WWE Snubs Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in Favor of His Cousin

A debut sets the tone, and it paves the path for how the audience will view them thereafter. This is something constant in every entertainment field, especially sports entertainment. Entities such as Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, and Roman Reigns, knew what was at stake when they made their pro-wrestling debut.

Even though they hail from the infamous Samoan Wrestling Family, they had only one chance to make an impression. And, between The People’s Champ and The Tribal Chief, there is clearly a winner.

As per a Top 10 YouTube video released by WWE, Roman Reigns is #1 for Anoa’i family debuts and The Rock is #2.

Did WWE make the right call by putting Roman Reigns over The Rock?

It is important to note that Dwayne Johnson made his debut as Rocky Maivia. This character was not a hit among the fans. In fact, WWE used a Rocky Maivia clip when referring to Johnson’s debut. But Johnson was an instant when he returned to the company as ‘The Rock’.

On the other hand, Roman Reigns made his debut as a part of The Shield. The impression he made on the WWE Universe was not his sole effort, but Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose added flavor to it.

Watch This Story: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Family Members Who Attained Great Success in WWE

Additionally, the WWE Universe already knew who Roman Reigns was from his NXT days. The Rock did not have the chance to make a prior impression on the fans through NXT or something likewise.

Keeping that in mind, the comparison in question does not have similar factors to reflect upon.

There is a possibility that Dwayne Johnson would have been a fan favorite had he made his debut as ‘The Rock’ from the beginning. He revealed not wanting to be Rocky Maivia but had to abide by what Vince McMahon wanted for him.

Coming to Roman Reigns, would he have made the same impact if he made his debut as a solo superstar instead of in a faction? At this point, no one will know. But, it’s something to ponder over.

Read More: Roman Reigns Breaks Character to Take a Massive Shot at The Rock

However, it’s safe to say that The Rock and Roman Reigns are two of the most influential names in the pro-wrestling industry and definitely the most famous names from ‘The Samoan Wrestling Family’.