Roman Reigns is one of the most polarizing WWE superstars working in the company today. When he stood face-to-face with John Cena on Monday Night Raw this week and the fans, who normally are polarized by Cena as well, all seemed to side with John over Roman, it proved how polarizing Reigns is. However, Roman sat down for an interview with ESPN and told them that it doesn't bother him when the fans boo or cheer him.
As a matter of fact, Roman Reigns then claimed that he isn't a babyface for WWE fans to cheer or a heel for them to boo. "If I'm totally off here, then I'm totally off, but I'm the first of my type. I'm the first true gray area guy," Roman said. "Just being what he was born to be."
The first WWE 'gray area guy'
Well, it is easy to say that he is not the first "gray area guy" in the WWE. Roman Reigns wants to come to the ring and do what he wants to who he wants, whether that is fighting a monster villain like Braun Strowman or insulting the biggest Wrestling star in the WWE in John Cena. He challenges heels like Samoa Joe and brags about retiring the most beloved superstar in WWE history in The Undertaker.
However, long before Roman Reigns decided to be a "gray area guy," Stone Cold Steve Austin perfected that in the WWE. Sure, there are differences. Stone Cold did a lot of pandering to the fans by asking them to give him a "Hell Yeah" and then later starting the "What" chant. But, at the end of the day, Austin would hit a beloved fan favorite like Mick Foley with a Stunner and then turn around and drop the villainous Mr. McMahon.
Even guys like DX toed the gray line when Shawn Michaels and Triple H worked as heel characters but had no problem with the fact that fans loved them as well. Roman Reigns isn't a good guy or a bad guy, but he isn't the first person to act this way in the WWE by a long shot.
The Roman Reigns WWE problem
At first, Roman Reigns was getting the same reactions as John Cena, with half the crowd (men) booing him loudly and the other half (women and kids) cheering him madly. However, things have started to change since Reigns retired The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33.
Roman has always said that all that matters is that crowds react to him. The problem is that the reactions are softening. At SummerSlam, the fans worked their way into a frenzy when Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman were causing devastation. When Roman Reigns took the advantage, things quieted down. He still hears boos and cheers but it is not as deafening as it was six months ago.
Roman Reigns has the look that a WWE superstar needs.
He has a good work rate in the ring as well. However, many fans are losing interest in her character and personality, which seems more fitting for a heel than a face. Refusing to play a side at all might not be the best way for Roman to succeed long term.