Roman Reigns Is Receiving Unfair Treatment from Flighty Fans

Last year: "Yeah! Roman Reigns is the man! He should have won the Royal Rumble! I hate how the WWE buries new talent! I'm not watching anymore!"

This year: "Boo! Roman Reigns sucks! He can't wrestle and has no mic work! I'm not watching anymore! #CancelWWENetwork!"

The funny thing is, Reigns has gotten better in the ring and is improving his mic work. However, as most smark fans express, it is not good enough. It is not fast enough. Character development is not an option. They want something now.

Interestingly enough, the past 30 years have shown us legends who had even faster roads to the main event.

Hulk Hogan was not even at WWF for a year (minus his heel run in 1979) before he was a top guy. Rock was clearly the chosen one but was booed out of the arena as a babyface in his first stint. However, the WWE still invested in him, tweaked his character, and he was WWE Champion just two years after his debut.

John Cena, who was never well-received by the Internet Wrestling Community, has been headlining WrestleMania events for over a decade. It's not because he has an amazing technical wrestling repertoire, or that he can even wrestle at all. It is because Vince McMahon saw money in him, and for some odd reason he was right (that was hard for me to admit).

It is so easy to constantly be upset about the WWE product. Trust me: I have my own radio show, so negative editorializing comes quite easy when it comes to the product. However, one thing that armchair bookers need to realize is that they should never judge the product based on what they want. These people—most of the IWC—will always be disgruntled by the product, and nothing will ever satisfy them.

"

That was ridiculous ... #RoyalRumble

— The History of WWE (@TheHistoryofWWE) January 26, 2015"

"

Playing the part of Batista in this year's #RoyalRumble: Roman Reigns.

— PWI (@OfficialPWI) January 26, 2015"

I have seen it for years.

Rey Mysterio was revered when he eliminated Randy Orton at the 2006 Royal Rumble. Then shortly after, he was yesterday's vomit from an intense workout.

Christian was constantly touted as being underrated and underutilized. Then people dismissed him like soggy refrigerated salad because he was too injury-prone.

Daniel Bryan was impervious to fan opposition in late 2013/early 2014. But for some reason, he should not have won the Royal Rumble, according to many cyberfans. Steve Austin won three Royal Rumble matches in five years, but I suppose that's OK.

Roman Reigns is the guy, like it or not. He has amazing potential, has only been in the business for four years, and on the main stage for a little over two. People should give him time instead of unfairly dismissing him like every other ill-identified flavor of the month.

True, his push is premature, and his road to the top should be less rushed than it is now. In fact, I wrote an extensive article explaining why he should not have won the Royal Rumble. However, with time, he can certainly grow into the WWE fame his older cousin Dwayne experienced.

Everyone has the right to choose which wrestlers they like and do not like. That's the fun of fandom. However, unfairly dismissing someone based on the same qualities that elicited support is quite hypocritical. I would encourage everyone to give Roman Reigns a chance.

Reigns (as well as the other aforementioned wrestlers) and the IWC make for a rocky marriage: the same things that made fans fall in love are the same things that make them hate him now. Then they realize that their expectations are much too high, and that changing perspectives makes things much better.

Outside of being a Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report, Chris Featherstone is also a Featured Editor for WeAreWrestling.net. He hosts a weekly wrestling radio show, Pancakes and Powerslams, which airs Tuesdays at 11pm on Blog Talk Radio. Follow Crave Wrestling on Twitter and Facebook.