Bruce Prichard compared the early fan backlash to Roman Reigns with the similar divided response John Cena faced in 2006. Speaking on Something To Wrestle, Prichard revealed that Vince McMahon was prepared to overlook the negative crowd reactions because key business indicators painted a different picture. Merchandise sales, family attendance, and overall revenue supported the company’s direction despite vocal disapproval from certain segments of the audience.
Vince McMahon’s Unwavering Confidence in Roman Reigns
Prichard emphasized that McMahon held firm in his belief in Roman Reigns’ potential well before the “Tribal Chief” persona took hold. He described Reigns as having an undeniable star quality from the outset, both in terms of appearance and presence, making him the future centerpiece of WWE.
“Those are the two examples I always use. Go back to when we first started doing this and we were looking at the product then, and I told you from day one, never wavered. Roman Reigns is the biggest star they have, and will be the biggest star. It was he had a look. He had a just a personality that he was made for this business. He’s a star. You look at him, you see a star. The same thing with Cena. He was a star. The audience felt one way, because they felt they were being shoved down their throat. As soon as we stopped shoving Cena down their throat. Then Oh, my God, y’all listening to the people.”
?Bruce Prichard, Wrestling Executive and Commentator
Understanding the Business Beyond Crowd Noise
According to Prichard, ignoring loud negative reactions was a strategic choice by McMahon based on broader insights. He explained that the negative vocal feedback did not reflect the company’s overall success, with families and younger audiences driving merchandise purchases and contributing to revenue streams. McMahon’s focus remained on these core metrics rather than momentary crowd displeasure.
“You had to ignore it. Because that was not some place that Vince was willing to go and he saw John Cena. When you look at whether the loud male views and boos were drowning out everything else, the families in the merchandise sales and the kids and the money was saying otherwise. So that was not a really hard decision. It was one that people didn’t understand, for sure.”
?Bruce Prichard, Wrestling Executive and Commentator
Implications for WWE’s Future and Roman Reigns’ Legacy
The steady backing from McMahon and the proven track record with stars like Cena suggest that WWE’s confidence in Roman Reigns as their flagship performer was well warranted. This approach reflects a long-term vision that prioritizes sustainable growth, leveraging Reigns’ appeal to diverse fan demographics. As Roman Reigns continues to evolve in his role, his position as WWE’s biggest star seems set to endure and shape the company’s direction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3EYM4QZUhw
