From the moment he debuted on the main roster it has been clear that WWE had huge expectations for Roman Reigns, and he has more than delivered on those so far. The Tribal Chief has become the face of the company, and while he has got there due to his own work, there's no doubt the two factions he has been part of were also big factors.
The Shield was how Reigns broke into the business, while The Bloodline is now how he is dominating it, and both of them are vastly different. Due to the fact that the groups are so different, and the manner in which Reigns is being presented is not the same, there is an argument to be had over which version of him is stronger.
10 The Shield: Babyface & Heel
Roman Reigns initially started out as a top heel in WWE during his time in The Shield, which is a role that he operates in right now as The Bloodline's leader. However, the Hounds Of Justice ended up getting over organically due to their brilliant in-ring performances which led to them becoming babyfaces.
While WWE didn't tap into them as babyfaces for too long, they were able to get over. The fact Reigns was able to showcase both sides of himself is something that people enjoyed and it did allow him to prove his range.
9 The Bloodline: Focus On Small Details
Something that Roman Reigns does better than everybody on the WWE roster is focusing on the more minor details of things. This can be from his facial expressions during promos to the way he quietly talks trash to his opponents inside the ring during his matches.
It brings a different level of quality to everything that he does, and fans are able to invest a lot more into him and his character because of that. It provides far more emotion, and that's all down to the experience he provides, which he wasn't doing before in The Shield.
8 The Shield: Competed More Often
One of the big reasons that many fans preferred him during his time in The Shield is simply because he would compete far more often. The group was constantly in action, whether that be on Raw and SmackDown or at all the premium live events, which was important for them.
It helped to build their quality inside the ring as they developed in-ring chemistry which led to some amazing matches. However, the simple fact that fans were able to see Reigns work a lot more is something that people enjoyed at that point.
7 The Bloodline: Big Fight Feel
Nowadays when it comes to Roman Reigns' in-ring work, it is rare that he competes in matches, with most of them being saved for major premium live events such as WrestleMania and SummerSlam. However, that has arguably made him even more entertaining as a talent from the perspective of the fans.
Because he isn't around as much inside the ring, it has created a true big-fight feel whenever he competes in the ring. Fans get excited about him wrestling, and it is something people have to wait for, which only Brock Lesnar has been able to bring in recent years.
6 The Shield: Work As A Unit
The Bloodline works because it is literally made up of family members for Roman Reigns outside of Sami Zayn and Paul Heyman. However, when it comes to them competing inside the ring it is The Shield that were a much stronger unit inside the ring, as they truly worked together in everything that they did.
The Bloodline members often argue at times, which is part of their story, but that wasn't the case with The Shield. Because of that, they felt like a stronger team inside the ring when competing in multi-man matches, which helped make this version of Reigns stronger.
5 The Bloodline: Better Promos
The Shield didn't cut tons of lengthy promos during their time together as a group, and when they did it was typically Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose who did the bulk of the work. That's because Roman Reigns wasn't a good talker at that stage in his career, which was highlighted during his spell alone afterward.
However, that has all changed during his time in The Bloodline as he has shown a lot more confidence on the microphone. Reigns is now an excellent talker, slowing the pace down and knowing exactly what to say to get a reaction.
4 The Shield: Smash Mouth Style
In The Bloodline, everything that Roman Reigns does is meticulous, thought out, and precise. The same cannot be said for how he behaved in The Shield, as that version of his character was completely different, whether it was in matches or how they'd just attack teams.
The group held nothing back with their aggressive nature, and that style was a lot of fun to watch and it suited Reigns' style as a powerhouse wrestler perfectly.
3 The Bloodline: Stronger Wrestler
Roman Reigns' time in The Shield was truly all about development for him in all areas, and that included his in-ring work. Reigns was sharpening his tools at that stage and while he was good, he didn't quite reach the level that he's performing at right now.
The Tribal Chief is incredible inside the ring at the moment, firing on all cylinders with every match that he has. He can put together some fantastic moments inside the ring, and that is something that has helped people prefer this version.
2 The Shield: Faster In-Ring Style
While Roman Reigns is a better all-round wrestler at this stage in his career, there is no doubt his style was very different when he was a member of The Shield. At that point in his career, he was out to prove himself and his abilities to the fans which led to him wrestling a much faster over the top style.
Reigns would throw himself into every match and work at a breakneck speed which engaged and entertained audiences. That's the opposite of what he does nowadays as Reigns is much more methodical, which isn't always as exciting.
1 The Bloodline: A True Main Event Star
While Roman Reigns was obviously a big deal when he was in The Shield, there is no doubt that when the group broke up he struggled on his own. That's because he hadn't developed enough overall to prove himself as a true main event star at that point in his career.
Nowadays, that isn't the case as there is no denying that he is the biggest star in the company. That comes down to a variety of things, from the manner in which he is booked to how Reigns presents himself in the ring and his overall character, which has taken Reigns to a new level.