WrestleMania: Roman Reigns talks about the Bloodline and how leukemia changed him (2024)

His name is Roman Reigns. Acknowledge him.

That’s what thousands of fans in arenas across the country have been doing the last three years, after Reigns won the WWE Universal title on Aug. 30, 2020. When Reigns enters the SoFi Stadium ring on the second night of WrestleMania on Sunday, he will have been champion for 945 days, the fifth-longest reign (no pun intended) in WWE history. You have the go back to the glory days of Hulk Hogan in the mid-1980s to find a longer tenure as champion. He even added the WWE title during that span, unifying the two most important titles in the organization.

And when he grabs the microphone Sunday and says “Los Angeles, acknowledge me!” well, just open a window if you aren’t at the event and you will likely hear the chorus of boos and cheers. It has become one of the best promo openers of all time.

“All the greats, they all have that opener,” Reigns told the Los Angeles Times. “And I was like, ‘Man, if I can get that out of the way and get some sort of hook, I won’t ever have to worry about how to start a promo or segment.’ At one point I just figured it was never going to happen. And then it just happened out of nowhere as I’m beating up Jey [Uso], I was just yelling, ‘Acknowledge me,’ at him, and it just stuck.”

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Reigns hasn’t always been on top of the wrestling world. After he spent three years as a member of the popular the Shield, WWE tried to make Reigns its top babyface, the wrestling term for a good guy, in 2014 and every year after that, but fans rejected him. They wanted their favorite, usually Daniel Bryan, to get the top spot.

Many fans believed Reigns was being force fed to them, and they resented it. And they wanted the Shield reunited. He was booed at arenas but was being positioned as WWE’s top babyface. It could be sad and embarrassing to watch. At times, WWE would reunite the Shield, to the happiness of fans.

“With a Shield reunion being out of bounds,” after one of the members, Jon Moxley, left WWE for a rival company, “that took that fantasy away,” Reigns said.

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Things began to turn in late 2018, when Reigns, real name Joe Anoa’i, revealed he would be stepping away for a while because of a recurrence of leukemia, in which he was first diagnosed in 2007. Suddenly, a real-life situation took over the scripted storylines. Fans were in shock. Reigns was given a standing ovation after announcing it during WWE’s live “Monday Night Raw” TV show. He returned a few months later to another standing ovation, and the boos were gone. Reigns seemed to be a different wrestler with a more relaxed attitude. He seemed more himself.

“I kind of call that my ‘just happy to be here’ portion of my career, you know what I mean?” Reigns said. “Where I was just taking it all in, you know, the things we take for granted. Just being happy that I can get my ankles taped today, that means I’m gonna get in the ring. That’s when my mindset changed. I was thinking, ‘So happy to be here. How can I make this easy for you?’ The gratitude remains in place.”

In late 2020, a new storyline began for Reigns, one that has parallels to the classic TV show, “The Sopranos.” Reigns slowly brought his family members into a group called the Bloodline, with Reigns positioned as the “Tribal Chief.” First, legendary manager Paul Heyman, who many remember as Paul E. Dangerously, aligned himself with Reigns, solidifying him as a heel.

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Then his cousins, twin brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso joined, with both having to be beaten by Reigns in and outside of the ring to be convinced to join. Sami Zayn came along as an honorary member, eventually outcast for not being loyal, and cousin Solo Sikoa joined as the silent enforcer of the group.

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Reigns was the boss who rarely got his hands dirty, sending his family out to deliver beatings to his upcoming opponents, weakening his competition before Reigns defended his titles.

The Bloodline storyline, which culminates at WrestleMania weekend when the Usos defend their tag team titles against Zayn and Kevin Owens, and Reigns defends his titles against Cody Rhodes, has been one of the most compelling WWE angles in years.

And Reigns knows how important the Bloodline has been to him, on camera and off.

“Solo, we could talk about physical stuff, but I don’t think that’s the most interesting part of him,” Reigns said. “Obviously he’s a tough kid, but I think he represents the future and he also showcases our depth. And he continues to showcase every single week how quickly he learns and adapts.

“Jimmy wants a good time. He’s our social butterfly, and you can see it the way he talks. If we all go somewhere, he’s going to be the one that makes best friends while me and Jey keep to ourselves.”

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Reigns, speaking as Tribal Chief and veteran of the game, tries to explain how the twins, Jimmy and Jey, fit into the dynamics of the group.

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“Jey is the most charismatic of the group,” Reigns said. “And I think he also has more potential than all of us. What people often don’t understand about most twins is, they do have a hierarchy. There is an older brother, there is a younger brother, and they do believe in that.

“Jimmy really is the older brother. So with Jey there comes those weird, layered insecurities and that little man syndrome that Jey can have because he’s always trying to prove himself. And me and Jimmy have always been able to knock him down. That’s why he carries such a big chip on his shoulder and why he is one of the more layered characters of the Bloodline.’

Reigns also believes that Heyman is the glue that makes this gimmick work.

“Paul Heyman is the wise man,” Reigns said. “He’s been with our family since we were little guys. He’s done everything you can do in this business and the skeletons in his wrestling closet are vast. He is my secret weapon. He is crucial when it comes to anything that isn’t on screen. And what he brings on screen is just icing on the cake.”

What is happening onscreen is that Reigns will be in the main event for the seventh time at WrestleMania, tying Hogan’s record.

