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MVP questions Roman Reigns’ mainstream crossover appeal

MVP questions Roman Reigns’ mainstream crossover appeal

Posted: Sep 16th 2026 By: Shounak Chakribarti

MVP does not see Roman Reigns as having the same mainstream crossover appeal as John Cena, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Speaking on the latest edition of his Marking Out podcast, MVP opened up and compared Reigns’ mainstream appeal and compared it with some of the biggest names in WWE.

“I can maybe see what he’s talking about only insofar as traditionally the biggest stars that we’ve had in wrestling have had, like, a mainstream crossover appeal. John Cena. Like, you don’t have to watch wrestling to know John Cena. The Rock, Stone Cold. These were the guys, the man. And their fame transcended beyond pro wrestling.

“I don’t necessarily see Roman Reigns being the same, having the same level of popularity outside of wrestling. But the numbers say different in terms of his star power, his drawing power within wrestling,” MVP shared.

He further admitted that while he could be wrong, he holds the perception that six/seven out of ten people will recognize Cena, The Rock, or Hulk Hogan. However, he does not believe the same will happen with Reigns.

Although, strictly speaking, from WWE’s point of view, Reigns’ numbers speak something else. MVP believes Reigns has the power of drawing numbers and selling tickets.

“If you do a show in some location and it’s a WWE show and Roman Reigns is not on the card and you sell, I don’t know, 20,000 tickets, if you add ‘Roman Reigns will be’ you’re going to sell another 5,000 tickets.

MVP further argued and disagreed with Conrad Thompson’s point of Reigns being an industry plant. “So I disagree very strongly with Conrad. The industry plant, I think that’s absolutely ridiculous. Is that for being pushed by the office? Every star is pushed by the office. Every star is, as they like to say, crammed down your throat. That’s how you become a star.

“Perhaps maybe it took a little longer for him to catch on, but I don’t think you can deny now his star power in wrestling. And I will bet a dollar we’re dying that at some point Roman is going to go the way of The Rock and become a movie star. He’s got the presence, the good looks, the charisma. Like Roman Reigns will be an actor. I know he will be a television star. He is that dude,” MVP finished.

While fans hated Reigns’ Big Dog gimmick and the babyface push in the late 2010s, it was his heel turn and Tribal Chief gimmick that finally let him connect with the fans and increase his popularity.

Reigns recently defeated Penta in the latest episode of WWE RAW in Mexico City to retain his World Championship in a heavily praised match.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
  • 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
  • 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
  • 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
  • 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
  • 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
  • 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 2026 Ronnie Morton def. Nate Bourne for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title

Week of Sun 11-01 to Sat: 11-07

  • 11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
  • 11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
  • 11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Title
  • 11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
  • 11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-01 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. The Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Title
  • 11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
  • 11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-03 2001 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 11-03 2001 Splash Jackson def. Big Daddy Moore for the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-03 2012 The Old School Suckas (Randy Price & Bryan Cruize) def. Big Business (Damon Windsor & Kevin Morgan) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-03 2012 Erica def. Angel Blue for the IZW Queens Title
  • 11-03 2018 Damon Windsor def. Randy Price for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 11-04 1985 Rick Rude def. King Parsons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 11-04 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. Jerry Lawler for the WCCW World Title
  • 11-04 2005 Beau Dalton & Bobby Dalton became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 11-05 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-05 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 11-05 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-05 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
  • 11-06 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
  • 11-06 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
  • 11-06 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 11-06 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
  • 11-06 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 11-06 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
  • 11-06 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 11-06 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2026 Ronnie Morton def. Nate Bourne for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 11-07 1984 Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street for the MSW Television Title
  • 11-07 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MStW Southern Tag Team Titles
  • 11-07 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-07 2015 The Terror Squad (D Money & Montego Seeka & Marce Lewis, Nytronis A'Teo & MVP) became the IWR Tag Team Champions
11-06
  • Frank Dunbar Nov 6th Today!
  • Darin Matthews Nov 6th Today!
  • Brian Faith Nov 6th Today!
  • Lu Kim Nov 6th Today!
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  • Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
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  • Silverado Nov 7th
  • Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
  • Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
  • Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
  • Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
  • Joyce Grable Nov 9th
  • Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
  • Lance Osburn Nov 9th
  • Kolossus Nov 9th
  • Nick Patrick Nov 9th
  • Gil Knutson Nov 9th
  • Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
  • Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
  • Prince Tapu Nov 10th
  • Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
  • Danny Savich Nov 10th
  • Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th
  • Alex Perez Nov 11th
  • Green Dragon Nov 11th
  • Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
  • Little Cloud Nov 11th
  • Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
  • Brett Taylor Nov 12th
  • Thud Powell Nov 12th
  • Terrale Tempo Nov 12th
  • Vickie Lynn McCoy Nov 12th
  • Gary Tool Nov 12th
  • Varik Vayne Nov 12th
  • Austin Tacious Nov 12th
  • Ty Thunder Nov 12th
  • Big Smooth Nov 13th
  • L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
  • Tiny Bell Nov 14th
  • Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
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  • Super Beast Nov 15th
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  • Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
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  • Drake Gallows Nov 17th
  • Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
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  • Snowman Nov 17th
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  • Reaper Nov 18th
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