For a long time, fans of WWE weren’t on board with the idea of Roman Reigns stepping into the spotlight as the new face of the company, filling the shoes of someone like John Cena. But everything changed when Reigns decided to tap into his darker side and embrace the role of a villain.
Not too long after he stepped back into the ring from a short retirement, Reigns made waves by ambushing Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman at Summerslam. He then shocked everyone by aligning himself with Paul Heyman, a former adversary.
What happened next?
Reigns embarked on a staggering 1,316-day stretch as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. This journey was marked by headlining four WrestleManias and taking down opponents like Seth Rollins, Brock Lesnar, and John Cena, along with other big names such as Logan Paul, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens.
His prowess inside the ring was matched by the meticulous crafting of his Tribal Chief persona. This character arc began with a tumultuous rivalry with his cousin Jey Uso and evolved into a powerhouse leader role within the Bloodline faction, complete with a compelling mix of menace and manipulation.
Week after week, the Bloodline storyline became must-watch TV, especially with the entrance of Sami Zayn adding even more depth. Roman Reigns’ magnetic presence was so strong that even The Rock couldn’t resist getting involved.
Ultimately, Roman’s seemingly unstoppable run reached its end in what many consider to be one of the most satisfying conclusions to a WWE storyline. Cody Rhodes, with a little backup from Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, the Usos, and The Undertaker, finally conquered Reigns at WrestleMania 40, capturing the WWE Championship and closing the chapter on Reigns’ domineering saga.
Roman Reigns’ turn to the dark side reshaped the landscape of WWE dramatically, creating a legacy that would have been unimaginable without this bold shift in direction.
