Roman Reigns has always been a top-tier wrestler. Even during his most hated babyface days, he was a physical freak and an incredible athlete for his size. His moveset was built for big moments. His signature moves like the Spear, the Superman Punch, and the Drive-By Kick were all created during this time. His main event matches were consistently good to outstanding. He had great chemistry with many opponents. Even when fans booed him, they could not deny he had the look and athleticism of a main event star.
Despite his in-ring skill, his babyface character was rejected by a large portion of the audience. WWE decided Roman was going to be the new face of the company. The fans did not agree with this Roman Reigns WWE push and could tell they were being force-fed this character. His wins did not feel earned.
As a good guy, his promos were weak and awkward. He was called “The Big Dog” and given cringey material. He was presented as an underdog who overcame the odds, but he was a massive, powerful guy who kept winning the Royal Rumble and main-eventing WrestleMania. The character did not fit him.
The fans actively rejected Babyface Roman. He headlined four consecutive WrestleManias, but instead of cheering him, the crowd booed him out of the building. This happened even against villains like Triple H and Brock Lesnar. Fans would often cheer for the heels just to spite him. A defining moment was winning the 2015 Royal Rumble. The crowd was so angry that they booed him out of the building. This moment is often pointed to as the peak of the backlash against him.
All that failure as a babyface was necessary for him to become the superstar he is today. Roman has said the fan backlash and pressure forced him to evolve. When he turned heel in 2020 and became “The Tribal Chief,” everything clicked. He was finally allowed to be the cool, dominant, and arrogant character that fit his natural personality.
As a wrestler, Babyface Roman was great. As a character, he was a disaster. His baby-face run is a perfect example of a company trying to force something that did not fit. The failure of that run, however, paved the way for his legendary success.
Roman Reigns Explains Why He Refuses to Choose Between Heel and Babyface Roles
Roman Reigns does not want to limit himself to being just a heel or babyface. He prefers to focus on the continuity of his character to tell the story.
The Tribal Chief has been getting great reactions from the crowd. His character has not changed over the past few years. He held the Universal Championship for three years as a hated heel. It seemed the crowd would never get behind him as a babyface.
However, since returning after losing the title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, the reactions have been more positive. He has not changed the way he acts. Instead, the crowd has decided to get behind him in a big way.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Reigns was asked whether he prefers to take the WWE title back from Cody Rhodes as a babyface or a heel. He said he does not care and does not want to limit himself to standard wrestling tropes. He wants to focus on the continuity of his character.
He said he respects the template of good versus evil. But once you have seen generations of similar storytelling, the audience changes. They are exposed to different things, and all of that evolves.
Reigns said it is important to keep the continuity and be the character. He said it took him 39 years to become the performer he is as the Tribal Chief. That is why it is important to stick to those guns and not try to be something he is not. He believes that is the most authentic thing to do for the Roman Reigns WWE persona.
He acknowledged that he hears the crowd and takes into account what they are doing. He called it a babyface reaction. But he said if he wanted to turn them on a dime, he could. He does not even need to do something bad. It can just be the way he carries himself.
FAQs
Q. Was Babyface Roman Reigns a good wrestler?
A. Yes. Roman Reigns was athletic and performed strong main-event matches.
Q. Why did fans reject Babyface Roman Reigns?
A. His character felt forced and did not connect with fans.
Q. What was Roman Reigns’ main problem as a babyface?
A. His promos and underdog character felt unnatural.
Q. What changed Roman Reigns’ career?
A. His 2020 heel turn created the Tribal Chief character.
Q. Does Roman Reigns prefer being a heel or babyface?
A. Roman Reigns prefers focusing on his character instead of either role.
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