Roman Reigns emerged victorious in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble, outlasting 29 other competitors, but YouTube reactions suggest that many WWE fans aren’t celebrating his win. Following the event, WWE posted a video of Reigns’ triumph at Riyadh Season Stadium on their YouTube channel, which has since gained 234,000 views but only 10,800 likes compared to a surprising 9,100 dislikes, resulting in a low approval rating of 54.5%. This backlash highlights a significant portion of viewers’ dissatisfaction with Reigns’ victory as the leading figure.
Typically, a major Royal Rumble win that guarantees a world title shot at WrestleMania 42 would draw more positive reactions. Reigns now has an opportunity to challenge either CM Punk or Drew McIntyre for the championship, but given the online crowd’s sentiments, winning over the audience could prove difficult. The event itself was filled with notable moments, including Drew McIntyre eliminating Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso being thrown out and then speared by Reigns, and an intense showdown between Reigns and Gunther. Despite nearly being ousted after enduring Gunther’s Sleeper Hold, Reigns managed to recover and secure his victory with a decisive spear.
However, the negative online response may indicate trouble ahead. Whether Roman Reigns will gain acceptance as the WWE heads toward WrestleMania or if the company will face ongoing tensions between fan dissatisfaction and its creative direction remains to be seen.
Fan Take: Roman Reigns’ polarizing victory is a critical moment that reveals an increasingly divided WWE fanbase, challenging the company to balance star power with audience approval. How WWE addresses this reaction could shape the future storytelling and fan engagement in professional wrestling.
