The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided an update on Roman Reigns’ position in WWE. As previously reported, Reigns has been primed to win the 28th annual Royal Rumble match in January and go on to defeat Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31. The new report claims that although some backstage don’t believe Reigns is ready for such a push, the position is Reigns’ to lose.
Dave Meltzer discusses the reasons why some have doubts about Reigns, as well as the positives of having him in the top babyface position heading onto the “Road to WrestleMania.” He writes,
“Reigns was originally set to win the Rumble and headline WrestleMania. There is a lot of skepticism in the industry whether Reigns is ready for that push. Thus far, the crowd is positive toward him, but he did just return. They aren’t blowing the roof off the joint for him. But there absolutely is an issue with him.
As far as a guy delivering modern scripted promos, he’s not that guy. He does have a good look and has a few moves that are over, making him a great babyface power hitter in a tag team. He’s good enough that he can have a good match with the right opponent, but he’s not great on his own in a 20:00 singles match. Then again, they do need to make a new babyface superstar.
Randy Orton isn’t new. Daniel Bryan, no matter how the crowd reacts, is not their type and right now, there are still questions regarding his recovery from his neck and elbow problems. So it’s Reigns and Dean Ambrose. Ambrose is the better promo and the better worker, but he fits less into the mold of what they want the company’s top babyface star to be.
Both sell merchandise but (even with Ambrose’s hoodie being No. 1 two weeks ago) neither is doing numbers there to signal being made the top guy. Both have been hit-and-miss with crowd reactions in recent weeks. But it’s Reigns’ spot to lose. And right now, he still has that spot.”
Reigns is winning, no chance of that changing. They're smart enough to know he isn't ready, but they wanna make him the next top face, so they're gonna do it anyways.
Just make Orton the top babyface besides Cena until Reigns is ready for that push, since they don't think Bryan or Ambrose fit their "Image" of such.
He was on fire before leaving to film, he can pull it off until then. As long as he remains the character he was before he left, and not the leg splitting cheerleader he was in 2013.
That would be the logical way to go if the company didn't have issues with the Network. They need something new to draw in more subscribers. I don't think Orton really helps in that context.
The finances are the reason they need to rush someone thru the ranks - I think.
If they really need a baby face, why didn't they pick Seth? I will never understand why they made Ambrose the face and Seth the heel? It makes no sense.
Hopefully for Roman's sake they don't overpush him. Fans are fickle and they'll get bored if he has no substance beyond some occasional spots. It really could backfire. And that would suck cause the guy has potential.
HEY
HERE'S AN IDEA
HOW ABOUT THE DUDE WHO IS BEING MADE OUT TO LOOK LIKE A CHICKENSHIT CHUMP WHO CARRIES AROUND A VIBRATING DILDO IN A GOLDEN BRIEFCASE AND GETS SPLATTERED WITH GREEN GOO AND MUSTARD BUT STILL BUSTS HIS BALLS 24/7 AND IS ONE OF THE BEST ALL AROUND TALENTS THE WWE HAS RIGHT NOW
YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT
WHY DOESN'T WWE CONSIDER HIM WHY
/shiftkeyrage
Love the part where Meltzer outlines the fact that Reigns isn't receiving anywhere near the kind of reactions his marks are claiming he's receiving.
Ambrose is selling merchandise and his hoodie was #1 a couple of weeks ago according to Meltzer. We certainly know that Reigns isn't doing anything for ratings and that he was outdrawn by two midgets not too long ago. Meanwhile, Ambrose's return did a better number and it actually increased viewership from the 2 weeks prior.
Everything points to Ambrose being the better business decision. If it's not evident now to everybody that maximizing profit is not Vince's #1 goal, then you're either delusional or unintelligent.
He'll continue to push Reigns regardless of the negative impact it'll have on his business.
I have no interest in Lesnar vs Ambrose as the main event of WM. There's something wrong with that match up. I still think Reigns is the better option.
I have no interest in Lesnar vs Ambrose as the main event of WM. There's something wrong with that match up. I still think Reigns is the better option.
they can make a gimmick match and Ambrose being a nutcase can hold his own against The Beast. Outside of Reigns (talking title match), the best choice for Brock Lesnar is Dean Ambrose
I think the injury for Reigns hurt more than we thought. Had he not been injured he'd have been given more time to be examined, and see how he handled the pressure of a massive push. Basically they're gonna throw him into the Rumble, have him win it, have him beat Lesnar and hope he is over with the crowd.
