Pro Wrestling

Roman Reigns’ Promos Are Epic — You Just Don’t Know It Yet

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By @nickmarsico

Twitter @WWERomanReigns

Twitter @WWERomanReigns

Everybody on the internet has been talking about Roman Reigns and his recent streak of, well, interesting promos. From his Superman speech backstage on RAW, to his “sufferin’ succotash” comment on SmackDown and his own personalized version of Jack and the Beanstalk, the words allegedly penned by Vince McMahon have become the laughingstock of the internet wrestling community.

Upon second, third and even fourth viewings of these promos, I’m beginning to fall in love with the idea of Reigns as a guy who is very excitable, enthusiastic and energetic, but just isn’t all there. He doesn’t have to change his in-ring style and can continue to be a hard-hitting world-destroying machine, but I’m going to have to refuse to believe that the material being given to him is supposed to make him come across as anything other than a lunatic.

Yes, Mr. McMahon’s intentions are probably to evoke the fans’ memories of The Rock, who made a career of reciting nursery rhymes, altering fairy tales and mocking his opponents using dumb voices and over-the-top theatrics. The problem with that, however, is that Reigns, at least at this point in his young career, simply isn’t dynamic enough to pull that kind of character off.

The little wink he gave on SmackDown after spouting some basic alliteration was supposed to be a sign that he’s a really cool guy, but it was almost cringe-inducing. It was the behavior of a man who thinks he’s being clever but is really falling flat and being laughed at.

Maybe that’s the idea? Or maybe it isn’t. I don’t know.

I do know, though. It isn’t the idea. He’s supposed to be the cool, charismatic and funny guy who can turn it up in the ring while keeping it light on the mic. The key phrase here is “supposed to be.” So, people should stop complaining about it. The WWE is going to push Reigns to the stars and beyond, and there’s nothing that can be done to stop it.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Reigns and I think he has a ton of potential; it’s just being wasted in a very significant manner at this point in time.

So, I have decided that instead of being flabbergasted by the out-of-control, silly, wacky things they have Reigns spout over the public address system, I’ll just sit back and enjoy. When I look at it that way, seeing it for what it is, I can make believe that he is delivering the promos exactly the way they want him to. He’s aloof and cocky, but also incredibly awkward and dorky.

That’s Reigns’ thing, and I, for one, endorse it.

Nicholas A. Marsico is a pro wrestling writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter!

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