CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
Ask PWTorch
ASK THE SPECIALISTS ROUNDTABLE: The case of Roman Reigns

Aug 24, 2014 - 12:23:21 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


ReignsRoman_TB516_5.png



The "Ask the Specialists" Roundtable is the latest spin-off from the "Ask the Torch" feature. CSI led to CSI: New York and CSI: Miami, which is where you'll find the Specialists tackling a daily topic submitted by PWTorch readers to askpwtorch@gmail.com.

Ask the Specialists Roundtable #55

- Question from PWTorch reader R. Jack: What do you think of the reaction Roman Reigns received at Summerslam? I was in the Los Angeles crowd, and can definitely say that Reigns was over huge with the females. However, with the males, the reaction was mixed. Are you concerned with this? I'd love to here your opinions on this.

- "Mr. PPV" Nathan Kyght responds: Roman Reigns is going to succeed basically on presentation. I think that WWE needs to limit his talking and just have him keep winning. The crowd eventually always gets behind a wrestler if they seem unbeatable (and it makes any eventual vulnerability that much more impactful). For now I think WWE should stay the course with how Reigns is being booked. The big question mark is the return of Daniel Bryan. It seems that the plan is to have Reigns most likely win the Royal Rumble, but if that does indeed end up being Bryan's return date, they'll have to be careful to avoid a situation like they had with Batista this year...

- "Falls Count Anywhere" Tony Donofrio (@TonyDonofrio) responds: This is something I haven’t really touched on yet, but it seems as if Roman Reigns is already getting the John Cena type treatment. He has the look that women love and the kids because he almost has the look of a superhero. But, I believe at this moment in time, Dean Ambrose is the #1 face in WWE.

WWE has a long way to go in terms of making Reigns the #1 babyface. His in-ring work is decent for what he can do but his moveset is very limited. He also isn’t strong at cutting promos. Right now, as far as promos go, less is more. There is roughly half-a-year before WrestleMania, so there is time to get Reigns into position. However, as I stated, there is a lot of work to be done.

- "Common Fan" Jimmy Eaton (@TheCommonFan) responds: I think WWE is walking a fine line with Reigns. I'm a bit concerned, but still have confidence that he can get over, as long as he's able to have solid matches and a change to show his personality without too many cliches or bad angles. He needs to dominate people and still feel like an underdog if and when he faces someone like Brock Lesnar. Thanks for the question!

- "Mr. TV" Justin James (@Justin_M_James) responds: Roman Reign's current offensive arsenal is awesome as a hot-tag and outside-the-ring brawl in a tag match. In singles matches, his moveset is not nearly as impressive and does not build anticipation like it did in The Shield tag matches.

I think Reigns needed to simmer in The Shield a bit longer to learn more about singles wrestling before he was split out. Am I concerned? No. The guy has a ton of charisma and can build a great career. It's just a matter of positioning and learning and growing and evolving and maturing.

- "Showstopper" Shawn Valentino responds: Thanks for your question. I was also there live at Summerslam, and I did not notice a noticeable backlash against Reigns. We have to remember that he has not been around that long, and it has only been a few months since he turned solo. I believe people have to be more patience with Reigns as a performer because he is still very new and trying to find his character.

I do not think he has the same fate as John Cena as a polarizing figure because he has a cool persona and does not seem like a corporate dweeb. I believe he is experiencing some issues because he has received a sudden push, and he is still proving himself. Additionally, Randy Orton has been an established star for years. I am not sure if Reigns is a centerpiece star. In fact, I think he is the least interesting of the three Shield members, but he has plenty of tools and deserves a chance to rise up the ranks and see if he can fit that role.

- "Instant Reaction" Ben Tucker (@BTuckerTorch) responds: I was live in Los Angeles as well, and while his reaction was still strong, it has dropped a bit since June. If Reigns is pushed too hard or before he's ready, the fans are very likely to rebel against him in the same way that they turned against Cena back in 2005-2006.

WWE will need to be especially careful if Reigns is penciled in to dethrone Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title at WrestleMania. Putting the "new face of the company" up against a talent who generally receives strong reactions from smart fans could result in Reigns being booed in his crowning moment. The key is to make Reigns' ascension feel natural and earned. Right now, he's starting to feel like a Samoan John Cena with two fewer moves.

***

[ FYI: The specialists consist of a mix of current PWTorch contributors providing their opinion on today's wrestling scene and modern wrestling history questions, including Shawn Valentino, Michael Moore, Ben Tucker, Jon Mezzera, Justin James, Brian Leahy, Jimmy Eaton, Nathan Kyght, Tony Donofrio, and Mike Roe. ]

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]


We suggest these recent related articles...
ASK THE SPECIALISTS ROUNDTABLE: Who will be WWE's Next Top Star?
SATURDAY’S ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 4/11: How should WWE cater to Texas at WM32? Does WWE using Sting and Hogan add to chances more TNA wrestlers are hired? Do NXT gimmick wrestlers have a chance? Is El Generico really Sami Zayn?
THURSDAY’S ASK PWTORCH ALL-STARS 4/9: Are El Generico & Sami Zayn the same person? Next MITB cash-in for IC or U.S. belt? What match do you show non-fans so they get it? Why don’t heel teams cheat?
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES


PWTORCH POLL - VOTE NOW!
RAW POLL 10/12: Vote on Monday's show
 
pollcode.com free polls


RAW POLL 10/12: What was the Best Match on Raw?
 
pollcode.com free polls
MCNEILL LIVECAST POLL: TNA will have a 32-person tournament to determine a new Hvt. champion - your thoughts?
 
pollcode.com free polls
CENA POLL: If John Cena takes a year-end break, who should win the U.S. Title from Cena?
 
pollcode.com free polls
VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY