Steve Austin On Roman Reigns: Why He Isn't Getting Over, Needing New Ring Gear, Creative Freedom
Recently on You're Welcome With Chael Sonnen, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin shared some of his thoughts on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns.
According to Austin, Reigns is not getting over because of the way he is booked.
"Roman is having a hard time winning the crowd over just because of the way he's booked. When you sit there, good looking guy, a lot of charisma, [and] easygoing the times I've talked to him. He's one of the nicest guys in the locker room and well-spoken and smart and doesn't need anybody writing convoluted promos for him, so I just think many people consider him [to be] entitled because of his looks and that [has] actually worked against him, so the kid is in between a rock and a hard place, no pun intended that he's related to The Rock."
In Austin's view, Reigns should be allowed to have more creative freedom and the crowd should decide whether Reigns should be a babyface or a heel.
"If this is the Reality Era, let the kid go out there and shoot and let the chips fall where they may." Austin added, "let the kid have some freedom. Let the kid go out there and express himself. Let him go out there and experiment. All he can do is fall down and trip and then get back up if he does and take another shot at it."
Despite his preference to see Reigns get more creative freedom, 'The Texas Rattlesnake' claimed that WWE will continue to push Reigns as a traditional babyface. With that said, Austin claimed that Reigns will never be a traditional babyface.
"Vince [McMahon] is going to still try to do the tried and true formula, a traditional babyface push, but this kid is not going to be a traditional babyface because, just going back to politics, people don't want to be told what to like, why to like him, here's why you should like him, and, damn it, like him!"
The professional wrestling great also claimed that Reigns should ditch his current ring gear.
"He's covered up in so much black clothing. He [has] got that long black hair. Half the time, it's in his face. Lose the top. Dude, I had a drum half the time I wrestled, but I was mega over. It wasn't about my physique. This kid [has] got twice the physique, ten times the physique I ever dreamed of having. And just let him go out there and be himself. I think the padding is just too much. The appearance, it worked okay for a little bit and now as a babyface, not so much."
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Source: You?re Welcome With Chael Sonnen