased this at one of its highest points.
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Like Cena, it doesn’t seem that WWE will switch Reigns to a full-fledged heel anytime soon. It’s the direction used for the top babyface and something that will only continue for the foreseeable future. Fans will be split on this for as long as these two remain in the WWE, and will make for an interesting talking point for the days, weeks, months and years to come.