While reports suggest that WWE will keep pushing Roman Reigns as a babyface in upcoming future, it hasn’t stopped people from giving their opinion on how the company should turn him heel.
During a recent interview with Pancakes & Powerslams show, Wrestling Legend Bobby Fulton gave his thoughts on the situation regarding the former World Champion among other things.
Fulton said that if the former Shield Member is not getting over as a babyface then the Officials should either turn him heel or fire him altogether because the Raw Star is not getting the job done:
“If he can’t get over as a babyface and the people are booing him, fire him! Get rid of him or turn him heel. He’s not getting the job done. It is plain and simple! They gotta make a change somewhere. People just ain’t buying Roman Reigns.”
Apart from this, Fulton also talked about his announced retirement, the modern days of wrestling being different than the territory era and more. You can check out his full interview in the video below:
Former WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz was recently a guest on the Gorilla Position podcast to talk about several professional wrestling topics. During the appearance, The Miz discussed the fan criticism that Roman Reigns has been under in recent years. Interestingly enough, Miz defended his former foe against the naysayers.
Here’s what he had to say:
“He’s selling the most merch out of anybody. People are going to sit there and go ‘well, he should be here; he shouldn’t be doing this.’ Nobody knows. Nobody has a scientific formula to being the most ‘over’ superstar in all the WWE. The hardcore fans will sit there and go ‘oh well, you know, they’re shoving him down our throats.
“How dare you do that? Blah, blah, blah.’ But I guarantee there are kids out there that sit down and look at him — there are women out there that go ‘oh my God.’ Nobody likes the good ‘ol fashioned Superman, you know? Nobody wants that anymore. Everyone wants that blend of grey”
You can listen to The Miz’s interview on The Gorilla Position podcast by clicking this link here.
WWE has announced a new match for the upcoming the Money in the Bank PPV.
As seen on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Albany, NY at the Times Union Center NY on the USA Network, the sports entertainment company announced that Roman Reigns would take on Jinder Mahal in a singles match at this show.
The Money in the Bank pay-per-view event takes place on Sunday, June 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois at the Allstate Arena and will air on the WWE Network and some traditional pay-per-view outlets. Here is the updated card:
– Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz vs. Rusev vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode
– Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Ember Moon vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya
Former WCW and WWE ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta recently did an interview with The Wrestling Estate to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Cappetta first discussed professional wrestlers today, such as Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, succeeding outside of WWE:
“Yeah, and it’s healthy for everybody. When I see the success of Cody, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, I call it the democratization of wrestling. That’s a group of guys who have gained power, mostly independent from a major corporate organization. If WWE ever seeks them out or if they ever want to go to WWE, there’s an even playing field that didn’t exist in the past.
“I would compare them to Stan Hansen, Bruiser Brody and Abdullah the Butcher, who didn’t need American promoters in order to have a successful wrestling career. They were able to call their own shots. And now they’re All In promotion in Chicago. I wish them well. They’re really sharp. It was more difficult to do in the past because today there are free marketing tools available online, but they’re very savvy in how they use them.”
Cappetta then discussed Roman Reigns and his current position in WWE. In regards to his match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34, Cappetta thoroughly enjoyed it and called it a ‘brutal’ match he’d show to anyone who thinks wrestlers aren’t athletes:
“I like Roman Reigns. I don’t understand what exactly they’re doing with him, and I don’t really understand why the fans boo him, other than they’re following what somebody else said they should be doing.
“Anybody that saw the WrestleMania match between him and Lesnar, you’ve got to have respect for these guys. What a brutal match. That would be a match I’d show someone who says these guys aren’t athletes.”
In regards to the late-WWE Hall Of Famer Bruno Sammartino, Cappetta says he ranks him in the top five all-time greats:
“Top five. There would not have been a healthy WWF to purchase and take forward and expand if it wasn’t for Bruno. I kind of chuckle when I hear Mr. Today Wrestler is seven-times world heavyweight champion. But how long did he hold that title for?
