On paper it’s pretty clear what WWE sees in Reigns. He played college football at the University of Georgia, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, and he’s got the wrestling business flowing through his veins. Reigns is a member of the highly respected Anoa’i wrestling family. His father Sika was one half of the legendary Wild Samoans, while Yokozuna, Umaga, Rikishi, and the Usos also share his famous bloodline. So if legacy was all you needed to get over with fans, Roman Reigns would be a made man. Reigns’ appeal to WWE doesn’t end with his famous family, he also made up one third of perhaps the most dominant, successful, and popular faction in WWE history, The Shield. Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins were “The Hounds of Justice,” and for a year and a half they absolutely dominated WWE in every sense of the word. They came through the live crowd, interrupted scheduled matches, and decimated anybody who got in their way. They were originally booked as heels, but they were just too bad ass for fans not to cheer. When the group broke up, WWE chose to let Reigns keep the absurdly popular Shield gimmick. Reigns was allowed to keep the signature Shield ring attire. He was allowed to keep his entrance through the live crowd rather than having to use the entrance ramp, which was one of the elements that helped the group stand out and seem rebellious. Most importantly though, WWE allowed Reigns to keep the extremely popular and recognizable Shield entrance music. Essentially, they tried to make Reigns a one man Shield, and hoped that the group’s popularity would transfer directly over to Reigns. The assumption was pretty bold, but at the time it was understandable, Reigns was a young star on the rise. His rich bloodline, and his success in The Shield, made WWE see dollar signs all over him. They became determined to elevate Roman to “Face of the Company” status, but their determination quickly turned into stubbornness.
