In the world of professional wrestling, fans love characters who are larger-than-life and have passionate followings. But what happens when it’s hard to tell where the character ends and the real person begins? That’s a question WWE fans are dealing with right now because of something Paul Heyman said about Roman Reigns.
Reigns has been holding onto the title of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion for more than 900 days now, which is a pretty big deal in the wrestling world.
Despite his dominance in the ring, many fans just aren’t buying into the idea of the 38-year-old as a hero. They’re not cheering for him like they do for other top wrestlers. Paul Heyman, Reigns’ longtime supporter and spokesperson, has the answer for this.
Paul Heyman Answers: What Differentiates Roman Reigns from Cody Rhodes?
Paul Heyman, who has been Roman Reigns’ biggest cheerleader, believes he might have the answer as to why fans rejected The Tribal Chief’s rise as a protagonist but accepted Cody Rhodes. The true factor lies in authenticity. Speaking to Forbes, Heyman said:
[Rhodes] loves to stay in the arena after the show, shaking every hand, posing with every fan, signing every autograph. If it takes him one hour or three, that’s what he’s always dreamt of doing, of being the person that they rely on to satisfy that level of a fan base.”
Heyman contrasted this with The Head of the Table, whom he described as more focused on his in-ring performance and less on the fan interaction aspect. The co-founder of the award-winning New York City firm The Looking4Larry Agency, added:
“That’s just not Roman Reigns. He’s a game-day player. He’s there to do his job, do it better than everybody else or anybody else, and then get out and go home. His job is to feed his family, and he feeds his family by being the best at what he does on the face of the planet now, if not ever, he’s not the baby kissing autograph signer. It’s just not him. So when he’s put in the position that this is what a top guy in WWE, in sports, in entertainment, in sports entertainment does, the audience smells it. They go, “He doesn’t really like doing this.” Cody loves doing it, so he’s much better at it.”
So, it’s clear — while Reigns excels at being a top performer, Heyman thinks that sometimes the way he interacts with fans might not feel as real as The American Nightmare does.
Paul Heyman’s Comparison Sparks Debate Among WWE Enthusiasts
Cody Rhodes is regarded as the whole package in wrestling. He has the skills, charisma, and ability to connect with the audience. Rhodes has a well-rounded skill set he needed to be good at, and he didn’t just rely on WWE to make him famous.
On the other hand, some fans think Roman Reigns lacks in certain aspects. They feel like he was thrust into the spotlight by Vince McMahon, even though a lot of fans didn’t really like him. So, Anoaʻi’s success is more attributed to WWE’s promotion and push rather than his own merit or ability to connect with the audience authentically. Check out some fan reactions:
Roman wasn’t allowed be himself while Cody is. That’s the big reason why Cody works and Roman doesn’t. pic.twitter.com/1U5iPrpX1T
— E-Man (@WigginsWick22) March 29, 2024
The biggest difference is that Cody was a complete package that got over on his own, both in and outside of the WWE
Roman was an incomplete disaster that Vince force fed to the fans for years despite the obvious disdain and dislike
— r (@shaayy64) March 30, 2024
Roman never was the top guy. They tried so hard to manufacture Roman but at times desperately failed. Now when he is the top technically but still can't get the job done on his own. Name a single match after becoming tribal chief where he didn't win by interference.
— Snapping6 (@dhanyawad3) March 30, 2024
Vince made Roman the guy too damn fast and it hurt him, especially since he was being pushed TOO MUCH
— GohanBlanco98 (@NickMatias6) March 30, 2024
The difference is simple really. Cody is just a natural as a babyface and Roman was anything but natural as a babyface in his run hence why one got over with the fans naturally while the others was forced down people's throats
— Ashaf Accelerator Zero (@MurimWalker24) March 30, 2024
The argument about being real versus putting on a show in wrestling is pretty complicated. Reigns had a hard time getting fans on his side, which shows how important it is to connect with them. But even so, his skills in the ring were enough to keep people interested during his time as champion.
The match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns is set for the upcoming WrestleMania XL, which takes place over two days: April 6th and 7th.
