Roman Reigns has been the subject of scrutiny this last year, not for the quality of his appearances, but for just how few and far between they have been. Reigns has only had a handful of title defenses since taking both the WWE Championship and Undisputed Championship belts for himself. For one of the longest championship reigns in the history of the promotion, fans have been disappointed about how rarely Reigns has defended his title.
A major reason for the rare appearances is thanks to Reigns’ new contract in 2022, which has allowed the wrestler to work in a part-time capacity. The reasons for this have been speculated, from his bout with cancer to WWE putting him on the back burner for important events. Taking a look into the details of his contract, it can be ascertained why exactly the wrestler has decided to take a backseat in defending his title.
Roman Reigns subtly explains his new contract
Roman Reigns was a different man when he came back from his leukemia break in 2020. Not only was he portraying a heel character, he was ruthless, both in the ring and during promos. Another notable change was his part-time schedule within his $5 million annual contract.
He confirmed that he had signed a new contract but refused to give exact details about his contract in an interview with Jimmy Traina in August 2022. He said, “I don’t really like to give specifics.” When asked about the length of his contract, he said, “Especially….there are timelines, different ways to play with these things.”
We all know now that he has a part-time schedule, which is upsetting for many fans. But Reigns cited his reasons for demanding the same. He said, “For me, it was trying to balance everything.” He further said, “For me, it was extremely important that I can build my fatherhood as the priority and the number one hat that I wear.”
Reigns has been in the WWE for over a decade now, including his NXT days and he is a father to five children. Since WWE superstars often perform four to five days a week, it was difficult for Reigns to dedicate time to his growing family. Hence, he opted for a lighter schedule that has seen him miss several PLEs and regular shows.
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The current deal allows Reigns to make sporadic appearances, as and when the creative team deems it fit for the storylines, considering Reigns’ opinion too. Thus, he is allowed to skip some PLEs and appear only to build up feuds.
However, the deal also benefits WWE, as explained by Reigns. He says, “It’s done well so far [his part-time schedule]. The reactions, it makes everything feel more special if you’re not as attainable or available. It puts a little mystique around you.” The Tribal Chief isn’t wrong about this, since his appearances are something to behold when they do occur. But it’s safe to say that the number of title defenses he has had has been the subject of much criticism.
What do you think about Reigns’ current contract?
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