“Sammartino was a two-time champion, but he held it for a long stretch of time and carried the promotion on his back. There’s a big difference and it sort of diminishes the title. That kind of phraseology is meant to build up the personality for the here and now, but it shuts out the historic importance.”
You can check out Cappetta’s full interview with The Wrestling Estate by clicking this link here.
Roman Reigns is a hot topic of conversation in the professional wrestling world. Much of that discussion has to do with whether or not The Big Dog should turn heel or not.
Reigns is continuously pushed as the top babyface of the company, but the WWE Universe has been denying him for the past several years by booing him relentlessly.
Many WWE legends, such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, believe the time is now to turn Reigns heel. Add former WCW star Kevin Sullivan to that list.
He recently joined Interactive Wrestling Radio (IWR) and offered his thoughts on the Reigns situation. Here’s what he had to say:
“It is so easy. I think I could get him (Reigns) up and running in 8 weeks. To me, it doesn’t matter if they cheer him or boo him as long as it gets asses in seats. I used to think you could get a guy over just by pushing him. You can’t do that anymore. This is now. Wrestling fans are conasaursnow.
“Like the cigar days or the wine craze where everybody was a conasaur of wine. Now everybody is a conasaurs of wrestling and they’re not going to take you shoving people down their throat. I think this is a challenge that they think they’re going to win. I think they should cut their losses and turn him.”
You can listen to Sullivan on Interactive Wrestling Radio by clicking this link here.
While Roman Reigns has teamed up with the Usos in the past, the three have never formed a long-term alliance like the Shield and many believe that it’s an interesting possibility.
During the ongoing WWE tour of UK, Roman has talked about the future plans for the Shield on multiple occasions, if the trio ever reunites again.
However, during a recent interview with GiveMeSport, Reigns talked about The Usos’ recent heel turn saying that the former Tag Champions were tired of being underappreciated.
Continuing on the topic, he said that the story is there and claimed that it would be really cool if he ever teamed up with his real-life cousins to form a ‘Samoan Shield’
“You never know, the story is there, it’s easy. We all represent the same bloodline, we all represent the same family, so it would be pretty cool maybe one day if…if there was a Samoan Shield.”
The Shield reunion took place last year in October after several months of teasing by the company. Though it didn’t last for long and the storyline was nixed in December after Dean Ambrose suffered a triceps injury.
Discussion: would you be interested in seeing an alliance of Roman Reigns and the Usos on the WWE Television? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
WWE Superstar Roman Reigns recently did an interview with The Express where he talked about several professional wrestling topics. One of these topics included Reigns’ relationship with Vince McMahon.
Reigns said Vince has never steered him wrong, and also noted that the entire McMahon family are great people:
“All the McMahons are great people and if you know them you get to talk to them on that level. It’s very easy to see them, they’re very personal and that’s key – you have to build a relationship,” Reigns revealed. “It’s not just with the McMahons, it’s everybody. It’s just about getting to know people and a lot of people getting to know you.”
“I can’t say Vince has ever done me wrong. Regardless of all the fantasy bookers out there, at the end of the day life’s been pretty good for me in the wrestling business so I have to attribute a lot of that to the relationship that I do have with Vince and the way that he has always taken care of me. He takes care of all of us. To have that responsibility and that role is not easy – to be a provider and a protector and that’s what he is. I think along with everybody else, I can say that we are all very grateful,” Reigns said.
You can read Reigns’ full interview with The Express by clicking this link here.
Roman Reigns believes so long as fans are showing up to the arenas, it doesn’t matter if they boo him. The 32-year-old recently spoke to SunSport about his reaction to hearing fans respond negatively to him.
“I’ve done what I’m supposed to do and that’s draw people into the building,” Reigns said.
“What I and everybody in WWE thinks is to go out there and work hard and continue to show why I am the guy.”
Roman Reigns as “The Guy” in WWE
Roman Reigns has been in the main event of WrestleMania 4 years in a row. He is the company’s choice for their top babyface. Despite years of trying, however, the promotion has been unable to get fans to cheer him at live events.
