Roman Reigns returned to WWE after a three month absence and he was adorned with a brand-new nickname.
Reigns returned to WWE to save CM Punk and Jey Uso as he looks to be set for a huge SummerSlam match.
Many fans think Reigns will face Bron Breakker at SummerSlam after injury scuppered plans for a match with Seth Rollins.
Reigns is not expected to stick around with WWE, but he did appear back in the company with a brand-new nickname. The mastermind behind the name fans have called ‘stupid’ has been revealed.
Roman Reigns was the man behind ‘OTC1’ WWE nickname
Reigns’ WWE Raw appearance saw the star wear a t-shirt with ‘OTC1’ written on it, suggesting that’s what he’ll be called from now on.
The name has proven divisive on social media, with some WWE fans suggesting Reigns’ new name doesn’t make sense.
“OTC1 sounds stupid,” said one on social media. “Couldn’t they think of something better for Roman Reigns?”
Another frustrated fan asked: “Why is WWE so hell bent on destroying the OTC nickname? It makes no sense at all.”
However, it appears the man behind the name is actually Reigns himself. WrestleVotes told a fan the new nickname was “Joe Anoa’i’s idea” on X.
That is the real name of Reigns, who clearly has considerable backstage sway when it comes to his WWE creative.
It’s unclear whether Reigns will appear at other television events before his suspected SummerSlam match.
Is Roman Reigns’ new nickname setting up another match with Cody Rhodes?
Reigns and Cody Rhodes are without a doubt the biggest two current stars of their generations and they’ve already clashed in three WrestleMania main events.
The pair met in singles bouts at WrestleMania 39 and 40, as well as opponents in an all-star tag match also involving Rollins and The Rock.
The pair have subsequently teamed together against Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu and Bad Blood in October 2024.
Reigns’ new nickname has clear connotations with Rhodes’ new WWE nickname ‘QB1’, which suggests he’s the ‘quarterback’ of the company.
This is potentially the reason for Reigns’ controversial new nickname as the company continue the build to their third singles match.