When did Roman’s matches change?

[mrbananagrabber]

I’m not sure when it happened, but Roman’s matches now are completely different to what they used to be.

Now, things take a LONG time to get going. There’s way more playing to the audience, milking for boos, walking around smack-talking his opponent. The crowd buy into it but man, it’s frustrating. It’s like, get to the action, already.

When did this start?

[clc]

I think it started during the Thunderstorm era. He did lots of walking around and talking. I remember podcasts wondering if Roman would be able to pull of those same tactics with a live crowd. It escalated from there with the ref bumps, then the Usos interference.

[Fade]

Aug 7, 2023 9:23:52 GMT -5 clc said:

I think it started during the Thunderstorm era. He did lots of walking around and talking. I remember podcasts wondering if Roman would be able to pull of those same tactics with a live crowd. It escalated from there with the ref bumps, then the Usos interference.

Yeah, seemed like the Thunderdome era.

Some might not like it, but Roman’s mastered working a crowd. I don’t know if anyone comes close these days in terms of doing less but leading a crowd through mannerisms, expressions and body language.

My theory not-working in front of crowds, gave him the opportunity to work without having to give a f*** about the crowds reaction. Which in turn, was the key to him mastering crowd control. Just another theory, but those years of booing from the crowd effected him greatly. You don’t gotta be a body language expert to sense he often times came uncomfortable during that run.

[Fake Jesus]

This is the Thunderdome style. It's anti-wrestling and complete trash, but enough people are too dumb to go watch a play that Roman Reigns shouting something like THIS MY CONVENIENCE STORE, FOOL! I AIN'T GIVING YOU A BAG! for 19 minutes straight while an Uso mimes severe anal bleeding on the floor is considered top level work.

[mrbananagrabber]

Aug 7, 2023 11:11:06 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

This is the Thunderdome style. It's anti-wrestling and complete trash, but enough people are too dumb to go watch a play that Roman Reigns shouting something like THIS MY CONVENIENCE STORE, FOOL! I AIN'T GIVING YOU A BAG! for 19 minutes straight while an Uso mimes severe anal bleeding on the floor is considered top level work.

People enjoying the match doesn’t make them dumb.

[Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED!]

See they were always kind of like this but since Wrestlemania it's a bit different because now nobody's under any kind of illusion that Roman Reigns might eventually drop the title. When the crowd's already hot it can elevate the match and build sympathy for the babyface and the desire for Roman to get his comeuppance. But with Jey the crowd response died almost instantly, and it was painful to see the match without a hot crowd.

The crowd didn't sympathize with Jey because they pretty much already knew he was doomed, and they didn't bother booing Roman because they knew no matter what Roman was eventually going to win anyways.

We're getting to the point where the returns are badly diminishing. People aren't responding to it as much anymore. It's not that crowds can't wait to see Roman get his comeuppance at this point, it's that they don't believe he can or will. So why bother?

[Bo Rida]

I don't know if the timeframes match but I'm guessing the Peacock deal played a part. They don't have to sell PPVs or network subscriptions on Meltzer approved match quality anymore.

[Citizen Snips]

Aug 7, 2023 11:11:06 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

This is the Thunderdome style. It's anti-wrestling and complete trash, but enough people are too dumb to go watch a play that Roman Reigns shouting something like THIS MY CONVENIENCE STORE, FOOL! I AIN'T GIVING YOU A BAG! for 19 minutes straight while an Uso mimes severe anal bleeding on the floor is considered top level work.

I saw Grey House during its brief run on Broadway in June. The acting was fine but it wasn’t really enough to lift up the story; you kept waiting for some big twist or reveal but it just kind of limped into its conclusions. Still, it was a real treat to see Laurie Metcalf and Tatiana Maslany in person.

And I’ve enjoyed most of The Bloodline stuff I’ve seen as well. Granted, I only watch the big PLEs for the most part but I think they’ve nailed most of the main beats.

[HIM]

The Thunderdome Era really showed who could step up and who'd get stepped on and Reigns, he stepped up. It makes me wish we could get a week every few months of that era again because it showed who's made for this and who isn't.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Feels like a Triple H influence. He started doing long, plodding “epic” matches in the back 9 of his career too.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Aug 7, 2023 11:11:06 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

enough people are too dumb

Dude, not cool.