While speaking on Wrestling Shoot Interviews, Joey Mercury stated that Roman was the smartest wrestler as he stayed in WWE and became the top face. He criticized Cody Rhodes for not drawing money in AEW.

>“I think Roman Reigns is the smartest because he decided to choose to stay. He decided to go to the very top spot and then just stay. Like the whole time Cody was leaving places, Roman just stayed."

>"He got to the place first. So maybe Roman is the smartest. Brock Lesnar is smart. Roman Reigns is smart. Cody Rhodes just leaves a lot of places. I don’t know if it’s smart because ‘I’m so damn over and I’m drawing so much money that these people refuse to make me happy and give me what I’m worth. So I’m going to leave, go somewhere else and not draw money. Then I’ll go somewhere else.’ Yeah probably smart.”