“It’s not easy doing this every single day, going to every single town, and getting a reaction,” Reigns continued. “That’s what I do regardless of whether it’s all cheers, a mixed reaction, or heavy boos.”
Reigns would continue to say that although fans in the live arenas might boo him, WWE has to also consider the larger audience watching around the world.
“We have to look at it as a global company. We’re not just worried about the one town that we’re in, we’re covering our entire fanbase,” Reigns stated.
“The WWE Universe is humongous. We have to keep that in mind.”
A lot of fans think that WWE should turn former World Champion Roman Reigns heel and Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the people who believe the same.
During a recent interview with The Express in middle of the company’s ongoing UK tour, the Big Dog talked about the upcoming Money In The Bank PPV and also responded to Austin’s comment about how he should turn heel which Steve made on his podcast.
Roman said that everybody has their opinion comparing it to people having their favorite flavor of ice cream but claimed that Steve Austin knows the territory he is in.
Continuing on the topic, the former Shield Member said that there is a lot of truth in what the Texas Rattle Snake has to say but went on to explain that he can’t guarantee a heel turn:
“So I think there’s definitely a lot of truth in what he has to say and I value his opinion. Is it going to happen? I can’t guarantee that. It’s one of those situations where you kind of got to take it week by week and just understand the role”
Apart from this, Roman Reigns also talked about how John Cena has been in his shoes before and claimed that he is in a good place to do whatever he needs to do with his character without necessarily being a heel or babyface.
Roman Reigns’ win against Undertaker at WrestleMania 33 probably meant more than the passing of the torch to the people backstage as it also sealed Roman’s position as the new locker room leader – a spot that was held by the Dead Man for a long time.
During a recent interview with The Sun, The Big Dog was asked if the Last Outlaw thinks that he is doing a good job as the top guy of the company.
Replying to it, Reigns said that he doesn’t want to reveal much about his discussions with Taker but claimed that the former World Champion has seen his body of work:
“I don’t like to talk too much about what me and the Deadman talk about. He’s still one of those characters – one of those guys in the locker room who has a lot of mystique. But he’s seen my body of work and I think I’ve done a good job of using everything I was able to take from him within that main event at WrestleMania.”
Apart from this, Roman Reigns talked about how the Undertaker understands the shifts in the business, how he combats with the negative fan reaction and more. You can check out his full interview here.
When asked if he would watch CM Punk’s next UFC fight, Roman Reigns told Alex McCarthy of the Give Me Sport podcast this week that he will watch, but only “if it lasts more than 30 seconds” this time.
Reigns was more supportive of Universal Champion Brock Lesnar’s possible return to UFC. Reigns said he thinks Lesnar should make the move now if he does in fact want to step back in the octagon. “Now is the time to pull the trigger, he’s not getting any younger,” Reigns said. “I fully support whatever [Lesnar] wants to do.”
The Big Dog on The Monster Among Men
The former World Heavyweight Champion praised relative WWE newcomer Braun Strowman for his progress in the company. Reigns says he’s proud of Strowman, and called their feud one of his favorites of his career so far.
Reigns added that “no matter what anyone says, I made a monster.”
Reigns on his favorite performers on the WWE roster
Roman had high praises for John Cena and The Usos, who he says are “heads and shoulders above everybody else on the mic.”
When asked about Daniel Bryan’s recent return to action, Reigns called him “one of the best to ever step in the ring.” He added “You want me to turn heel? Put me in with Daniel Bryan.”
Roman on his fellow members of The Shield
Reigns says there’s no timeline for Dean Ambrose’s return to the ring just yet. Reigns says they need him back, and adds that Ambrose is “rehabbing like a man man.” Reigns mentions that Ambrose has moved to Birmingham, AL full-time for injury rehab.
He praised Seth Rollins for developing into a real locker room leader in WWE. Reigns thinks Rollins has continually grown as a performer in every area.
The full interview with Reigns will be on the Give Me Sport podcast later this week.
Former professional wrestling tag team legend Bobby Fulton, of the Fantastics, was recently a guest on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show where he talked about several professional wrestling topics.
