AJ Styles says the Roman Reigns he wrestled in 2016 was being pushed by Vince McMahon rather than by the audience.
Styles spoke about it on The AJ Styles Show. The two met for the WWE Championship at Payback and Extreme Rules that year, during a stretch when Reigns was being booed as a top babyface.
Here’s what I think. Here’s the biggest difference, in my opinion. The Roman Reigns that I ran into in 2016 wasn’t what the fans wanted. It was what Vince wanted.
He was careful to separate the booking from the performer.
Not to say that he wasn’t capable of being that guy, that top guy. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just saying the fans felt like, “Freaking, you’re pushing this guy down our throats.
His view of the current version is different.
But now, now Roman is so dialed in. It’s unbelievable. Like, he is the top guy for sure. There’s no doubt about it.
Reigns is the current World Heavyweight Champion. He won the Royal Rumble in Riyadh in January and is due to defend against the winner of the luchador tournament on the September 14 Raw from Mexico City.
Styles retired from wrestling after losing to Gunther at the same Royal Rumble and was inducted into the Hall of Fame over the WrestleMania 42 weekend. He has been working at the Performance Center since then, filling in for a coach recovering from knee surgery.
