Roman Reigns: From Hated Hero To Beloved Villain

Summary

The video script recounts Roman Reigns' journey in WWE, from his initial push as a conquering hero to the audience's rejection, leading to a significant character transformation. Despite being a descendant of wrestling royalty and showing early promise, Reigns struggled with fan approval due to heavy-handed booking. His career took a pivotal turn when he revealed his battle with leukemia, garnering empathy. Eventually, his heel turn as the 'Tribal Chief' resonated with fans, showcasing his growth and earning him the top spot in WWE that he was destined for, all while highlighting the crucial role of audience engagement in shaping a wrestler's career.

Takeaways

• 🤼‍♂️ Roman Reigns, a key figure in WWE, was built up by the company as a conquering hero and the face of the company, despite fan reactions suggesting otherwise.
• 🏆 Reigns became only the second wrestler ever to defeat the Undertaker at WrestleMania, a significant achievement in wrestling history.
• 👎 The audience's reaction to Reigns was largely negative, with boos and chants overshadowing his victories and attempts to speak, indicating a disconnect between WWE's portrayal and fan sentiment.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Reigns comes from the Anoa'i family, a renowned wrestling dynasty, which includes famous wrestlers like The Rock, and this heritage was part of his character's background.
• 🏈 Before joining WWE, Reigns had a background in American football and was signed to a developmental deal due to his athleticism and physique.
• 🛡️ Reigns was initially part of The Shield, a highly successful stable that helped him gain credibility and protected his inexperience in the ring.
• 🎭 The concept of a 'top guy' in WWE is someone who is positioned as the main event star, sells merchandise, and is the company's top draw, a role WWE envisioned for Reigns.
• 📉 Despite WWE's efforts to make Reigns a top hero, fans resisted this portrayal, preferring more organic and less forced characters.
• 🤝 The Shield's breakup and Reigns' subsequent push as a single star led to a clearer WWE agenda to push him to the top, which was met with mixed reactions from fans.
• 🏥 Reigns publicly announced his battle with leukemia, which brought a real and emotional response from the audience, showing their support and admiration.
• 🎖️ Reigns' character development and eventual heel turn, along with the formation of The Bloodline, marked a significant shift in his career, leading to a more positive reception from fans.

Q & A

What significant event did Roman Reigns achieve at WrestleMania 33?

Roman Reigns became only the second wrestler ever to defeat the Undertaker at WrestleMania, a feat that had only occurred once before in over 20 years.

How did the audience react to Roman Reigns' victory speech on the night after WrestleMania 33?

The audience booed adamantly at Roman Reigns, expressing their disapproval for eight straight minutes, not allowing him to get a word in.

What is unique about the connection between professional wrestling and its audience?

Professional wrestling has a unique connection with its audience due to the live nature of the shows, allowing for real-time reactions from the audience that can influence the performance.

What is the significance of being the 'top guy' or 'face of the company' in WWE?

The 'top guy' or 'face of the company' is the main star that WWE relies on for main events at their biggest shows, to sell the most merchandise, and is their top draw.

Why did WWE initially protect Roman Reigns in his early career?

WWE protected Roman Reigns in his early career by limiting his exposure in the ring through short periods in tag matches, as he was still developing his in-ring skills and charisma.

What was the original concept for The Shield and how did it change?

The original concept for The Shield was to be CM Punk's mercenaries. However, WWE decided to add Roman Reigns as a new pet project, and the group debuted as a dominant force without a clear alignment.

How did Roman Reigns' booking as a top guy affect the audience's perception of him?

Roman Reigns' booking as a top guy, with constant dominance and overly scripted promos, led to the audience rejecting him because they felt he was being forced upon them as a hero.

What was the turning point for Roman Reigns' character development?

The turning point for Roman Reigns' character development was when he revealed his battle with leukemia out of character, which garnered genuine sympathy and support from the audience.

How did Roman Reigns' return from leukemia treatment affect his reception by the audience?

Upon his return from leukemia treatment, Roman Reigns received a huge ovation from the crowd and for the first time in his singles career, he started getting the babyface reaction from the fans that WWE had hoped for.

What significant change occurred in Roman Reigns' character when he turned heel?

When Roman Reigns turned heel, he adopted the persona of the 'Tribal Chief,' a character who not only believes he's the top guy in the company but demands acknowledgment from others, leading to a more engaging and complex character.

How has the formation of 'The Bloodline' impacted Roman Reigns' character and reception?

The formation of 'The Bloodline,' a dominant stable consisting of his cousins The Usos and other members, has further developed Roman Reigns' character and storyline, making him more over as the audience acknowledges his role and the entertaining performances.