Smark Out Moment

Welcome to the latest installment of Superstar Stock Market, where your friends at Smark Out Moment offer their years of expertise to discern how current WWE superstars are trending. Based on detailed analysis of their championship aspirations, gimmick potential, win/loss record and recent performances, we will offer specialist analysis on which superstars are worthy of investing time in, and which will have their backers in the midst of a Great Depression.

This edition is devoted to Roman Reigns. The former Shield powerhouse has set out on his own following the faction's dissolution, and has been spearing his way through everybody who stands in his path. But is this burst simply a flash in the pan, or is Reigns the next megastar of the WWE?

Value at end of previous year (12/31/2013)

Reigns was a member of the Shield collective from his debut at Survivor Series 2012 and then throughout the entirety of 2013. The Hounds of Justice ran roughshod over the entire roster, good, bad or indifferent, and through a mixture of 3-on-1 muggings and innovative teamwork, as a collective they were the hottest thing on the roster. Each had their own roles in the group also; Dean Ambrose was the brawling mouthpiece, Seth Rollins the technically sound "Architect", and this left Reigns as the often silent but vicious enforcer.

Reigns and Rollins were WWE Tag Team Champions for the majority of the year, winning the belts at Extreme Rules from Team Hell No!, before dropping them five months later to The Rhodes Family. Reigns himself was not pinned in any match until September of 2013, and this was during an 11-on-3 handicap match.

Reign's stock was therefore immensely high along with the rest of the Shield by the end of 2013. The faction's feuds with Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Sheamus and John Cena ensured that they remained in the main event from their formation to the year's conclusion, and their association with the Authority and Triple H was another boost in support. However, what separated Reigns from his cohorts was his powerful build, and his spear finisher usually earning him the pinfalls in matches.

2014 Win/Loss Record

Win - 34
Loss - 10
Draw/No Contest - 4

PPV Appearances

Royal Rumble	Loss (Royal Rumber Runner-Up)
Elimination Chamber	Loss (vs. The Wyatt Family)
Wrestlemania	Win (vs. Kane and the New Age Outlaws)
Extreme Rules	Win (vs. Evolution)
Payback	Win (vs. Evolution)
Money in the Bank	Loss (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank Match)
Battleground	Loss (Fatal Four-Way WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match)
Summerslam	Win (vs. Randy Orton)

Gimmick Potential

Reigns does not have a gimmick in the traditional sense of the word. Therefore, this section will be devoted to the characteristics he displays. His character is one that prefers to act rather than talk, and whilst he is ever becoming more confident on the microphone, his key skill is his power and explosiveness. He still adorns the same Kevlar vest that he wore in the Shield, and it works in making him look strong and fierce when he steps between the ropes.

To heighten the depth of his character, as currently Reigns is riding a wave of momentum based on his look and emphatic moveset, WWE could build upon his wrestling heritage. Reigns is a member of the legendary Anoa'i family, affording him a pedigree that most others cannot crow about. His brother is former WWE Superstar Rosey, and the son of Sika, one half of the Wild Samoans. He is also a cousin of Rikishi, Yokozuna, Umaga, the Usos, and perhaps most significantly The Rock, which could hold the basis of an interesting feud somewhere down the line.

Signature Moves and Ringwork

Reigns has developed in the ring a long way since first debuting alongside his more savvy Shield brethren Ambrose and Rollins. Despite only training since 2010, Reigns has proven effective as both a dominating heel and an explosive yet sympathetic babyface. He is still learning, and thus is reliant on power moves and lariats for the majority of his matches, but in the WWE such weaknesses can be glossed over if you carry yourself well and have some technically astute rival.

His moves, as previously stated, require a great deal of strength and speed to look aggressive and painful. The spear as a finisher is a generic move, and is utilized by other current and former superstars (namely Edge, Christian and Goldberg). However, the size and power of Reigns ensures that it is a believable finishing maneuver. Other moves such as the Superman Punch, Samoan Drop and his unique running dropkick from the floor to an opponent lying on the bottom ring rope are simple yet effective means of hyping up a crowd and portraying a viable tough guy.

Championship Aspirations

2014 has been the year where Reigns fully made the transition from upper midcard workhorse to fully-fledged main event talent with regards to his championship potential. He already has a run with the WWE Tag Team Championship to his name alongside Seth Rollins, a championship that he helped carry well. This year has already seen him receive two shots at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank and Battleground. Both of these matches were won by John Cena, but Reigns was not pinned in either bout, and the fact that he is the first member of the Shield to get a main-event world title opportunity is a decisive vote of confidence.

At this point, many believe it is incomprehensible to suggest that Reigns will not hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship some time in the near future. The current champion being Brock Lesnar has heightened anticipation, with Reigns seen as one of a small number of viable contenders to dethrone the Beast.

Highest Peak - August 17th 2014


There are a number of moments in Reigns' dawning career that could be considered his highest peak. His tag team title victory at Extreme Rules 2013, the one-on-one clean victory over CM Punk, and the Shield's pair of victories over Evolution are all career-making moments. But, it would have to be his recent conquest over Randy Orton at Summerslam. Though the match was somewhat lost in a swirl of the Lumberjack Match and Brock Lesnar's demolition of John Cena, it was a coming out party for Reigns, beating a bona fide future Hall of Famer and multi-time World Champion clean. This is is his first step in becoming an established main event star in the next twelve months.

Lowest Valley - November 8th 2013


Reigns, along with the rest of the Shield, have been on an upwards run of momentum since first arriving on the scene in WWE. Both with his former teammates and on his own, there are very few lowlights during his time on the roster, with few notable defeats or poor performances in matches. But, this recording of his entrance at a house show in Dublin both demonstrated that he is not superhuman, and ensured that he got a bit of teasing backstage for a few weeks.

Peaks	Valleys
Debut destruction of Ryback	First Shield loss given away on Smackdown
Victory at TLC 2012	Loss to Rhodes Brothers on consecutive nights
Unbeaten at Wrestlemania	Defeat to CM Punk at TLC alongside Shield members
WWE Tag Team Champion	Loss to Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber
Clean victory over CM Punk	Turned on by Seth Rollins
Runner-up of Royal Rumble 2013	Put through announce table by Randy Orton
Consecutive victories over Evolution
Battle Royal winner to earn Money in the Bank spot
Victory over Randy Orton at Summerslam

Advantages

• Explosive moveset
• Impressive look/build
• Wrestling heritage
• Firm foundation with Shield
• Great crowd reactions
• Unique entrance through crowd

Drawbacks

• Promo skills still in development
• Lack of background outside his matches
• Becoming a "Superman"?
• Still inexperienced wrestler