In his first article for PWPNation.com, Elliot From Boston revisits the heel turn that changed the landscape of WWE for years to come.
Let’s go back to June 2, 2014, play role reversal and put ourselves in the shoes of Vince McMahon and Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Let’s sit down and book a heel turn for one of our most popular athletes in WWE. But instead of Seth Rollins, let’s substitute him with Roman Reigns.
Let’s go back to the height of The Shield. Let’s go back and let’s remember The Shield for being the great stable that they were. Three athletes who complemented each other very well.
Dean Ambrose, the veteran grappler who always seemed to be destined for his “Lunatic Fringe” character.
Roman Reigns, the muscled Samoan. The limited wrestler, but athletic enough to allow himself to be carried in matches by proven and reliable workers.
And Seth Rollins. The “Jack of all Trades”. The high flyer who could power bomb you and grapple with you, all in the same match.
Now let’s go back to June 2nd, 2014. Let’s go back to Triple H’s words.
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, what I do better than anybody is adapt. Last night was Plan A, but tonight is Plan B. There’s ALWAYS a Plan B.”
You can see it coming from a mile away. Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns approach the ropes, looking for a fight. Looking to once again, pin Evolution, just like they did the night before at Payback, sweeping Evolution without a single pin on The Shield.
But there is Seth Rollins, holding a black steel chair. You know its coming, you don’t want him to do it, and then….Roman Reigns is on the floor, Dean Ambrose is shocked and confused. The heel turn is complete.
Seth Rollins has broken up The Shield to join Triple H as he began his quest to the biggest cash-in in WWE history, when he pinned Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.
But let’s go back. Let’s look at all three wrestlers and determine who exactly should have turned heel.
Dean Ambrose might work better as a cocky heel, but crowd reaction won’t let him.
Seth Rollins has been one of the best, if not the best worker in WWE since his promotion from NXT. A naturally gifted athlete, WWE wants him to be the top heel in the company, but here’s this magic phrase, “crowd reaction” makes him arguably one of the biggest superstars in the company.
Now was this the case on June 2nd, 2014? Maybe, maybe not. But here is what we do know.
WWE has done Roman Reigns no favors since its attempt to make him the face of the company. Roman Reigns is tall, handsome, muscular, and athletic and fits every checkbox that makes Vince McMahon’s pants tingle.
But here is one word that is used to describe Seth Rollins that isn’t used to describe Roman Reigns: natural.
Seth Rollins is a natural on the mic, in the ring and in front of the camera.
Roman Reigns, while athletic, handsome and muscular, is not a natural. This by no means is to say that he isn’t good. Roman Reigns is great, but his character leaves so much more to be desired.
Turning Roman Reigns heel on June 2nd, 2014, would have changed the landscape of the WWE, because “crowd reaction” could have and would have been in line with booking.
Has that always worked? No. But you don’t have to be Vince Russo or Jim Ross to know from day one, that Roman was not ready to be the face of the company.
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins went on to secure mini character changes. Dean Ambrose became the “Lunatic Fringe” and Seth Rollins became the diamond of The Authority. They both received changes to their wardrobe, theme music and finishing moves, with Ambrose going from the front face bulldog to “Dirty Deeds” and Seth Rollins (eventually) going from the “Curb Stomp” to the Pedigree.
Roman Reigns? Roman still obtained The Shield theme music, with similar Shield entrance lighting and even his Shield wardrobe, sticking to the all-black cargo’s, vest and gloves.
Roman Reigns? Still came out through the crowd, up until 2016.
Roman Reigns? Still being billed as the face of the company, while still laying on his back for monumental three counts, including the biggest cash-in of all time at WrestleMania.
Is this the fault of Roman Reigns? Of course not. Roman Reigns is an employee of the WWE and at the mercy of its booking. But tell me this, would you rather see Seth Rollins and “J&J Security” scramble around as a “cheap” champion? Or would you rather see Roman Reigns, the heel, the muscle of The Authority, face off with a pissed off Seth Rollins, face off with the biggest face in the company in Brock Lesnar?
I would. Because I don’t think turning Roman Reigns heel hurts you in any way. Seth Rollins can still be your biggest star in the company. Turning Roman Reigns heel, doesn’t hurt Roman, given you have him dressed in all black, with a “natural” heel look (there goes that word!).
But most importantly, turning Roman Reigns heel doesn’t hurt Roman because in a sense, you would have allowed him to develop. You would have allowed him to season. You would have allowed him to become the face of the company when WE wanted him to become the face of the company.
The same way we made The Rock the face of the company, the same way we made Stone Cold Steve Austin the face of the company, the same way we made CM Punk the face of the company, the same way we now made Seth Rollins the face of the company.
Roman Reigns has been a victim of a lack of patience.
Roman Reigns has been a victim of a lack of vision.
Roman Reigns has been a victim of a lack of creativity (would you get rid of the vest already!).
But Roman Reigns, is not a failure. You can salvage Roman Reigns, and salvage isn’t the proper word because he’s not lost.
Roman Reigns can be special, if you allow the natural (one more time!) progression the great ones go through.
Remember, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock both held the Intercontinental Title before headlining. This feud with Rusev is great for both athletes. You want to make Darren Young great again? No. Let’s make Roman Reigns great. Let’s go back to the height of The Shield. Let’s go back to June 2nd, 2014 and rewrite history.
Let’s make Roman Reigns great. But this time, let’s make it happen naturally.
By: Elliot From Boston
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