GENERATION AGAINST GENERATION
Roman Reigns was, at that time, the most hated wrestler in WWE. He nevertheless carried a “babyface” role, but forced by the creative team: it didn’t work. Since his victory over The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33, the situation only deteriorated. The company decided to pit two top stars from two different generations against each other. The John Cena vs. Roman Reigns showdown was in the spotlight. The objective? To determine the true face of WWE.
On August 28, 2017, John Cena appeared on RAW, greeted by the Memphis crowd. The Champ wasted no time and signed the contract, but he also goaded Roman Reigns. The Big Dog strutted out to boos and refused to sign the contract. The former member of the Shield claimed that he did not need to face the 16-time world champion and belittled his status. John Cena retorted:
“Listen to me, kid: I am not The Undertaker. I am not a worn-out veteran at the end of his career with a damaged hip. I have never been faster, stronger, or more hungry for victory in my life. And if you refuse to sign this, it’s because you know that if you do, your ‘Roman Empire’ will take off.”
Faced with these words, Roman Reigns grabs the microphone and seeks to reveal the true face of his rival: the one who turns everything to his advantage, the one who humiliates younger talents to make himself look good. Then, in the middle of his promo, Reigns loses his train of thought. A silence and a sense of awkwardness settle in, and John seizes the opportunity to mock Roman.
THE HUMILIATION CONTINUES…
After this verbal stumble, Reigns resumes his speech:
“If they boo you, it’s because they see you for what you really are: you’re an impostor. You’re a kiss-ass capable of becoming anyone. So, if we sum this all up, you’re just a part-time hypocrite. And I’ll be damned if I don’t bust my ass Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, every week, for you to stumble in here today.”
“But what are you really going to do, John? You’re going to bury as many young talents as possible, because that’s what you do, right? That’s how you stay at the top of the mountain. You’re willing to do anything. You’re nothing but a treacherous shark. But the thing is, the reason you don’t like me, the thing that irks you about me, is that you can’t bury me, John. You can’t reach me. I am the only one in WWE that John Cena cannot see. So tell me this: why would I want to degrade myself, degrade my heritage, my lineage, to become the next John Cena when I can be the one and only Roman Reigns?”
After his rather unimpressive and hate-filled lines, Cena teases Roman a little more by asking if he had finished his “blah-blah.” Then, the West Newbury native responds:
“Roman Reigns, you’re a real idiot. You swagger in here with a big entrance and you roll out the same pathetic excuse as everyone who came before you. You, with all your talent and all your chances, have the nerve to push the blame onto me. Very well, very well, big shot. Congratulations. It took you five years to cut a halfway decent promo, but now I’m going to put you back in your place.”
“So, everyone out there thinks I have these magical powers that let me control everything. But it’s them [the writers] who hold the keys, that’s always been the case, and that will always be the case. But you must blame me, fine, I’ve been in this business for ten years and I’m not tired yet. I’m strong enough; I’ve heard much worse from far tougher guys. But do you really think I’m a shark, that I keep everyone down, that I swim to the top and keep them under the water at all costs. But I’m at your level, my friend. I haven’t main-evented WrestleMania in five years. I opened at SummerSlam. I’ve had the honor and privilege of winning the United States title at this stage of my career and using it as a springboard to introduce new WWE superstars, like Kevin Owens and AJ Styles, to name a few. You took the United States title as a demotion.”
Following this, the fans went wild: John Cena had silenced Roman Reigns with the mic. The Big Dog signed the contract and prepared to strike his rival, but the confrontation never took place. On September 24, 2017 at No Mercy, after a 22-minute tense match, Roman Reigns would indeed have the final word by pinning Cena’s shoulders to the mat. Despite this humiliation a month earlier, the Champ would pass the torch and raise the night’s opponent’s hand before heading back to Hollywood. The two men’s paths would cross again in 2021 with a more seasoned Roman Reigns who would also emerge victorious.
The legendary promo between John Cena and Roman Reigns in 2017 is available on YouTube!
