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Steve Austin Says Roman Reigns Isn’t A Traditional Babyface

4K views 39 replies 35 participants last post by  From Death Valley 
#1 ·
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Steve Austin recently appeared on You’re Welcome With Chael Sonnen, here are the highlights:

On Reigns Having Issues Winning The Crowd Over: “Roman is having a hard time winning the crowd over just because of the way he’s booked. When you sit there, good looking guy, a lot of charisma, [and] easygoing the times I’ve talked to him. He’s one of the nicest guys in the locker room and well-spoken and smart and doesn’t need anybody writing convoluted promos for him, so I just think many people consider him [to be] entitled because of his looks and that [has] actually worked against him, so the kid is in between a rock and a hard place, no pun intended that he’s related to The Rock.”

On What They Need To Let Reigns Do: “If this is the Reality Era, let the kid go out there and shoot and let the chips fall where they may.” Austin added, “let the kid have some freedom. Let the kid go out there and express himself. Let him go out there and experiment. All he can do is fall down and trip and then get back up if he does and take another shot at it. Vince [McMahon] is going to still try to do the tried and true formula, a traditional babyface push, but this kid is not going to be a traditional babyface because, just going back to politics, people don’t want to be told what to like, why to like him, here’s why you should like him, and, damn it, like him!”

On Reigns’ Look: “He’s covered up in so much black clothing. He [has] got that long black hair. Half the time, it’s in his face. Lose the top. Dude, I had a drum half the time I wrestled, but I was mega over. It wasn’t about my physique. This kid [has] got twice the physique, ten times the physique I ever dreamed of having. And just let him go out there and be himself. I think the padding is just too much. The appearance, it worked okay for a little bit and now as a babyface, not so much.”
 
#8 ·
Why isn't Stone Cold in WWE creative, seriously? He'd just be like "Let the kid come up with his own shit!" and then he'll either sink or swim. The way things are now the guys are barely allowed to keep their head above water by being told to dog paddle.

Honestly, when the Shield first split, there was some hope for Roman. He was saying things like "You damn right Cena sucks when Roman Reigns is around!' and he's in a handicap match with Sheamus as his partner and he's like "2 on 3? They need more guys". That mostly silent badass seemed to be the way to go with him.

But they seemed reluctant to break away from The Shield (still hast he music and the look and even the through the crowd entrance) and he hasn't been allowed to evolve. Instead they are just trying to make him into another Cena which goes against his strengths and his personality.
 
#35 · (Edited)
I agree with Austin albeit in a roundabout way. He's right Reigns ain't a traditional baby face , but it's not because of politics. Roman is through and through an antihero. His look with the vest and shield gear works if they booked him like a ruthless mercenary that didn't play well with others -- heel or face-- due to Seth's betrayl from the get go. He would have been the polar opposite of Cena's neon colored boy scout act but Vince is an idiot who has easily ruined more stars than he's made. Roman was over after the Shield split.


Remember MITB when fans went crazy when he qualified for the title match by beating Rusev? It was exactly that night that they began to alter his persona, having him play pranks with Vickie to even get into the damn thing. That ain't him and should have never been. He's The Punisher, not Daredevil. We wouldn't be discussing his look if they had never tainted what he should have been. Keep it simple. Get rid of the superhero emblem on the front and throw him back in the all black vest he used prior to the "I Can, I Will" garbage.
 
#25 ·
Lol this is wrestling 101. This shit is already established in local wrestling circuits. The fact this hasent sunk in.the Nba of pro Wrestling. Is quite honestly absolutely absurd. Austin diddnt say anything that was earth shattering. Just give the guy creative freedom. Reigns is pretty limited as a traditional babyface. And in general. But he would be a much better heel. Have to.disagree he has charisma tho. Eugene had more charisma.
 
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#34 · (Edited)
I am actually sick of arguing about how much the potential of this guy is being wasted.

It has to be said by me? A guy that have been a hardcore fan for more than 18 years?
It has to be said by legends like Bret Hart and Stone Cold?
It has to be said by every fucking wrestling fan who is not a biased idiot and understand wrestling properly?

Come on Vince, you fucking idiot, end with this stupid dead system of typical white baby faces already and let Roman Reigns become a monster, give him something better than this shit.
 
#36 ·
I don't understand all of this whining about Vince McMahon. You realize people like Rollins, Cesaro, Styles, Del Rio, etc, can or have gone to other feds, Mexico, Japan, etc and have been stars for them? These guys can go anywhere and be stars is my point. Roman Reigns can't. Roman Reigns isn't good enough. Roman Reigns is a handpicked Vince McMahon assembly-line creation. You realize this, don't you? Blaming Vince for his failure is idiotic. You wouldn't even be talking about him if Vince didn't hold his dick for him and force him down the world's throats despite being a no-talent blank-faced charisma vacuum. If Roman Reigns actually had some real star qualities about him, you wouldn't be blaming Vince. The only thing Vince has done wrong is push this WWE version of Garrett Bischoff.
 
#9 ·
This is nothing new here Stone Cold has been saying the same shit since last year already about Roman the WWE never listens to him nothing will change.
 
#17 ·
Reigns does need to be allowed to be himself. He can still have a character but let that be a extended version of his real life. I think he would do better if he could use his own material and not the creative staff. However his look is fine, and I dig the military style outfit, he should keep that gear.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Steve is dead-on but people have been saying this for the past two years and not only us but people in the wrestling business, legends and peers.

But Vince won't listen, and that only fucking hurts Roman.

The only thing he should've kept from the Shield is the more silent, brooding persona. Yes, make him cut some promos but let the kid do his thing, express himself.

And for god's sake, lose the vest and the baggy pants. It looks like a grown-up child still wanting to wear the superhero vest.

Dude has muscles, a cool tattoo, still put him in pants but in a Jericho-esque pants. Leave the gloves on, that's cool too.

But what are we, poor fans in a wrestling forum thread, to Vince?

If he doesn't even hear Austin, we'll just keep talking about the same shit about Roman forever and ever, it's useless really.
 
#20 ·
It is now too late. The crowd would never get behind Reigns as the new face of WWE in a short period of time, and it is definitely time they tried to go about it the right way with someone else. I personally think Reigns isn't that ready yet, and his poor booking has ruined his chances of becoming the next face of the company. Let Reigns run heel for a while, take him out of the title picture, let him develop more before trying to make him the top guy again. I for sure won't be rooting for Reigns as the top guy anytime soon, he's just bland and a bit boring to watch, and the way he's been 'shoved down' my throat with Vince's traditional babyface formula, left quite a bad impression for Reigns in my smarky mind.
 
#22 ·
The fans plain and simple have little respect for Reigns. With what happened in Royal Rumble 2016, how can you support a guy like that.
 
#23 ·
Theres so much bizarre stuff with Reigns that makes no sense like yeah for starters Austin is so right with the clothing - has any big babyface ever worn that type of shit? Its like they just went 'well the shield are popular so theyll like him in this' but I mean even the shield were just a popular faction which is very different to being top babyface.

And usually whenever anyone leaves a faction to break out on their own they yknow develop their own music, look, mic work etc. whereas Roman kept the entrance music and attire and even kept saying 'believe that' repeatedly for no reason

Also Vince 'usa' McMahon has for some reason never had it mentioned on air that Roman is actually american and the fact hes Samoan has been mentioned about 83038450 times, like since when has being Samoan been something thats made a top guy?

I dont think Reigns is really a top guy not babyface anyway but I dont know how theyve tried so hard with him yet missed so many obvious things
 
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