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Roman Reigns is one of the most divisive and talked about WWE performers in history. The company makes desperate play after desperate play to make him their number one star – thus far to no avail. How do they do it? What do they do?
I’m Tom Colohue and this is the Monday Night Reigns-o-Meter.
Monday Night Reigns-o-Meter
One of the major problems I’ve encountered since starting this series is that Roman Reigns isn’t really forced up against walls of odds recently. Given that he’s supposed to spend the next year of programming playing a believable underdog, despite his massive size advantage and experience level, this seems unlikely to change any time soon. Thankfully, there’s always something. There’s just always something. The show opens positively enough and then the second Roman’s face appears on that screen the crowd absolutely lay into him.
Why? Honestly I’m not sure at this point. Roman is a legitimate draw who puts on great matches. People cheer a Reigns win nowadays. It doesn’t matter, though, because Reigns. Boo!
It’s the big arms, isn’t it? It’s those big cuddly arms. I’d boo if I wasn’t constantly being cuddled by them too.
With reigning champion Hulk Hogan still out of town somewhere doing something more important, Reigns continues to be the top guy, so he of course gets the main event spot. Did you know the UV Title is the only belt not being defended at Extreme Rules? Yes, I know I said Hulk Hogan there. Raw is WCW now.
At the open, Reigns vs. Rollins in one of two main events (try working that one out) is advertised. Nobody mentions that it’s the actual main event (because you can’t have two main events) but, as it’s Reigns, you just sort of assume that to be the case. That means that you, the adoring public, are going to have to wait three hours to see the source of your desire, your endless love, your unholy bringer of ecstasy.
Have a read of the ratings after this and see who actually stuck around to the end. Just for funsies.
To keep the fans from turning off straight after the Joe-Wyatt-Balor triple threat, Seth Rollins is instantly dragged on to the screen to put over his history with Roman – carefully not pausing after saying Roman’s name at any point to keep the booing down. He reminds everyone of his consistent victory record over Reigns; a firm hint that Reigns might be winning.
He hits the “changing the course of WWE history” line which is nearing “ultimate thrill ride” proportions of annoyance, then walks off, probably to grease his hair up a bit ready for the match to come.
Wow, that Bayley segment sucked balls. I’d be surprised if anybody stayed tuned in for that third hour. Alexa did alright for it, though. Some great lines, and she owns that what chant now.
They show the package for Reigns-Rollins right after that segment and Reigns doesn’t even get a single boo. What a massive success that segment was!
There are usually more videos, I know, but Roman only appeared in one segment tonight so, you know. Yay. I miss Roman. Success!
Just before the match, Roman appears on TV and I have to call out one Wade Keller here for throwing in a Reignsometer joke about Roman’s man bun in his Raw recap. Addictive, isn’t it Wade? Doesn’t it feel good to let the mockery flow through you. I made that joke back on the night Reigns lost his U.S. Title though, dude. He has his hair down for matches and up for backstage segments, which is just plain stupid.
Ha.
Roman says some brief, tough words and gets a strong reaction because of it. I don’t know when it happened, but the man’s a reliably good promo nowadays. Then he wanders off to douse his head with a bucket of water ready for the upcoming match.
I have a video for that!
Reigns comes out last because he’s the big dog and Rollins is just the big man, or the big future, or the…big…cat? You know, nobody liked the dog in Tom and Jerry either. Just saying. Roman gets a clearly mixed reaction and comes out wearing neither his heel face or his face face. I need a better name for it than face face. It’s scary, but this particular storyline is actually working for Roman. There is an anti-anti-Roman Reigns movement building. Join me in the anti-anti-Roman Reigns movement?
Or am I the anti-Roman Reigns movement? Or the anti-anti-anti… you know what, just keep reading. I am the Roman neutral territory. Promise.
No, Roman’s playing heel. Rollins is doing all the fancy face offence and Roman is rolling out the ring. Heel tactics. As with standard Reigns matches he lays in some offense, takes some offense, everyone looks good, and Roman gets the win. He won a very close match, against a smaller opponent, using a little bit of luck. Can’t argue with that. There was even a strong let’s go Roman chant. Was an alright Raw, that.
Odds Counter
– Seth Rollins
– No, that’s literally it
Did Roman Reigns beat the odds?
Yes.
He should totally blade on Sunday.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: MONDAY NIGHT REIGNS-O-METER #19: Tracking Roman Reigns’s ability to beat the odds and come out on top
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