Roman Reigns, a dominant figure in WWE, has experienced both incredible success and notable setbacks during his career. Despite his talent and a record-breaking 1,316-day reign as World Champion during his heel run, his path has been marred by questionable matchup choices at WrestleMania that failed to resonate with fans and undermined his momentum. These missteps in booking, particularly poor opponent selections, often left major WrestleMania bouts feeling underwhelming.
Weak Opposition in the Shield’s Breakthrough at WrestleMania XXX
At WrestleMania XXX, The Shield, having recently turned face following a heel alliance with The Authority, faced Kane and The New Age Outlaws in a six-man tag team match. Coming off a well-received feud with The Wyatt Family, The Shield should have continued to build their momentum. Instead, the opposing team—Kane, Road Dogg, and Billy Gunn—lacked the credibility to make the storyline engaging or the match exciting. The contest lasted less than three minutes and became largely forgettable in the careers of all involved.
Unpopular Main Event with Triple H at WrestleMania 32
Despite widespread fan resistance to Roman Reigns as a top star, WWE persevered in pushing him prominently. His storyline rivalry against The Authority culminated in a WrestleMania 32 main event against Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, fans’ disinterest significantly damaged the bout’s potential, and the match is now considered one of the least successful WrestleMania main events, failing to deliver the spectacle expected at the grand stage.
The Undertaker Clash at WrestleMania 33 Fell Short of Expectations
Roman Reigns found himself opposite The Undertaker in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania 33. By this point, The Undertaker’s legendary undefeated streak had already ended and he was no longer at his prime. His diminished physicality made the match sluggish and unremarkable, and though Reigns secured the win, the encounter contributed little to enhancing his stature or captivating the audience.
Another Missed Chance Against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34
Reigns’ WrestleMania 31 match against Brock Lesnar had been widely praised, but when they met again at WrestleMania 34 with the Universal Championship on the line, expectations went unmet. Lesnar’s part-time schedule frustrated fans eager for a title change, yet Reigns still struggled to gain fan support despite his hero role. Ultimately, Lesnar retained the championship, and the match lacked the intensity and excitement of their previous encounter, leaving many disappointed.
WrestleMania 38’s High-Stakes Battle Failed to Deliver
The rivalry between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar returned for WrestleMania 38 in a Winner Takes All Match with both the Universal and WWE Championships at stake. The storyline reversed their usual roles, casting Reigns as the villain and Lesnar as the fan-favorite, in an effort to refresh interest. Despite significant hype, the match failed to meet expectations, dampening momentum for multiple superstars involved. Although Reigns finally defeated Lesnar on the grandest stage, the outcome generated little excitement among the wider audience.
Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania journey reflects how crucial opponent selection and storyline alignment are to creating memorable moments. Misjudgments in booking have sometimes stalled the careers of prominent superstars, even when top talent is involved. Looking ahead, it remains essential for WWE to pair Reigns with compelling rivals and meaningful narratives to capitalize on his status and fully engage fans at future WrestleMania events.
