Keeping it Kayfabe #1

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WWE are currently betting quadruple or nothing that after four WrestleMania main events in a row that 2018 will see Roman Reigns accepted by the audience as their long heralded baby-face champion. Vince and the boys in the back have their work cut out for themselves with this one considering how generally likable Reigns’s opponent, Brock Lesnar, is with the majority of WWE fans. Blurring the lines of reality, Lesnar is being portrayed as a wayward lover poised to strike up an old affair with the UFC while Reigns beats his padded chest week after week about how he deserves the class’s best attendance award.

Because that’s what gets you over with the crowd, complaining, and bragging about how much of a company man you are.

WWE went for broke last week on Raw with Reign’s push, having him suspended by none other than WWE CEO Vince McMahon.  This was a by-the-numbers attempt to cast the “Big Dog” as the put-upon every-man who gets smacked down for speaking truth to power. The only problem, that’s not what this is. Put Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle in Reigns and McMahon’s roles respectively and it’s the same storyline; a nepotistic heir apparent that the crowd loves to hate and complains to their authority/paternal figure until they get their way. This only makes Brock, who continues to allow his actions to speak for him, appear more elusive and compelling by contrast.

This WrestleMania main event storyline may also complicate other angles further down the card.

It’s not hard to draw the UFC connection between Lesnar and the latest WWE debut superstar, Ronda Rousey, also formerly from the octagon. While their similar backgrounds may be welcome to comparison, their inability to make it to Raw despite promoted bookings may not be. Rousey’s appearances on every Raw leading up to WrestleMania is now claimed to be a mistake via WWE.com but her absence was noted, especially since it was the very same Raw Reigns took another former UFC fighter to task for failing to appear. After a rocky Royal Rumble debut where some complained Rousey stole the spotlight from Asuka, she cannot afford to be portrayed as a fair-weather fighter this early in her new career.

• Heel
• RAW
• kayfabe
• keeping it kayfabe
• Alexa Bliss
• Bludgeon Brothers
• Trending
• SmackDown Live
• usos
• ufc
• Ronda Rousey
• nia jax
• Brock Lesnar
• Roman Reigns
• New Day
• Tag Team
• BRAUN STROWMAN
• wwe

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