“It’s weird, because before John Cena top stars were sort of in and out,” Reigns said. “Steve Austin, the Rock, they didn’t overstay their welcome. Their primes weren’t that long. Cena (main event of five WrestleManias) kind of changed the whole game and created a whole different mindset of the top guy being the top guy for so long. But I didn’t think seven was going to happen.”

The question that most wrestling fans want answered is who would win between the Shield and the Bloodline?

“That’s easy,” Reigns said, tactfully aware of the current storyline and respectful of the past one. “I’m so much better than the old Roman Reigns. The Bloodline has the twins and their teamwork. That’s something you would want, but Moxley and Seth Rollins are both former heavyweight champions. There lies another huge problem. But I’m such a better competitor and performer now. That’s where the big swing goes. So I’ll go Bloodline.”

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WrestleMania: Roman Reigns talks about the Bloodline and how leukemia changed him (2024)

FAQs

How is Roman Reigns related to the bloodline? ›

After winning both major championships in WWE, Reigns was declared the undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Reigns and his cousins became a faction known as The Bloodline. The Bloodline's Uso twins frequently helped Reigns cheat so that he could win his high-profile matches, keeping him as the dominant champion.

What happened to Roman Reigns after WrestleMania? ›

Reigns has performed on a part-time basis since main-eventing WrestleMania 38 in 2022, primarily being reserved for monthly pay-per-views and sparse television appearances. He wrestled 11 times in 2023 and has made one in-ring appearance thus far in 2024 at the Royal Rumble.

Why is Roman Reigns retiring? ›

Roman Reigns in 2020

As someone who was immunocompromised due to his past battles with leukemia, Reigns opted to prioritize his health over the risk of being infected at the WrestleMania taping.

Why did Roman lose his title? ›

On June 21, Anoaʻi was legitimately suspended by WWE for 30 days due to violating the WWE Wellness Program, WWE's internal drug testing program. Pro Wrestling Torch and TheWrap reported that WWE knew of Anoaʻi's violation before the event, leading to Reigns being scripted to lose his world title at the event.

Is the WWE Bloodline actually related? ›

The name of the stable is in reference to the majority of the group being members of the Anoaʻi family of Samoan professional wrestlers. The stable officially formed in July 2021 after a feud between Roman Reigns—managed by Paul Heyman—and his cousins Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso.

What is the story of The Bloodline? ›

According to its official synopsis released by Netflix, Bloodline "centers on a close-knit family of four adult siblings whose secrets and scars are revealed when their black sheep brother returns home." The writing trio settled on the theme of family as they tried to determine what their next project would look like.

What ethnicity is Roman Reigns? ›

He is also the leader of The Bloodline stable and a member of the Anoaʻi family which is a renowned Samoan-American wrestling dynasty. Reigns was a member of The Shield along with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins from 2012 to June 2, 2014 before reuniting again in 2017 and 2019.

Who is Roman Reigns' real wife? ›

What is the future of Roman Reigns? ›

Reports suggest that Roman Reigns might take an extended break from WWE following WrestleMania 40 for a movie role.

Is Paul Heyman married in real life? ›

Can Roman Reigns leave WWE? ›

Highlights. Roman Reigns is stepping away from WWE indefinitely post-WrestleMania, but will still influence The Bloodline storyline. Reigns' absence, not due to health concerns this time, has been spotted on a film set, but he has reassured WWE fans he is not retiring.

What does Undertaker's son do? ›

What is the longest reign in WWE history? ›

Longest WWE world title reigns
  • Bruno Sammartino, 2,803 days.
  • Bob Backlund, 2,135 days.
  • Hulk Hogan, 1,474 days.
  • Roman Reigns, 1,299 days (and counting)
  • Bruno Sammartino, 1,237 days.
  • Pedro Morales, 1,027 days.
  • Roman Reigns, 718 days (and counting)
  • Brock Lesnar, 503 days.
Mar 25, 2024

Why did Roman fall? ›

Corruption, the division of the empire, and invasion by Germanic tribes were the three main causes of the fall of Rome. Some scholars believe that there were other contributing factors as well.

How many times has Roman Reigns lost? ›

Roman Reigns
PromotionWin %Loss %
FCW54 (65.85%)26 (31.71%)
NXT14 (93.33%)1 (6.67%)
WWE728 (68.74%)297 (28.05%)
TOTAL796 (68.86%)324 (28.03%)

How is Dwayne Johnson related to Roman Reigns? ›

Yes, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns are cousins.

How is Nia Jax related to Roman Reigns? ›

Connection to The Rock

Nia Jax and Roman Reigns share a familial bond that extends beyond their individual family lines. As cousins of The Rock, they are part of the influential faction known as The Bloodline, which also includes members such as The Usos and is guided by Paul Heyman.

Is Dwayne Johnson related to The Bloodline? ›

Despite WWE previously presenting Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Roman Reigns as close family members, the two are not actually related by blood. Interestingly, the grandfather of The Rock, Fanene Anderson (Peter Maivia), and the grandfather of Roman Reigns, Amituana'i Anoaʻi were blood brothers.

How is Tonga related to Bloodline? ›

Alipate Aloisio Leone (born October 15, 1982), better known by his ring name Tama Tonga (Japanese: タマ・トンガ), is a Tongan-American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand as a member of The Bloodline. He is the nephew and adopted son of professional wrestler Haku.

References

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