Roman Reigns is one of the most dominant and popular superstars in WWE today. He is the current Universal Champion and the leader of The Bloodline, a faction that also includes his cousins The Usos. But did you know that Roman Reigns is also related to another former WWE star who was known for his power and aggression? That star is Umaga, the Samoan Bulldozer, who passed away in 2009.
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Umaga: The Samoan Bulldozer
Umaga was a WWE superstar who wrestled between 2005 and 2009. He was a two-time Intercontinental Champion and a formidable opponent for many top names in the industry, such as John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Batista. He was known for his savage style, his signature move the Samoan Spike, and his manager Armando Estrada.
Umaga was part of the famous Anoa’i family, a wrestling dynasty that has produced many legends in the business. His father was Elevera Anoa’i, who was the brother of Sika Anoa’i, one of The Wild Samoans. This means that Umaga was the first cousin of Sika’s son, Roman Reigns.
Roman Reigns: The Tribal Chief
Roman Reigns is the current face of WWE and the Universal Champion. He debuted in 2012 as part of The Shield, a group that also included Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. He went on to become a four-time WWE Champion, a one-time United States Champion, a one-time Intercontinental Champion, a three-time Tag Team Champion, and a two-time Royal Rumble winner.
Roman Reigns is also part of the Anoa’i family, and he has embraced his Samoan heritage as part of his character. He calls himself The Tribal Chief and The Head of the Table, and he has aligned himself with his cousins The Usos, who are also former Tag Team Champions. He has also acknowledged his relation to other famous members of his family, such as The Rock, Rikishi, Yokozuna, and Umaga.
How Umaga inspired Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns has spoken in the past about how Umaga has inspired him and his career. In an interview with Super Luchas, he said:
“Everything revolves around my cousin Umaga. At that time, when I was in college, he was a great WWE Superstar. He passed away too soon, but he was the fuel for all of us.”
Roman Reigns never got to face Umaga in the ring, as Umaga died just six months after being released by WWE due to a violation of their Wellness Policy. However, Roman Reigns has paid tribute to Umaga by using some of his moves, such as the running hip attack and the corner clothesline.
Roman Reigns, The Usos, and NXT 2.0 newcomer Solo Sikoa continue to carry the Anoa’i family legacy forward in WWE. They are proud of their Samoan heritage and their wrestling bloodline. They are also proud of their cousin Umaga, who left a lasting impact on WWE and its fans.
According to Sportskeeda
