Many people have worked at a job where either they have or others have been passed over for promotions simply because they didn’t look the part or the higher ups just liked someone better. It has nothing to do with who is more qualified, it is the fact that whoever is in charge wants that person to get the promotion. It doesn’t mean the person that is getting the promotion is a bad person and it isn’t his or her fault they have been chosen, but they have often have to deal with the backlash of that corporate decision.
That is where we are at with Roman Reigns. It isn’t Roman’s fault, he seems like a nice enough guy, he works hard, appears to love the business as much as anyone else, but it is obvious to anyone not named Vince McMahon he isn’t ready for the big promotion that he was given.
Unlike in the office, where you just have to sit and take it, the WWE Universe has a voice and they are expressing it loudly. They aren’t booing Reigns as much as they are booing management. Reigns just happens to be the one out there, so he had to deal with all the negative backlash.
Being “over” (a wrestling term for popular) in the wrestling industry is a fickle thing. 30 years ago, you could just tell the fans who was the good guy and who was the bad guy and that was it. It doesn’t work like that today and frankly hasn’t worked like that since Steve Austin went from The Ringmaster to Stone Cold.
When management makes up their mind someone is THE GUY, they put unrealistic expectations and pressures on that person to perform. When that wrestler is still very green and has been protected in a faction those weaknesses can be painfully obvious to the public. People didn’t really understand how well Reigns was protected when he was in The Shield. Rollins and Ambrose once freed from the faction have blossomed (especially Rollins), while Reigns has struggled.
Using common sense when you have a group breakup, two become breakout stars and one is struggling, but the one who struggles is the one getting all the breaks that is going to rub your fanbase the wrong way. It would be equivalent to Destiny Child’s breaking up and Michelle Williams getting the headline tour.
WWE fans know that wrestling is fake and scripted, but these are everyday working class people who probably have a few Roman Reigns types in their office and that is why they are pissed off.
The WWE at times ignores what is right in front of their face. Sometimes they have to be pushed into making the right decision (see Daniel Bryan last year). They are hurting Roman more than they are helping him, because in the end it is Roman that is out there getting booed. When The Rock can’t get you over, it is time to start thinking about Plan B.
Since this is wrestling, mistakes can be corrected on the fly, so hopefully WWE got the message loud and clear last night.
Unrelated this was so sick by Rollins.