WWE Raw 4/27: Roman Reigns Accepts Jacob Fatu’s Backlash Challenge After Being Choked Out

Roman Reigns will put his world title on the line at WWE Backlash against Jacob Fatu, who choked him out on this week's Raw.

WWE Raw 4/27: Roman Reigns Accepts Jacob Fatu’s Backlash Challenge After Being Choked Out

Jacob Fatu and Roman Reigns on Raw [via- WWE]

In Short
  • Roman Reigns accepted Jacob Fatu's challenge for the World Heavyweight title at Backlash on May 9.
  • Fatu confronted Reigns during Raw, emphasizing his struggles while Reigns remained at the top.
  • Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker engaged in a heated promo, setting up a singles match at Backlash.

The ending to this week’s Raw saw Roman Reigns telling Jacob Fatu that he was on for Backlash. ‘The OTC’ will indeed put the World Heavyweight title on the line against his younger cousin on May 9 in Tampa. But what actually went down during their interaction on Raw this Monday? The show opened with Reigns meeting The Usos in a dark boardroom in a pre-taped video.

‘The Tribal Chief’ couldn’t comprehend Fatu going for the top prize when Reigns is at the top and not doing so in the past couple of years when he took a backseat. Jimmy Uso understood his Big Uce’s frustrations, but mentioned that Fatu was just trying to upgrade his life, but he shouldn’t have done that at Reigns’ expense.

Jey Uso said in his turn that Jacob is unpredictable and unhinged, which was why they left him out for so long. ‘The Yeet Master’ stressed that there had to be consequences for stepping up to ‘The OTC’. The latter concurred with that notion by saying he would address it later in the ring on Raw. Reigns thanked his cousins as they dapped up for a three-way handshake with Reigns calling them ‘The First Family.’

Later in the night, it was finally time for Roman Reigns to make his decision about Jacob Fatu‘s challenge for Backlash. ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ cut him off right after the ‘Head of the Table’ received his customary acknowledgment from the Raw crowd in Laredo. Fatu dismissed the one-week timeline Reigns gave him to reconsider what he was after.

The former enforcer for Solo Sikoa said he didn’t need even an hour, let alone an entire week, and remained steadfast about taking on Reigns for the world title. Fatu then underscored the twelve years of struggle that he had to go through while Reigns was stuck in his main-event bubble.

The former US Champion mentioned that Solo was the one who brought him to WWE, and neither Reigns nor the Usos would even call him before that. ‘The OTC’ asserted the stroke he had within WWE and claimed that it was he only who signed off on Fatu instead of Solo, whom Reigns quipped couldn’t even get a cup of coffee delivered if he wanted to.

The world champion said he couldn’t just allow Fatu to compete against him, as it would be nepotism. Fatu, having heard enough, grabbed Reigns and locked him in the Tongan Death Grip. It squeezed the air out of The OTC’s lungs, who still accepted Fatu’s challenge for a world title match at Backlash while gasping for air and clutching his throat. Fatu smirked and was caught saying he wouldn’t wait until Backlash and would see Reigns next week on Raw.

Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker engaged in a back-and-forth promo to kick off Raw

Seth Rollins kicked off the proceedings on Raw this Monday and didn’t waste much time calling Bron Breakker out. The latter, flanked by Paul Heyman, got into Rollins’ face. ‘The Visionary’ stated that he handed everything to Breakker on a silver platter, but couldn’t understand why he had to throw it all away by stabbing him in the back.

Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins
Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins had an intense back-and-forth promo on Raw [via- Screen Rant]

Rollins also held Breakker responsible for having to forfeit the world title and losing his match to Gunther at WrestleMania 42. ‘The Unpredictable Badass’ affirmed that Rollins used him and Bronson Reed to carry out his dirty work and put out all the fires for him. Breakker was sick of just standing by and listening to Rollins regurgitate the same stuff week in and week out.

The 28-year-old revealed that if there was anyone he needed to impart some wisdom upon, it was Heyman. Rollins disagreed with that sentiment by reminding Breakker that he possesses the necessary tools to be the next big thing in WWE, and Rollins got a hang of it after wrestling Breakker in NXT when he rang up Shawn Michaels to offer him the best he had at that time.

Rollins, however, broke it to the former Intercontinental Champion that he lacked the mental fortitude to excel in this business. And that’s what sets him apart from Breakker. ‘The Architect’ had been in Breakker’s shoes, but every time he bet on himself, it fetched him unrelenting glory, while Breakker got Logan Paul & Austin Theory, steak dinners, and a happy ending from Paul Heyman.

Rollins then said that Breakker wasn’t ready yet. The former Wolfdogs member chuckled at Rollins trying to run with that narrative for Breakker. The latter reminded Rollins that Mother Nature was catching up to him, making his brain brittle and his shoulders unable to carry the weight of a title anymore.

The second-generation Steiner admitted that he came up short against CM Punk a few months back, but could face it, as he lost to a real ‘Best in the World’ instead of someone who proclaimed so. Giving Rollins flowers for his accolades over the years, Breakker called ‘The Drip God’ the best professional wrestler in the world at being number two.

Rollins smirked and asked baby Steiner whether he came up with it on his own or called his uncle for help. At last, Rollins said he’d give Breakker an opportunity to prove his mettle at Backlash. Before leaving, ‘The Visionary’ took a sharp dig at his former stablemate by reminding him that he wasn’t even number two in his own family. They’re now set to duke it out in a singles match at Backlash.

Also Read: