Subhojeet Mukherjee on March 30, 2024
Roman Reigns, the dominant Tribal Chief of WWE, has consistently captivated audiences with his outspoken demeanor and undeniable presence. Despite his efforts as a babyface, he faced widespread disapproval from fans. In light of this, Paul Heyman has now offered insight into why Cody Rhodes is perceived as a more effective babyface than Reigns.
Roman Reigns continues his legacy-defining title reign as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, surpassing an impressive milestone of over 1300 days. Cody Rhodes is undoubtedly the biggest babyface in WWE right now as he looks to topple The Head of The Table.
In an interview with Forbes, Paul Heyman addressed Roman Reigns’ struggle as a top babyface compared to Cody Rhodes’ success in the role. Heyman emphasized that Roman’s portrayal as the protagonist in WWE was heavily influenced by the corporate perspective of Roman Reigns as a persona, both on-screen and off-screen.
He contrasted this with Cody Rhodes, highlighting Cody’s genuine connection with fans and his willingness to engage with them extensively after shows. According to Heyman, Cody’s dedication to his fans stems from a lifelong dream of being the kind of performer who goes above and beyond to satisfy his fan base.
“Because Roman’s rise as the protagonist in WWE folklore was the corporate portrayal of how the corporation viewed Roman Reigns and Joe Anoa’i behind the scenes as Roman Reigns.”
“And with Cody, what you see is what you get. This is Cody. Cody 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 also pointed out that Roman Reigns approaches his role differently. He described Reigns as a “game-day player” who prioritizes performing exceptionally well in the ring and then leaving to attend to his family responsibilities. Heyman emphasized that Reigns is not naturally inclined to embrace the traditional role of a top WWE superstar who engages extensively with fans.
“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.”
WrestleMania 40 promises to be monumental as Reigns is set to headline both nights of the event. On the second night, Reigns will defend his title against Cody Rhodes in the highly anticipated main event, further solidifying his status as one of the most dominant forces in WWE history.
March 30, 2024 7:34 am
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