Fulton was promoting his upcoming World Classic Professional Big Time Wrestling show which is set to go down on May 26 in Circleville, Ohio, where he will be wrestling the final match of his 40-year career.
During his appearance, Fulton offered his thoughts on WWE’s current booking of Roman Reigns. Reigns is one of the more controversial characters in the business as he is received with a plethora of boos around the country, despite being pushed to the moon by WWE creative as one of the company’s top stars.
Fulton divulged that if Reigns were working in the old territory days of professional wrestling, he would’ve already been fired:
“I’ma tell you right now. If Roman Reigns was wrestling back in the day, they would have fired him already,” Fulton said. “Because he can’t get the job done if they hired him as a babyface. Jerry Lawler told me one time when I was breaking in the business, I was going out to the ring and was wrestling underneath – and underneath means that you’re at the bottom of the rung – and it got to the point where the people knew I was gonna lose when I walked to the ring and I was working in Memphis.
“I said, ‘man, the people are booing me when I walk to the ring!’ [Lawler] said, ‘well, maybe it’s time for you to go. You’re here as a babyface.’ And, like I said, if Roman Reigns was wrestling back in the day, and I mean I give all props to his family and where he comes from and who he is. But as far as getting the job done as a professional wrestler, even as a sports entertainer, he’s not getting it done because he is not able to make that connection with the people.
“The people just aren’t buying him. He needs to become a heel and just forget about it if Vince is gonna keep him hired. But if they’re gonna keep doing what they’re doing, then they need to turn him heel or get rid of him because he’s not gonna be an asset to the company and whoever he beats he’s gonna make them more popular just like Brock Lesnar. The more Brock Lesnar beat on him and bloodied him was the more the people got behind Brock.
“So, with that being said, if this would have been back in my day, Roman Reigns would either be a heel or be fired right now because he’s not getting the job done… Vince is trying to prove a point but he can’t prove it because it just ain’t gonna happen.”
You can listen to Fulton’s full interview on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show by clicking this link here.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is still pushing forward with his plans for Roman Reigns. Since 2014, WWE has attempted to establish Reigns as their next “face of the company.” Reigns had headlined multiple major WWE pay-per-view events, including the last four WrestleManias (31 lost to Seth Rollins, 32 beat Triple H, 33 when he defeated The Undertaker, and 34 where he lost to Brock Lesnar). There has never been a babyface that has been pushed like Reigns that is disliked more by fans in the history of professional wrestling. Historically, when a babyface is not getting over with the crowd, the promoter or booker would turn them heel. Reigns is truly a different case in that sense.
Dave Meltzer discussed the current creative direction of Reigns’ character on the sports entertainment company’s flagship show, Monday Night RAW, during the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio:
“They’re trying to tell the story and I can’t believe it because they’ve been trying for a couple of months, but they’re still trying to tell the story that [Roman Reigns] is Daniel Bryan and management is screwing him over and that’s why he’s not the champion. But nobody buys it.”
“They’re trying to figure out a way to get people to cheer him. We’re supposed to think that all these things that happened — the whole thing that they favor Brock Lesnar but it didn’t work. I guess for whatever reason even though it didn’t work nobody has a better idea so that’s what they’re going with.”
– WWE has started a new feud involving former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal.
As seen on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Uniondale, NY at the Nassau Coliseum on the USA Network, Mahal attacked Roman Reigns in the main event of the show when the former WWE Champion was competing against Sami Zayn and Finn Balor in a Triple Threat Money in the Bank qualifying match.
It appears that the sports entertainment company is building to a match between these two stars for the upcoming Money in the Bank pay-per-view event, which takes place on Sunday, June 17, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois at the Allstate Arena.
It should be noted that is pure speculation and has yet to be confirmed and/or announced. Mahal sent out the following tweets about the attack:
– WWE officials including Chairman Vince McMahon are likely very happy today (May 8, 2018) as the stock of the company passed 42.50 per share for the first time with a market cap of $3.25 billion.
With WWE’s TV rights deal expiring soon, stock for the promotion should look to increase in the coming months.
