WWE Backlash-Bound Roman Reigns Sent a Strong Message After Being Laid out by Jacob Fatu on Raw

Roman Reigns promised the WWE Universe that he would reign supreme against Jacob Fatu at Backlash.

WWE Backlash-Bound Roman Reigns Sent a Strong Message After Being Laid out by Jacob Fatu on Raw

Roman Reigns [via- Cageside Seats]

In Short
  • Roman Reigns will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu at WWE Backlash.
  • Fatu used the Tongan Death Grip on Reigns during Raw, leaving him gasping for air.
  • Reigns promised fans that the outcome at Backlash would be different, asserting he won't let the title change hands.

This Saturday at Backlash, Roman Reigns will put the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against his cousin, Jacob Fatu. The latter left Reigns in a total mess on this week’s Raw by using the Tongan Death Grip for a second week in a row. ‘The OTC’ was gasping for air as Fatu put his initials on the contract.

The show ended there, but Reigns not only got back to his feet; he also had something to promise to the fans in attendance. The former Bloodline boss told the crowd in Omaha that it wouldn’t look the same at Backlash in Tampa. Reigns talked about holding his ground in the company for far too long to let it slide just yet.

Reigns affirmed that the world title wouldn’t change hands at Backlash, which would only make matters worse for an unhinged Fatu, who’s getting more and desperate to claim gold in WWE. ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ revealed being upset over Reigns and The Usos keeping him in obscurity for all those years they were ruling over the company with an iron fist.

The former NWA Champion mentioned that Solo Sikoa brought him to WWE, which made Roman Reigns declare that Jacob Fatu might be dumber than he thought. ‘The Tribal Chief’ reminded his cousin that he was the one who ran this place and signed off on his arrival in the company.

Fatu has reeked of a dangerous unpredictability in his demeanor over the past couple of weeks since he started using the Tongan Death Grip, a move that’s considered the last resort in Samoan wrestling tradition. Just as Reigns told Fatu on Raw during their contract signing that he crossed the line by using it to his advantage, ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ went for it again.

While Reigns weathered the initial storm, he wasted too much time on contemplating smashing the title belt in Fatu’s face. That cost the world champion and allowed the challenger to lock him in the grip yet again. It has certainly established the 34-year-old as a serious threat to The OTC’s title reign, which could come to a halt at Backlash, less than a month after dethroning CM Punk for it at WrestleMania.

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Could Kairi Sane return at Backlash to help Iyo Sky against Asuka?

The only women’s match on this year’s Backlash card will see Iyo Sky going one-on-one with her former mentor, Asuka. ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ turned on Sky back in September owing to the latter’s increased empathy with Rhea Ripley. The longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champion also made a reluctant Kairi Sane break off with Sky.

Kairi Sane could return during Iyo Sky vs. Asuka at Backlas
Kairi Sane could return during Iyo Sky vs. Asuka at Backlash [via- Cageside seats]

Even though Sane never harbored malignity for Sky, she was forced to sever her ties with ‘The Genius of the Sky’ upon Asuka’s behest. The following months would see Asuka ill-treating Sane and keeping her engaged in an abusive relationship that Sky wanted to put an end to. They were actively building toward their match at WrestleMania, but it didn’t happen despite being initially planned for the show.

The fans were upset over WWE not showcasing two of its most talented female wrestlers in what would’ve been the blow-off to their story. To make matters worse, WWE released Sane in their latest round of budget cuts.

It triggered intense fan outrage as the company fired her without letting her finish the storyline with Asuka and Iyo. The netizens even ran the #WeWantKairi hashtag on social media to express their reproval.

Several are still hoping that by some miracle WWE brings Sane back during Sky vs. Asuka at Backlash this weekend. Bryan Alvarez noted during this week’s Wrestling Observer Live that there’s a better than 50% chance that she would show up at Backlash to at least finish off her story by helping ‘The Genius of the Sky’ finally put away the tyrannical ‘Empress of Tomorrow’.

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