Kemo
04-06-2016, 12:57 AM
Former WWE announcer & head of talent relations Jim Ross gives Sunday’s WrestleMania 32 a report card score of B-. In an interview with Sports Illustrated the WWE Hall of Famer gave his thoughts on the biggest pay-per-view of the year, and credited Shane McMahon & The Undertaker with overachieving.
“I give the show a B-minus. The buildup was somewhat tepid since they were scrambling around with so many injuries, and there wasn’t much buzz going into WrestleMania, so I thought the show overachieved,” Ross said. “Shane and the Undertaker both overachieved. They both have a very good skill set, and they’re both smart enough not to venture too far from it.”
Ross also weighed in on the main event match between Triple H and Roman Reigns, where Reigns won the World Heavyweight Championship. Ross says Reigns is now posed for what he feels could be a great heel turn.
“The WWE kept believing their machine could make Roman Reigns a fan favorite by WrestleMania, and it didn’t happen,” said Ross. “That’s a matter of how he was booked. WWE has cast Reigns as a hero, but viewers do not accept him in that role.
“People gravitate to attitude. Austin’s attitude still holds up. Reigns became that defiant, anti-establishment guy, so people naturally compare him to the last anti-establishment guy, and that is Stone Cold. Those are awfully big shoes to fill.”
“Reigns was a victim of timing and booking, but WWE really has the table set for a special heel turn. Unless WWE is hell bent on casting him as a hero, Reigns is posed for a big turn, possibly as soon as tonight. He would make a great heel champion. Unless he’s deaf, Reigns is aware that the fans do not respect him. So there is a very real and organic story to tell with WWE pulling the trigger on a heel turn.
“I give the show a B-minus. The buildup was somewhat tepid since they were scrambling around with so many injuries, and there wasn’t much buzz going into WrestleMania, so I thought the show overachieved,” Ross said. “Shane and the Undertaker both overachieved. They both have a very good skill set, and they’re both smart enough not to venture too far from it.”
Ross also weighed in on the main event match between Triple H and Roman Reigns, where Reigns won the World Heavyweight Championship. Ross says Reigns is now posed for what he feels could be a great heel turn.
“The WWE kept believing their machine could make Roman Reigns a fan favorite by WrestleMania, and it didn’t happen,” said Ross. “That’s a matter of how he was booked. WWE has cast Reigns as a hero, but viewers do not accept him in that role.
“People gravitate to attitude. Austin’s attitude still holds up. Reigns became that defiant, anti-establishment guy, so people naturally compare him to the last anti-establishment guy, and that is Stone Cold. Those are awfully big shoes to fill.”
“Reigns was a victim of timing and booking, but WWE really has the table set for a special heel turn. Unless WWE is hell bent on casting him as a hero, Reigns is posed for a big turn, possibly as soon as tonight. He would make a great heel champion. Unless he’s deaf, Reigns is aware that the fans do not respect him. So there is a very real and organic story to tell with WWE pulling the trigger on a heel turn.