For first time, $WWE (#WWE#stock) passes both 42.50 per share, and $3.25Billion market cap
$WWE (#WWE stock) is now trading over 41.00 per share for the first time. 2 Years Ago, shares were less than 17.00 The stock is up about 147% in these last 2 years. So if you didn’t take my recommendation on this one… #ThatsNotAwesome
WWE has announced two big Money in the Bank qualifying matches for tonight’s RAW:
Ember Moon vs. Sasha Banks vs. Ruby Riott
Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns
Money In The Bank takes place on Sunday, June 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois at the Allstate Arena and will air on the WWE Network and some traditional pay-per-view outlets.
WWE is in Uniondale, NY at the Nassau Coliseum for tonight’s Monday Night RAW. As of this writing, no other matches and segments have been announced for this show. This is the post-Backlash episode and features the fallout from the event.
WWE posted an interview between Cathy Kelly and Roman Reigns, who describes the pride he feels over his win against Samoa Joe at Backlash. Reigns said that Joe had been saying a lot of things about him in recent weeks, and his victory solidifies that this is still his yard:
Cesaro On Watching Backlash From Home
Not all WWE Superstars were used on last night’s Backlash pay-per-view (PPV) event. While there were no Tag Team Title matches on the show, that meant that SmackDown Live’s team, The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro), didn’t have a spot on the card.
The Swiss Superman took to Twitter to comment on what it was like watching the event from home instead of performing:
A segment during last night’s Backlash event featured Elias being interrupted by the likes of The New Day, Rusev and Aiden English, No Way Jose, and Bobby Roode. In the end everyone (except Rusev and English) were dancing with Jose’s conga line – including Roode. Roode actually twerked a bit for the crowd.
Rusev took to Twitter to comment on The Glorious One’s twerking abilities:
Happy #RusevDay Backlash ! Bob Roode twerking like a skunk was terrible
It looks like we haven’t seen the last of Roman Reigns’ quest to dethrone WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar.
Despite that fact that Reigns has already lost to Lesnar twice in the past month (at WrestleMania 34 and Greatest Royal Rumble), WWE.com’s preview for tonight’s RAW ponders if Reigns’ victory of Samoa Joe at Backlash will “finally” put him a position to battle The Beast.
Lesnar is not currently advertised for Monday’s RAW TV event from Long Island, nor is he booked for next week’s European tour.
Brock Lesnar’s next advertised appearance is scheduled for the May 21st edition RAW in Albany, NY.
The Universal Championship was not defended at Backlash, so there’s a good chance Lesnar will be in action at next month’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view on June 17th from Chicago.
Do you want to see another match between Reigns and Lesnar?
Despite his recent losses, Roman Reigns came out on top in his last match.
Reigns defeated Samoa Joe in the main event of Sunday’s (May 6, 2018) WWE Backlash pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center on the WWE Network.
It was originally reported that AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Title would serve as the headliner of this show.
However, plans changed, and they put “The Big Dog” in the main event after he lost to Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title at both WrestleMania 34 and the Greatest Royal Rumble event last month.
WWE has posted this interview of Cathy Kelley talking to Reigns after the event. He noted that this win was all about pride and that it proved that if someone is doubting you, then you can do anything in regards to Joe talking trash to build this match.
Reigns added that he would conquer every single day and that’s why this is his yard. You can watch it here:
What are your thoughts on Reigns’ statement? Sound off in the comment section below.
Brock Lesnar’s victory at WrestleMania was the catalyst of a hot discussion about the fate of the Universal title and his win at Greatest Royal Rumble only proved to be a fuel for these talks to be carried further.
However, unlike Mania, his win at the Greatest Rumble wasn’t clean which made many wonder if Officials’ feelings about the Beast have changed since then.
Though Wrestling Observer has now revealed the original plans for the ending of this Championship bout, killing the rumors that company may portray Brock as a weaker character going forward. The original plans for the steel cage match were for Brock’s feet to hit the floor first, which would have made him the decisive winner.
