Roman Reigns defeated LA Knight to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On a recent edition of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray addressed complaints about Reigns defending his title against Knight at the event.
Ray answered fans who have been complaining about Reigns rarely defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and winning his title defenses with the help of The Bloodline.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On wrestling “know-it-alls” complaining about Roman Reigns as champion: “It’s amazing how many ‘know-it-alls’ know nothing at all. Here’s the deal, there are a lot of people pissed off about Roman Reigns and the number of times he defends his championship, but we know he’s an attraction that the WWE is trying to keep special and is also trying to keep safe because the bigger picture is Cody and ‘Mania.”
On WWE keeping Reigns protected and insulated: “Correct. He’s insulated, like the Pope, like the President. People would stop complaining if Crown Jewel would’ve been a different style of Roman match, maybe a better style of Roman match. Something different than the cookie-cutter Roman match.”
On LA Knight losing to Reigns in the main event: “I thought it was a good show. When it comes to Crown Jewel, you have to understand what it is — it is a glorified live event, a glorified house show. You’re only gonna get so much. The main event — everybody was talking about LA Knight and Roman Reigns, ‘[People saying] LA Knight’s going to win, LA Knight’s going to win.’ C’mon, folks. If you really look at this the correct way, there’s no way in hell WWE was going to put the championship on LA Knight.”
On fan criticism of how Reigns wins his title defenses: “I understand that it works. Kiss [the rock and roll band] puts on the same show every night.”
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Roman Reigns, the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, recently defended his title against LA Knight at Crown Jewel 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While some fans have expressed complaints about Reigns’ limited title defenses and his victories with the help of The Bloodline, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has addressed these concerns on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast.
Ray acknowledges that there are fans who are frustrated with Reigns’ infrequent title defenses. However, he explains that WWE is intentionally keeping Reigns as a special attraction and ensuring his safety for the bigger picture, which is a potential match against Cody at WrestleMania. By limiting Reigns’ title defenses, WWE is trying to maintain his status as a top draw and protect his character.
Furthermore, Ray suggests that fans would be less critical if Crown Jewel featured a different style of Roman Reigns match. He believes that a more unique and exciting match would have satisfied the audience and alleviated some of the complaints. Ray compares Reigns’ protection and insulation within WWE to that of the Pope or the President, emphasizing the need to maintain his image and marketability.
Regarding LA Knight’s loss to Reigns in the main event at Crown Jewel, Ray defends WWE’s decision. He reminds fans that Crown Jewel is essentially a glorified live event or house show, where the outcomes are predictable. He asserts that it was highly unlikely for WWE to put the championship on LA Knight, despite some speculation from fans.
Addressing fan criticism of how Reigns wins his title defenses with the help of The Bloodline, Ray draws a parallel to the rock band Kiss. He explains that just like Kiss puts on the same show every night, Reigns’ consistent victory formula is part of his character and what works for him. Ray suggests that fans should appreciate the entertainment value rather than focusing on the predictability of Reigns’ matches.
In conclusion, Roman Reigns’ recent title defense against LA Knight at Crown Jewel has sparked complaints from some fans. However, Bully Ray provides insights into WWE’s strategy of keeping Reigns as a special attraction and protecting his character. He also defends WWE’s booking decisions and highlights the importance of entertainment value in professional wrestling.