Good point.
He is the only recent comparison that comes to mind though in trying to figure out if Roman's push is really over or not.
It's not over, but it might be scaled back. He may no longer be looked at as the future face of the company.
Im not so sure about cena. He was a bodybuilder in non tested events before coming to the wwe. Most bodybuilders end up on testosterone replacement therapy because their body stops producing it after being on a few cycle.
Also there was a segment on nxt breaking ground where a family member who hadn't seen Apollo crews for 6 months and she was completely shocked at how much mass he put on. She was feeling him and said he didn't have that much muscle before.
6 months is a short time to get that big with diet and training alone.
Cena was jacked back in OVW. It's possible he isn't using now but I highly doubt he never abused. Even so, he has the means to obtain stuff that say "Aldo Rose" can't and WWE will look the other way as he is still the face.
More importantly, the new Hogan after Hulkster still hasn't been brought back into the fold.
Orton was fairly roided up as well before WWE "supposedly" started to crack down even more. I'd like to say by 2010?
By then, Orton was already established. But kudos for doing the right thing now, I suppose.
I don't think Cena's ever done it while with the WWE, or at least not since getting his push.
Apollo Crews looked similar on the indy scene before his signing, he just looks more ripped.
You could really tell when Randy Orton got off the stuff. He went from having a really thick body and arms to getting really slim. Look at his body from 2006-2008 compared to 2010 and onward.
My guess is that Ambrose is the champ as a placeholder until after Roman's suspension. Don't know when he failed the test but I find it convenient how he lost on the 19th, qualified for a triple threat match at the next PPV on the 20th, suspended on the 21st for 30 days which is just enough time to be back for the Battleground PPV on the 24th of July.
I don't think Roman's taking back the title after this.
It's funny because meltzer was reporting how reigns' numbers were doing worse and worse and ambrose was practically tied with him while being much lower on the card and now he gets his ass suspended on top of it.
Surely vince cannot defend this guy at this point, come on.
If Ambrose keeps the Raw viewership numbers in the 3.4m - 3.6m range while Reigns is away, I think it spells doom for Reigns, at least for the next 3-6 months. At that point you kind of have to put your eggs in the Ambrose basket. Facts are facts: he drew the same attendance numbers for house shows on the B-tour while touring smaller towns and didn't have the benefit of the championship.
Remember back when Jack Swagger had his push derailed by a "wellness violation"?
He still hasn't recovered.
Might be a while before Roman sees another title match (after Battlegrounds that is)
Reigns is on a different level than Swagger.
Surprised. Wonder if this is enough to make John Cena the lead on RAW.
I hope not, just because I was looking forward to seeing Cena-Styles lead Smackdown.
Maybe it's enough for one of Rollins or Ambrose to lead Raw instead and Reigns being mostly a background player for the time being.
At the end of the day, Roman's position would probably be better as a #1 heel or a "supporting character". He was much better in his role last year when he was playing Dean's buddy while Dean was chasing Rollins and he's showing glimpses of great heel work just waiting to break through in recent weeks. He's not good enough to be "the guy", though. Rollins and Ambrose are better suited in that role.