Although things didn’t go as planned and after Roman’s feet ended up touching the ground before Lesnar, they had to make the call of declaring The Beast as the winner and then move with the storyline by having the referee apologize for it later on.
This likely means that the company intended for Brock to win the bout all along and the plans were for him to retain the Championship when they first announced this rematch last month despite the rumors of Officials considering a title switch.
As far as Lesnar’s next title defense goes, the educated guess is that he will be wrestling at Money In The Bank next month as WWE intends to present it as one of their top PPVs, in line with the Big Four events.
Last night’s crowd in Montreal, Canada showed a ton of love for their fellow Canadians – but Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens received some major pops. Roman Reigns’ promo opened up the night but was soon interrupted by Jinder Mahal, Zayn, and Owens – all of whom wanted a piece of The Big Dog.
Ultimately all three men jumped Reigns and Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman came out for the save. This led to a Six Man Tag Team match being made later on in the night between the teams of Reigns, Strowman, and Lashley vs. Owens, Zayn, and Mahal.
The match actually proved to be a very entertaining one, and during a physical exchange outside by Owens and Reigns, Owen’s father (Terry) and The Big Dog playfully exchanged words.
Reigns was working on Owens agains the fan barrier when the pair began jawing off at one another. You can check out the video here below:
The WWE is heading to Saudi Arabia for their Greatest Royal Rumble event. WWE has stacked the card full of huge names, including some at the commentary booth. WWE Hall Of Famers Jerry The King Lawler and Jim Ross are making the trip across the globe, and Lawler posted the following photos from their flight:
WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar is set to defend his title against Roman Reigns inside a Steel Cage in Saudi Arabia tomorrow night for the Greatest Royal Rumble. There has been a ton of speculation regarding who will walk out of Saudi Arabia with the Universal Title, especially after Lesnar shockingly retaining the strap against The Big Dog at WrestleMania.
Lesnar’s advocate, Paul Heyman, took to Twitter to hype the upcoming Steel Cage title bout. Here’s what he had to say:
My client @BrockLesnar and I are ready to make even more history. The accomplishments continue to pile up. The box office records continue to be CONQUERED by the Beast … the reigning … defending … undisputed … pic.twitter.com/9ix3n6nxv8
Earlier this month in New Orleans Brock Lesnar successfully retained his Universal Title at WrestleMania 34 against Roman Reigns. Many were expecting The Big Dog to take his place atop the WWE mountain and be the one to finally defeat The Beast. That wasn’t the case, as Lesnar hit a sixth F5 on a bloody Reigns to retain the strap.
Soon after it was announced that Reigns would get a second crack at the title inside a Steel Cage in Saudi Arabia at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Last night on RAW Reigns confronted Lesnar and vowed to return to the United States with the Universal Title.
There has been a ton of speculation on why Reigns didn’t win the title at WrestleMania. Some report that Vince McMahon called an audible in the middle of the match and decided to change the finish. Reigns was receiving a poor reaction in New Orleans and it’s believed the Saudi Arabian crowd will get behind him against Lesnar.
Whether this is the plan or not is still undecided, as Cageside Seats reports WWE has yet to decide if Lesnar or Reigns will walk out of the Greatest Royal Rumble with the Universal Championship.
Discussion: Who do you think will walk out of Saudi Arabia with the Universal Championship?
Roman Reigns has main evented 4 WrestleMania in a row now and the talks about who he may face at the next edition of the Show Of Shows have already begun.
During a recent interview with WWE’s Spanish Team to promote the company’s upcoming tour of Spain, The Big Dog talked about a number of things and revealed his choice of opponent for WrestleMania 35.
According to Reigns he wants to face Daniel Bryan once again and if that’s not possible then he’ll like to face his Shield mates Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins:
“I think I’d like to face Daniel Bryan again. It could be a great fight for next year at WrestleMania. Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns But if it cannot be, then I’d like to face the rest of The Shield, Seth, and Dean again.”
It’s been a while since Roman Reigns last wrestled Daniel Bryan on the Fastlane PPV back in 2015 and a rematch between the two certainly has potential.
