Roman Reigns‘ presence in WWE has notably decreased due to his part-time schedule, prompting criticism from a wrestling veteran who questioned the company‘s creative direction with The Original Tribal Chief. This scrutiny comes amid ongoing concerns about Roman Reigns WWE booking, as his star power appears diminished since losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL.
Despite the championship loss not visibly affecting Reigns’ character, the 40-year-old’s role on WWE programming has been repeatedly criticized. The veteran wrestler expressed frustration over WWE’s repetitive booking tactics during a discussion on K100 with Konnan and Disco Inferno, suggesting the company has been recycling strategies previously seen with Brock Lesnar.
“So, Roman’s got this thing where he’s just popping in at the end of the show, doing a run-in, and they get the heat on. I don’t know, I’m not impressed with Roman [Reigns]’ booking. I think they could do more with the guy, obviously,” Inferno said.—Disco Inferno, Wrestling Veteran
The Evolution and Hiatus of WWE’s Tribal Chief
Roman Reigns emerged as the face of WWE after John Cena transitioned to a part-time role, gradually cementing his status when he aligned with Paul Heyman on Friday Night SmackDown and adopted the Tribal Chief persona. Over the years, Reigns has achieved nearly every accolade within WWE, even branching out into Hollywood with acting roles.
During an interview on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, Reigns discussed his ambitions to balance acting with wrestling rather than leaving WWE entirely. Currently on hiatus for his role in the film Street Fighter, he remains committed to his wrestling career.
“I wanted to be the first guy who could do both. D**n near lead a movie and then also still main event a pay-per-view. I don’t want to stop being a WWE Superstar in order to wear other hats. I’m always going to be a WWE Superstar. I’m always going to be Roman Reigns,” Reigns said.—Roman Reigns, WWE Superstar
Implications of Current Booking and Future Prospects
The frustration evident from veterans reflects a broader unease over Roman Reigns WWE booking concerns, especially given his reduced on-screen time and reliance on sporadic appearances for storyline impact. This approach could affect the momentum of one of WWE’s biggest stars during his hiatus.
How WWE chooses to utilize Reigns upon his return will be crucial for both the company and his sustained appeal. With his film projects adding to his profile, a balanced booking strategy will likely be necessary to maintain the star’s status and engage audiences long term.
