WWE News

Roman Reigns Achieves Huge Accomplishment

By Craig Ballantyne. Published 22nd January 2023.
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman Crown Jewel entrance

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns can add yet another accolade to his ever-growing list of accomplishments as he has been named the top-drawing wrestler of 2022.

Last year saw Reigns continue the most dominant title run of the modern era, reaching over 800 days as Universal Champion. In a blockbuster match at WrestleMania 38, he also defeated Brock Lesnar to capture the WWE Championship, cementing his place at the top of the mountain.

He defended one or both titles in major main events throughout the year in front of huge crowds at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, SummerSlam, Clash at the Castle, and Crown Jewel.

WrestleMania 38, which featured Reigns and Lesnar’s title vs. title match, went down in the record books as the most-viewed event in the history of the company.

Roman Reigns the biggest draw in pro wrestling for fifth time

In the January 16th edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was confirmed that Reigns’ run at the top is paying dividends for WWE as he was named the biggest draw in professional wrestling for the second year in a row and the fifth time overall.

The Tribal Chief previously topped the list in 2016, 2017 (alongside Braun Strowman), 2018, and 2021. This gives him the same time at the top as the likes of The Shiek, Ed ‘Strangler’ Lewis, and Joe Stecher. However, he still has two years to go to reach John Cena in seven years in first place.

Reigns is also closing in on Cena in the list of Biggest Draws Of All time. Reigns is currently in 12th place, while Cena is in 10th. The top 10 can be seen below.

Biggest draws of all time

  1. Jim Londos
  2. Bruno Sammartino
  3. Lou Thesz
  4. Bill Longson
  5. Hulk Hogan
  6. Ed “Strangler” Lewis
  7. Ric Flair
  8. Buddy Rogers
  9. Argentina Rocca
  10. John Cena

However, the gap between Cena and Roman Reigns may be bigger than it appears, as Dave Meltzer recently said on Twitter that he “doesn’t see evidence” of the Head of the Table being close to being as big a draw.