Back in the 1980’s the WWE (WWF) had a 6 foot 7’ 300 pound, 24 inch python, all-American champion (face of the WWE). He appealed to the kids at the time who purchased his t-shirts, action figures and anything that had his image on it.
In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s the WWE had 6 foot 2’, 250 pound, beer swilling, finger raising, son-of-a-bitch champion (face of the WWE). He was the anti-hero and the kids at the time purchased his t-shirts, action figures and anything that had his image on it. The WWE also had a during this time a 6 foot 5’, 260 pound, Jabroni beating, pie eating People’s champion. He was the opposite hero to Stone Cold and the kids at the time purchased his t-shirts, action figures and anything that had his image on it
In the late 2000’s and early 2010’s the WWE had a 6 foot 1’, 250 pound, crowd saluting, rapping, All-American champion (face of the WWE). He appealed to the kids at the time who purchased his t-shirts, action figures and anything that had his image on it.
In between these champions the WWE had some, great, legendary, hall of fame champions such as Bret Hart, Shawn Micheals, Triple H, Edge, CM Punk and Randy Orton. But none of these great champions sold out stadiums, sold out merchandise stands or sold out PPVs as well as Hogan, Austin, The Rock or Cena. This is what the WWE is looking for, and what they believe they have found in Roman Reigns.
Roman Reigns has the size to be the next WWE major face, at 6 foot 3’, 260 pounds, he fits nicely into the size of the big 4. He has a background in football, which seems to be another major check, and has a great wrestling history and heritage, which the WWE can focus on time and time again. The biggest thing the Roman Reigns has going for him is like the Big 4, the kids love him, and that equals money to the WWE through merchandise and ticket sales.
None of the big 4 you would say were fantastic in the ring, but each had a move set that resinated with the fans. Whether it was hulking up, The People’s elbow, The Stone Cold Stunner or the 5 knuckle shuffle when performed these moves would get the crowd on their feet. Roman Reigns has his Superman punch/ Spear combination which already has the younger fan excited when they see it.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFo0TJwio6s[/youtube]
The one thing the big 4 have got, and it is what is holding Roman Reigns back, is not just their promo/mic work, but their charisma. Each of the Big 4 owned the ring, the crowd and the TV audience when their music hit, when they delivered a promo or interviewed backstage, or when they entered the ring. What Roman Reigns has in his favour in this area is that each of the big 4 also struggled when they first started out. We remember “The Ringmaster”, “Rocky Maivia”, “The Super Destroyer” and “The Doctor of Thuganomics”, all persona’s the Big 4 had before reaching the persona that sent them to the top. Roman Reigns just needs a little time to find his “persona” that will put him over fully as the new face of the WWE.
If the fans can forget about the end of 2014 / beginning of 2015 where we were getting a superman like Roman Reigns destroying everyone being forced down our throats. Let us instead focus on the second part of 2015, where we are seeing a more ‘human’ Reigns having to overcome obstacles and an evil authority (used to help get Stone Cold over), overcome major WWE heels such as Brock Lesner and Bray Wyatt (used to get Hulk Hogan and John Cena over), and battling a former faction members (used to help get The Rock over battling the N.O.D). This slow build of Roman Reigns has reconnected him with a many fans he lost in the early part of the year, and has given the WWE hope that they still have their Cena replacement.
Hooroo and see you next week
Craig Higham
http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Telling-Its-Fake-Wrestling/dp/1489585508
https://www.facebook.com/authorCraigHigham/?ref=hl
