He's being pushed as a badass, yes. But the fans see through WWE's micromanaging. People know he's just another project, and with the WWE's micromanaging machine behind him, people can see right through the facade. He needs personality not a push. He needs to connect with the crowd, not through an angle, but through his character.
Angles don't give wrestlers character. Their personality and overall demeanor do. Steve Austin wasn't made a bad-ass, he talked and acted his way there. WWE didn't have to stick that gimmick to him; he made it himself. The WWE didn't have to make The Rock a cocky suave; he was one and exemplified it. He crafted it himself. WWE didn't have to make Shawn Michaels the trouble making degenerate, he already was one. John Cena didn't have to be made into the rapping wigger that made him a star. He was always into rap and hip hop culture.
Okay, so how do you think John Cena "worked" well? He
WAS pushed when the climax was there. He stopped doing the rap stuff md-way through his career when he won a WWE Championship reign. Reigns was not really being pushed when Regins returned to WWE with that broken nose where he was bleeding like a mother fucker. I have not seen blood on WWE TV in ...10 years. No, not that much!
All the greats in the industry become mega stars by their personality and not by how much micromanaging or what angle gets what reception. Roman Reigns feels artificial, and the constant badgering of the WWE to the fans to accept him, won't help. Let him do what he wants for a few weeks and allow the fans to see the personality behind Reigns.
Okay, I see what you mean. Although, WWE is a media company before a wrestling company, than anything else. Just remember that. So, if Vince wants to push Roman Reigns that far, then, let him. Eventually it will work. Trust me. It worked for The Rock, where he was a heel 90% of the time, whereas, Austin was the face. As soon as Austin left wrestling, The Rock inherited his (Austin) popularity. Sorry, but true. They were rivals, but in the end, Austin transferred his popularity to The Rock. Because of injuries, there's no real reason to contest this. It's the goddamn truth. Austin went heel for a reason. There are limitations to him. He knows or knew this.