The WWE has a problem. Their Royal Rumble PPV upset more than just the 16 thousand fans in attendance and perhaps more than just the smart marks. It looks like they upset everyone. How did they not see this coming?
The WWE's Reigns push has been like a slow moving car accident. The upset crowd and internet was loud because it wasn't just the smart marks who think Reigns is not ready. It's widely felt by the casual fans. They watched over the past few weeks as Reigns was put in promo's that didn't make him look good at all and how he was rarely if ever the focal point against the Authority. The show was still very Cena-centric and Rollins got more of a build.
WWE thought that they could just build Reigns through the middle of the shows, but where was Reigns last week when Cena needed saving? Yes I realize Cena never saves anyone, but still? That's the chance to get him over and they passed on it. On Cena appreciation night as well Reigns wasn't there to stand up for what is right.
If WWE wanted to put some love on him that's what they needed to do. Instead they put him in a weird program with Big Show that few cared about and had him cut bad promo's. I'm almost certain he will finally take on Big Show either on Raw or the next PPV so they can get him over Big Show, like it will help.
The honest truth that I've been holding back on is I don't think Reigns is the next "GUY". Certain people have put out there that they think even if he's not ready now he's the future. I don't agree and I hope that I'm wrong, but he's done nothing to make me feel like he's the guy. He can't work a match longer than 10 minutes. He's very botchy in the ring and he's nuclear toxic bad on the mic. People say it's Vince scripting the stuff, but to them I say he should reject it then. If he has no back bone then let me tell you he won't make a good champion.
The love I think he gets from WWE is the Rock connection. Like by default he's going to be good because the Rock is related to him. He doesn't have 1/10th of the Rock's charisma though. When you combine that with a limited work rate you are in trouble.
I think if Reigns was going to be the guy he would have changed when the Shield broke up. Instead of coming through the crowd he would have come out to the ring through the main entrance and he would have worn a different get up. That flack jacket makes him look gimmicky and it's hard to take him all that serious. The coolness of the Shield has warn off and WWE didn't want to accept that.
I also have a very hard time with the fact that Reigns will likely beat Lesnar at WM31. Lesnar just topped Cena and Rollins in one match. He bested the Undertakers streak and now your going to have him lose to a guy that barely has 10 singles wins in the last 6 months. That rub is not going to take as well as it should because WWE can do very little to make the universe of fans happy about that match between now and then.
Think about how that rub would have worked for Bryan who had the credentials to get the win over Lesnar. He would have been moving up the top wrestlers of all time charts with that win. Yet, instead let's put over a new guy that's not ready. It's very disrespectful booking and it's really bad when the fans can see it.
Bryan deserved this match and push. He's a hard working guy taking a major risk to come back. If WWE found out that he physically probably couldn't deal with a match at WM31 then they should have kept him out of the Rumble and used his misfortune to fuel someone like Ziggler to the win.
WWE knew that the in house crowd was going to be down on Reigns, so they did everything they could to protect him, which was to me so sad. They sent Rock out there. They eliminated Bryan early. They keep Ziggler out of the final four. They got it down to three heels and Reigns. They blared the music to hide the boos. It was cheap parlor tricks at their finest and sadly it only made it worse not better.
Reigns is such a rook that he didn't seem to understand the moment. Even Batista sort of got it. Yet I can't remember seeing such blatant tactics to protect a guy by a company. Almost like they were protecting a real legend and not just some guy who's related to a guy that was the guy.
Tonight should give us some clarity. We will see if WWE stays stubborn or regroups. If people are pulling out of the Network and you've upset casual fans then I'm all for a regroup. Yet I don't have my hopes really high.
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