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EditorialWrestling from a Writer's Point-of-View - The Problem with Roman Reigns

Wrestling from a Writer’s Point-of-View – The Problem with Roman Reigns

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THE PROBLEM WITH ROMAN REIGNS

“In writing, you must kill your darlings.” –William Faulkner

This literary advice refers to the dangers of an author using personal favorite elements. While these may hold special meaning for the author, they can cause readers to roll their eyes.

As a screenwriter, I have found many times that I must “kill my darlings.”  In my world, it’s typically a scene that is amazingly brilliant and hits all the right notes and does everything it can possibly be asked to do but, for some reason, it just. Doesn’t.  Fit.

That’s Roman’s problem.  Or, more likely, Creative’s problem with Roman.

This is not disrespect to Roman.  I’m sure he’s a good guy.  He’s a decent wrestler.  He has “the look.”  But, in my opinion, he’s not the wrestler Creative wants him to be…or can be.  His mic work is subpar which translates to a lack of charisma.  You couple the lack of charisma with high profile matches and you’ve got the WWE Creative team force-feeding a superstar onto the Universe and, frankly, they don’t want to be told who to root for and who to boo.

Again, this is no disrespect to Roman.  He puts in the work, he goes out and has interesting matches.  He plays the part as is written it’s just not working. It just doesn’t fit.

Years ago, I remember an interview with Bubba Ray Dudley who said that he was a “natural heel.”  It wasn’t that he couldn’t be a face but that he tended to be more natural as a heel.  Kevin Owens is more of a natural heel to me.  John Cena is more of a natural face.  Is Roman a square peg in a round hole?  Would he be better as a full-on heel?  Would the WWE even try it?

When I come across a “darling” in one of my screenplays it simply means that I must find another way to get my point across.  Every scene in a script should move the story forward.  Every match in the WWE should move the story (or a story) forward.

When it was obvious that Brock Lesnar wasn’t great on the mic, the WWE did the smart thing and brought in Paul Heyman to do the speaking for him.  Speaking on the microphone is one of the key components of the job.  If you can’t get across what you want and what you’re going to do to get it, then what’s the point?  The WWE fixed a “darling” in one easy step.

What can the WWE do with Reigns?  How can they fix this “darling?”  First thing I’d do is create a storyline that fits something more natural.  Much like CM Punk’s story-line against the authority had a spark of truth to it – I would do the same with Roman.  If he’s frustrated that the fans aren’t supporting him (which seems like to me) – exploit that.  Second, I’d lose the whole “Big Dog” “My Yard” talking points – all that does is remind the fans, whether they like it or not, that this is the guy the WWE wants to be the face of the franchise.  Third, I would move him off the mic.  It was just a few weeks ago that he got the fans riled up by not saying anything at all.  Keep his focus on the prize and that’s it.  Fourth, I would turn him into a solid heel for a while.  Maybe he’ll turn on Seth Rollins at “Extreme Rules” and do the heel turn, maybe he won’t.

Bottom line is that the WWE has to do something, because what they’ve got right now just isn’t working.

Thanks for reading.

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