AJ Styles Recalls Previous Reactions To Top WWE Star: ‘The Fans Felt Like ‘You’re Pushing This Guy Down Our Throats”

WWE

AJ Styles has shared his thoughts on Roman Reigns still being a top guy in WWE, addressing the difference between the OTC now and in 2016.

When AJ Styles made his WWE debut in the 2016 Royal Rumble match, the first star who he locked horns with was WWE Champion Roman Reigns.

A little over a decade later, Styles is getting used to his roles away from the ring following his wrestling retirement, while Roman Reigns holds the World Heavyweight Championship.

When this was pointed out to Styles on The AJ Styles Show, the Phenomenal One noted that the difference between now and then is that fans weren’t accepting Reigns as the top guy back then.

AJ Styles said:

“Here’s the biggest difference, in my opinion. The Roman Reigns I ran into in 2016 was not what the fans wanted. It was what Vince (McMahon) wanted.

“Not to say that he wasn’t capable of being the top guy, I’m just saying, it felt like the fans felt like ‘You’re pushing this guy down our throats.’

“Now Roman is so dialed in, it’s unbelievable. He is the top guy for sure, there’s no doubt about it.”

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The biggest turning point in Roman Reigns career was the birth of his Tribal Chief character following his return at SummerSlam 2020.

Paul Heyman recently revealed that it was him who pitched for Reigns to have a character change in 2020, noting that Vince McMahon initially planned for Heyman to manage the “Big Dog” version of Roman Reigns.

Despite wrestling as a heel, Reigns earned respect from fans for his role in the Bloodline saga, and his 1316 day Universal Championship reign.

Following his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 – and subsequent hiatus which allowed Solo Sikoa to claim leadership over The Bloodline, Reigns made his return as a celebrated babyface, receiving the reactions WWE always hoped he’d get.

Roman Reigns is now wrestling as a bad guy again, with the OTC listed internally as a heel. 

A major Roman Reigns championship match is reportedly in the works, click here to read more.

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• wwe
• Roman Reigns
• AJ Styles

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