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Roman Reigns has endured many difficulties during his WWE career, even though he has defeated many legends, won countless titles, and had an unforgettable 1,316-day title reign that will always be a part of his legacy. However, like many superstars, Reigns has faced his share of embarrassing moments that fans have come to remember just as vividly as his successes.
Reigns probably wishes fans would forget these instances, regardless of whether they were unintentional or the consequence of WWE's bad booking choices under Vince McMahon. Regretfully, they don't accurately represent his skills on the mic or in the ring.
Here’s a look back at some of the most cringeworthy incidents in Reigns' WWE journey.
(Note: This list is not ranked and reflects the writer’s opinion)
Top 5 most embarrassing moments in Roman Reigns’ WWE career
1) The crowd rejection at WrestleMania 32
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Roman Reigns experienced a humiliating incident during
WrestleMania
32 in 2016. Reigns and Triple H squared off for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during the main event. Reigns' triumph elicited a mixed response from the audience, and the bout was widely panned.
One especially uncomfortable instance was when a sizable section of the audience jeered Reigns in an attempt to position himself as a top babyface. The crowd's unfavorable reaction made the environment awkward, even though the WWE pushed for him to be the fan favorite. Reigns had an unforgettable but embarrassing night because of the contrast between his anticipated heroism and the audience's responses.
Furthermore, the celebration after the bout felt inappropriate because Reigns hoisted the title while still receiving jeers, underscoring the discrepancy between WWE's storyline and the feelings of the crowd.
2) The awkward face-off with Brock Lesnar
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There was an embarrassing moment involving Roman Reigns and
Brock Lesnar
that occurred during the buildup to their match at WrestleMania 31 in 2015. This moment happened during an episode of WWE Monday Night Raw when the two were engaged in a heated exchange.
In a segment that aimed to establish their rivalry, Reigns and Lesnar were supposed to have an intense face-off. However, things took a turn when Lesnar started to deliver one of his classic, intense promos. As Lesnar was speaking, he referred to Reigns as a "tough guy," which led to Reigns attempting to respond with his own line. However, he stumbled over his words and had difficulty articulating his comeback.
Lesnar and Reigns faced off in the last portion of the WrestleMania go-home segment, and Reigns chose to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. This resulted in an absurd tug-of-war between the two men. This further added to the earlier embarrassment that Reigns brought upon himself.
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3) Miscommunication with Undertaker at WrestleMania 33
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There was a misunderstanding that led to an awkward exchange between the two legends during his battle against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. Reigns tried to get Undertaker to "stay down" after he speared him, but he ended up appearing to be begging.
As the match came to an end with Undertaker's historic retirement, the scene became even more memorable, but some fans felt that the awkwardness of their encounter partly overshadowed the poignant moment.
4) The awkward handcuff incident during Roman Reigns’ title match with Kevin Owens
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Roman Reigns' handcuffed situation during a Last Man Standing bout, where Paul Heyman had to unlock him, was one of the most embarrassing moments of his career. The referee simply stopped counting because Reigns was unable to stand up, even though he was counting.
Everyone was standing around, unsure of what to do, and the entire situation was excruciatingly unpleasant. The entire match was overshadowed by these incredible few minutes. This is among Reigns' most embarrassing incidents from his "Tribal Chief" phase.
5) The "Suffering Succotash" Promo
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One of Reigns' most well-known moments was in a 2014 promotional appearance when he clumsily uttered the phrase, "Suffering succotash" during a segment with Seth Rollins.
This slogan, which was meant to highlight his tough-guy attitude, didn't work and instead caused laughs instead of the intimidation that was intended. The phrase soon gained popularity among fans and became a common joke in the wrestling community, underscoring Reigns' struggles to engage the crowd at the time.
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