By Sunday 
There’s a shift in the air, and it smells a little like… babyface?
Roman Reigns, the once-untouchable Tribal Chief and heel overlord of WWE, stood in the middle of the RAW ring this week and did the unthinkable—he thanked the fans. Yes, those fans. The ones who booed him for years, who yelled “BORING” during his early promos, and who only began to respect him once he embraced his darker side.
But now? He’s apparently had a change of heart. Or maybe just a new script.
“I Held the Belt for Four Years… Because of You Guys”
In a moment that felt more Monday Night motivational speaker than dominant champion, Reigns told the crowd that they were the reason he held onto the Undisputed WWE Championship for four years. The speech came after he interrupted Paul Heyman and the rest of Seth Rollins’ faction—and it was met with cheers from fans in attendance.
But not everyone bought into the new humble Reigns.
Vince Russo Is Not Impressed
Veteran wrestling writer and forever-controversial figure Vince Russo did not mince words on his podcast The Brand.
“The beginning and the end of this show with freaking CM Punk and freaking Roman Reigns. Bro, these guys are gonna pander now?” Russo asked in disbelief. “Roman Reigns now is gonna say, ‘I had the belt for four years because of you guys.’ Like, really bro? That’s the best we’ve got, is pandering to the marks?”
Ouch.
Russo’s comments reflect a broader tension among longtime fans and insiders: can WWE’s top heel just flip the switch and go soft? Or is this just smart storytelling to prep for a heroic return?
A Strategic Pivot… Or a Soft Sell?
While Russo and others may scoff at the babyface energy, the fans seemed to love it. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s just smart business heading into SummerSlam, where Reigns will tag with Jey Uso to take on the chaos agents led by Seth Rollins.
With Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed leaving a trail of destruction (Penta, LA Knight, Punk—their list of victims grows), WWE seems to be teeing up a classic good-vs-evil brawl. And maybe, just maybe, it helps to have the crowd solidly behind Reigns.
Can Reigns and Jey Uso Deliver?
The real test comes at SummerSlam, when this reunited duo faces Rollins’ faction with vengeance—and possibly redemption—on the line. It’s a move that could either cement Roman’s new crowd-friendly persona or expose it as just another short-term gimmick.
Either way, the fans are watching. And so is Vince Russo.