Former WWE US Champion doubts Roman Reigns’ mainstream crossover appeal; weighs in on 'Industry Plant' claims

MVP believes the OTC doesn’t have mainstream appeal like other major WWE names.

Former WWE United States Champion MVP, on the latest edition of his Marking Out podcast, raised doubts over Roman Reigns’ mainstream crossover potential, noting that he doesn’t see Reigns having mainstream appeal like John Cena, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

“I can maybe see what he’s talking about only insofar as traditionally the biggest stars that we’ve had in wrestling have had, like, a mainstream crossover appeal. John Cena.

Like, you don’t have to watch wrestling to know John Cena. The Rock, Stone Cold. These were the guys, the man. And their fame transcended beyond pro wrestling.”

MVP argued that names like Cena, Stone Cold, and The Rock transcended beyond pro-wrestling, while Reigns, despite his drawing power within wrestling, doesn’t have the same popularity outside of it.

“I don’t necessarily see Roman Reigns being the same, having the same level of popularity outside of wrestling. But the numbers say different in terms of his star power, his drawing power within wrestling,” 

MVP acknowledged that he could be mistaken, but said he believes roughly six or seven out of every 10 people would recognize stars such as John Cena, The Rock, or Hulk Hogan. In his view, Reigns does not yet have the same level of mainstream recognition.

“You walk down the street and ask 10 people, do you know John Cena? Six or seven of them are gonna say yeah. Walk down the street and ask 10 people, do you know Stone Cold Steve Austin? Do you know The Rock? Do you know Hulk Hogan? Yeah, they know, I don’t know if Roman Reigns has that same mainstream crossover appeal.”

MVP acknowledges Roman Reigns’ drawing power within pro wrestling

However, MVP drew a clear line between Roman Reigns‘ mainstream recognition and his popularity within pro wrestling.

“If you do a show in some location and it’s a WWE show and Roman Reigns is not on the card and you sell, I don’t know, 20,000 tickets, if you add ‘Roman Reigns will be’ you’re going to sell another 5,000 tickets.”

MVP also weighed in on the claims of Reigns being an industry plant and disagreed with Conrad Thompson’s point. He also dismissed the notion that WWE’s long-term backing of Reigns diminishes his accolades, noting that promotions have historically identified performers with star potential and given them the platform and exposure needed to reach that level.

“So I disagree very strongly with Conrad. The industry plant, I think that’s absolutely ridiculous. Is that for being pushed by the office? Every star is pushed by the office. Every star is, as they like to say, crammed down your throat. That’s how you become a star.

Perhaps maybe it took a little longer for him to catch on, but I don’t think you can deny now his star power in wrestling. And I will bet a dollar we’re dying that at some point Roman is going to go the way of The Rock and become a movie star. He’s got the presence, the good looks, the charisma. Like Roman Reigns will be an actor. I know he will be a television star. He is that dude,” 

[H/T: F4WOnline]

What’s next for Roman Reigns after title defense in Mexico City?

Following his title defense against Penta on the September 14 edition of Monday Night Raw in Mexico City, Reigns was attacked by LA Knight as the show went off the air. Knight took him out with a BFT. Reigns then cut a promo via his social media, announcing a showdown between the two at Money in the Bank.

The match was later confirmed by WWE, making Reigns’ fifth title defense official for MITB, which is set for October 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.