Good luck with that. All due respect to Reigns, he is pretty boring imo.
Sounds to me like "Ambrose if you can prove yourself, his spot is yours for the taking."
While I do like Reigns & I have defended him several times I'm not blind that his promos are meh as fuck, the look he gives when he's confused comes off as constipated & he's billed as a powerhouse yet uses no power moves.
He needs some power moves ASAP or Dean is gonna take that spot.
This is how I see this going over the next 2 years:
Reigns gets his push, he wins the title at WM 31, Rollins cashes in that same night and wins it, Reigns demands a rematch, they feud over the title for a while, Dean gets put in the storyline with the two but in real life he's motivated at the fact WWE sees those two higher on the totem pole than he is, Reigns continues to show his dominance & wants to improve his mic skills along with his ring skills, Dean on the other hand is pushing himself to the limit to go from above-average in the ring to great in the ring as well as trying to get better with promo's that the WWE management will be mesmerized by, Roman continues to be high on the totem pole he's getting more mainstream recognition and focusing more on pandering to the crowd instead of improving his overall skills, Dean is getting more frustrated with the fact he's not as high as Seth or Reigns is so he takes things into his hands and forces the WWE to pay attention to him with his newly developed promos & ring abilities, Reigns continues to get a push but Ambrose is really starting to get extremely loud pops every week to the point it's hard to ignore......
A clean lose to Lesnar at Mania would do more for Roman Reigns in the long than winning the title so soon. It'll be too obvious to everyone:
Roman returns.
Roman wins Rumble.
Roman wins title.
That's like a 6th graders story. Winning the rumble is great. Losing the title match creates a huge opportunity for development to his character and more ground time for a greater pay off. IF Reigns had been around, not injured, then he could have been getting more over and putting in the time to win the title (like Bryan did + he was getting snubbed).
Reigns should win the rumble, but should lose clean to Lesnar (not a squash match).
A clean lose to Lesnar at Mania would do more for Roman Reigns in the long than winning the title so soon. It'll be too obvious to everyone:
Roman returns.
Roman wins Rumble.
Roman wins title.
That's like a 6th graders story. Winning the rumble is great. Losing the title match creates a huge opportunity for development to his character and more ground time for a greater pay off. IF Reigns had been around, not injured, then he could have been getting more over and putting in the time to win the title (like Bryan did + he was getting snubbed).
Reigns should win the rumble, but should lose clean to Lesnar (not a squash match).
WWE still has time to save Roman. It's better they start questioning now than later where it's far passed the point of no return. Why is there such a damn rush with him? Anyone with half a brain knows Cena will be here for at least the next couple years. More than enough time to let Roman improve. Not like he's complacent. The man obviously wants to get better and is determined. Just let him do it.
If a guy that constantly wins PPV matches (Cena) couldn't beat Lesnar, why would a guy who constantly loses PPV matches (Ambrose) should face the only guy who has beaten Cena clean and beat him at Mania? As much as people hate on Roman, he is the better choice of him and Ambrose.
I think Ambrose still has a chance to headline Mania against Lesnar. Anyone can be made to look really strong with still a few months left. Don't forget that Bryan lost the two PPV matches he was in before defeating Evolution at Mania XXX (something I consider as a much bigger feat than defeating one dude). If Ambrose were to win the Rumble, end his feud with Bray looking strong and then beat say nearly every main event player on the way to Mania I think he will look strong enough.
I will fucking take it over Reigns winning when he is clearly not ready for a world title run. Rollins won't be saving anything too, I expect him to fail the cash-in on Reigns if anything.
I don't really get the WWE's logic here. They are testing the waters with Ambrose and Reigns for who is more ready and while Ambrose has shown himself to be the better investment so far talent/financially wise it seems WWE are too stubborn to see it. Do they not want to make money? Ambrose it a top merch seller and giving him the push Reigns is getting will amplify that tenfold, making them more money in the end (they can still push Reigns come next year if they want). I just don't get it.
If Ambrose gets similar reactions, sells merch, is the better worker, is the far superior promo then why is it Reigns' spot to lose? I know the answer but it still baffles me.
yeah stone cold wasnt the typical top face of the company guy either and he is the biggest star ever in the WWE bigger than both Hogan and the Rock
But yeah lets go with the guy who cant talk, work , has no cardio but just has the LOOK LOL
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