However, with all three former Shield members being on the same Brand at Raw, a rematch between the three from Battleground 2016 looks to be a more realistic possibility.
Whether or not any of these matches actually take place on the Grandest Stage Of Them All will be revealed down the line, but the comments from Roman are certainly enough to fuel the fire for a discussion.
WWE’s Chris Jericho recently did an interview with WSVN-TV Entertainment Reporter Chris Van Vliet in Orlando. The pair talked about several professional wrestling topics, including why Roman Reigns can’t seem to get over:
“I think he’s like a modern day John Cena. For years fans just booed Cena because they think it’s the cool thing to do. They’re not paying any attention to what he’s really doing and that’s what Roman is now. They just see Roman and they just start booing because it’s the in thing rather than just shutting up and watching this guy for what he is which is a great performer.
“And that’ll come. Obviously if he turned heel he’d get over, but if he turned heel all the people that booed him would start cheering him. I think it’s just a matter of time and staying the course and he needs some good heels to work with. Heels that want to be heels.”
Jericho revealed that there were plans to have he and Reigns work a program, and he pitched the idea to try and spit a fireball in his face. Y2J believes he could’ve helped get The Big Dog over:
“I had an idea that I wanted to do and I pitched it to Vince. I wanted to throw a fireball in Roman’s eyes and blind him, like an old school Memphis idea. Vince said he’d think about it. We were going to have a program and then it changed. If we had a long program, I probably could have got it done. So there’s a secret, exclusive for you.”
Y2J was recently replaced by Rusev to take on The Undertaker at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in a Casket match. Jericho explained that things constantly change in the WWE:
“I was announced for the Greatest Royal Rumble and then I got a text asking if I wanted to do a Casket Match and I said sure. Then I got a text a couple of days later saying you’re not in the casket match anymore and I said yeah, sure, no problem.
“That’s the thing with WWE, it changes constantly and you have to go with the flow. It’d be great to do a Casket Match, it’d be great not to do one. So who knows? I might get added back in 5 minutes before. That’s how it works.”
Jericho then divulged that he currently isn’t under contract with WWE as of May of last year:
“No, I’m not. Up until May of last year I was under contract and then the Fozzy tour cycle started. They call me from time to time but it’s just a one and done kind of thing.”
As for his work with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Jericho says that there’s currently nothing planned for him with the promotion at this time:
“Nothing planned. It’s a little bit old school. Leave with some heat brother. I lose to Kenny on a Sunday, beat up Naito on a Monday and if I never go back, I left with some heat. The thought process was to go back and we tried and it just didn’t work out. There’s a certain amount of finance and that kind of thing because that match made New Japan a lot of money. Like millions.
“So when you get that feather in your cap now they’re not taking a chance by using Chris Jericho, they know exactly what they’re going to get. And for me not to be in WWE, I have to be compensated at a high level or else it’s not worth it because WWE could just wake up one day and go ‘You’re with New Japan? We never want to use you again. See you later buddy.’ So that’s the risk I take.”
Since 2014, WWE has attempted to establish Roman Reigns as their next “face of the company.”
Reigns had headlined multiple major WWE pay-per-view events, including the last four WrestleManias (31 lost to Seth Rollins, 32 beat Triple H, 33 when he defeated The Undertaker, and 34 where he lost to Brock Lesnar. There has never been a babyface that has been pushed like Reigns that is disliked more by fans in the history of professional wrestling. Historically, when a babyface is not getting over with the crowd, the promoter or booker would turn them heel. Reigns is truly a different case in that sense.
Bruce Prichard spoke with Sporting News on his thoughts about various topics. During the interview, he was asked about Reigns and his future in the sports entertainment company.
“Roman Reigns has ‘it.’ Roman Reigns is going to be the guy. He’s got all the tools. Love him or hate him, they care about him. I have no problem with Roman Reigns being the next guy to take it to the next level because he’s a stud.”
What are your thoughts on Reigns being the top guy for the WWE? Sound off in the comment section below.