WWE: Let’s stop unfairly criticizing and start appreciating Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns has been one of WWE’s top stars for years, yet some fans can’t fathom that he’d be in a major program after WrestleMania 35. At this point, all the constant moving of the goalposts does is expose Reigns’ harshest critics as the chronic complainers who create the stereotype of wrestling fans being an impossible bunch to please.
Elias likes to say that there is one universal truth and it’s that WWE stands for “Walk With Elias”. But in the realm of professional wrestling, there is another universal truth that is implicitly acknowledged but rarely followed in practice: That Roman Reigns embodies everything we want in a top star.
This isn’t just about his athleticism, flawless hair, confidence on the microphone, or his catalog of quality big matches either. Reigns has never been in trouble for treating another individual poorly, he’s never lashed out at fans despite their incessant negativity that sometimes crosses the line, and he has been an inspiration to so many, especially those who have fought – or are currently struggling with – cancer.
It is rare for a top Superstar to have no critics backstage – even John Cena had a few – but Reigns is universally admired by his peers. That should come as no surprise, since he has given his heart and soul to wrestling, selling to make his opponents look as good as possible even in defeat. And, yes, defeat is almost inevitable when facing Reigns, but that’s because top stars should be winning consistently.
Yet Reigns isn’t “shoved down our throats” in the “Win” column. He’s won four fewer titles than contemporary Seth Rollins in WWE, and the latter has defeated him in several high-profile matchups.
As far as top stars go, Reigns is on the shortlist of the most selfless wrestlers to be “The Guy” in WWE. Even in his return from leukemia, Reigns has been a role player on SmackDown Live. He’s far removed from the WWE Championship scene, instead feuding with Shane McMahon and Elias. This is usually a position for an upper mid-card talent like The Miz or Bobby Lashley, yet Reigns, a repeated WrestleMania main eventer, is in a situation where his matches are being interrupted by two guys who have never won a prominent title in WWE.
You’d think that this would be enough to finally silence the Roman critics, but just look at the replies to this tweet from WWE. Reigns’ critics are still there and they continue to make the most illogical points.
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It is laughable that some fans would go as far as to delude themselves into thinking Reigns doesn’t move the meter. His appearance on Raw did, in fact, help the ratings momentarily. Search engine results back up the fact that Reigns remains the most-discussed Superstar in WWE, even ahead of current double-champ and WrestleMania main event star Becky Lynch.
The Reigns detractors shift the goalposts to whatever disproved argument seems the most convenient at the time. A man who didn’t win the Universal Championship in the first two years of the title’s history was “overpushed”. He had a whole arena booing him with four words, yet he’s “bad at promos”. Legions of fans can’t stop searching his name or tweeting about him, but he’s supposedly “boring”. You know what lacks creativity? That inane “Boo-Man Lames” nickname.
But it’s all par for the course for a group of myopic individuals who live in a “WWE Sucks Yet I Still Watch It” echo chamber that avoids criticizing WWE for actually problematic things like their involvement in Saudi Arabia. Instead, they complain that “WWE is trying to get Roman Reigns over with this whole Vince McMahon thing”, when, in fact, he’s already over. He’s been over; it’s just that the word “over” doesn’t equate to “universally liked”.
Also, seriously, you didn’t want Reigns in the title picture and you’re still complaining that one of WWE’s most popular stars is in a significant program that doesn’t even take much time from the other superstars you allegedly like more? You’re complaining about one of the few male stars moving the meter is a “Wild Card” on both brands at a time when the company is fighting AEW and trying to impress FOX? Get a reality check.
Here’s what’s more important than all of that, though. So many wrestling fans legitimately look up to Reigns and the way younger fans cheer him on is truly a sight to behold. Reigns will always have his critics and he has done a fantastic job of feeding off of their negative energy, but it is hilarious how they fail to grasp how may people other than them like Reigns. (His YouTube segments are regularly among WWE’s most popular.)
It’s equally hilarious that they feel he is “shoved down their throats” when they could easily stop renting out space in their head to him, because they are acting as if they are forced to watch every single second of a media product meant for a widespread audience.
Reigns is held to this special, unfair standard, because there’s a wide swath of fans who despise the guy, for whatever reason. They even had to add “I don’t like the character…” in their well-wishes during his battle with leukemia, as if that should bear any relevance to offering a human being sincere support.
All of this is saddening, because Roman Reigns, in every single quote he gives, shows genuine appreciation for WWE fans; he even goes out of his way to thank the fans who boo him. At one point, we feared that we may never see Reigns in a WWE ring again. Now, here we are, dealing with the tired arguments of overly-critical fans who can’t even stop for one second to appreciate an inspirational man’s greatness.
Reigns has overcome so much in his life and has lived his life to help or entertain others and a significant chunk of the fanbase can’t help but get in the way of the rest of us trying to do that.
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So from here on out, I have a personal solution. No more critical, negative thinkpieces about Roman Reigns. We’ve done enough “thinking” about Reigns over the past couple of years.
It’s about damn time we start doing some appreciating.