Roman Reigns told Complex that WWE's younger stars are taking over as he phases out, and he named Cody Rhodes as the only one who has carried the company's banner. The interview, conducted by Mark Elibert, was published September 23 under the headline "Roman Reigns Talks WWE Future, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, 'Street Fighter' Role, More," according to Bleacher Report's coverage.
Reigns said the next generation will change his role. "As these young guys continue to grow, they're gonna create matchups and situations for me," he said. He added: "As I'm phasing out and as they're really taking the helm, their superstardom, I think, will create those type of fantasy warfares."
On Rhodes, Reigns was direct. "There's only been one who's been able to carry that banner. And that's been Cody," he said.
Reigns also described what the top spot demands. "It takes a decade or so," he said, and went on to say that a top star has to perform every single time, deliver when asked, and do it when tired or sick.
He did not close the door on his own career. "If I stay in shape and I do my end of the job, I could possibly still have a whole 'nother run that we didn't even think about," Reigns said, according to Bleacher Report. He also called The Rock the outlier of the business: "Dwayne is the anomaly. He is the outlier. Nobody's ever gonna do it like The Rock."
The interview ran as part of Reigns's press run for the Street Fighter movie, in which he plays Akuma. Rhodes is also in the film, which opens October 16.
Separately, Fightful reported on October 14 that Reigns appeared on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay and responded to Conrad Thompson calling him overrated. That appearance is a different interview from the Complex conversation.
For now, Reigns has named Rhodes as the one who has carried the banner, and he says his own career may still have another run.
