Roman Reigns is one of the most popular and successful wrestlers in WWE today. He is the current Universal Champion and the leader of the Bloodline stable, which includes his cousins The Usos. But did you know that Roman Reigns is not the only member of his family who has made a name for himself in the wrestling industry? In fact, he belongs to a legendary Samoan dynasty that has produced some of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Here are some of the most notable relatives of Roman Reigns and how they are connected to him.
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Sika Anoa’i (father)
Roman Reigns was born as Leati Joseph Anoa’i on May 25, 1985, in Pensacola, Florida. His father is Sika Anoa’i, a former professional wrestler who was part of the tag team The Wild Samoans with his brother Afa. The Wild Samoans were one of the most dominant and successful tag teams in the 1970s and 1980s, winning multiple championships in WWE, NWA, and other promotions. They were also known for their savage and unpredictable behavior, often speaking in grunts and eating raw fish. Sika retired from wrestling in 1992 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 along with his brother Afa.
Rosey (brother)
Roman Reigns had an older brother named Matthew Tapunu’u Anoa’i, who was also a professional wrestler under the ring name Rosey. He debuted in WWE in 2002 as part of the tag team 3-Minute Warning with his cousin Jamal (later known as Umaga). They were hired by Eric Bischoff as his enforcers and often attacked unsuspecting wrestlers and celebrities. Rosey later became a superhero-in-training and teamed up with The Hurricane, winning the World Tag Team Championship in 2005. He left WWE in 2006 and continued to wrestle on the independent circuit until his death in 2017 due to congestive heart failure.
The Rock (cousin)
One of the most famous and successful relatives of Roman Reigns is Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock. He is the son of Rocky Johnson, a former wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer, and Ata Maivia, the daughter of Peter Maivia, a high chief and wrestler from Samoa. Peter Maivia was a blood brother of Afa and Sika Anoa’i, making him part of their extended family. The Rock started his wrestling career in WWE in 1996 as Rocky Maivia, a combination of his father’s and grandfather’s names. He later became The Rock, a charismatic and arrogant superstar who was part of the Attitude Era and one of the biggest draws in WWE history. He won multiple championships, including eight WWE Championships, two WCW Championships, two Intercontinental Championships, and five Tag Team Championships. He also had memorable rivalries with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, and others. The Rock left WWE in 2004 to pursue a career in Hollywood, where he became one of the highest-paid and most successful actors in the world. He has starred in blockbuster movies such as The Fast and the Furious franchise, Jumanji, Moana, and more. He also returned to WWE sporadically for special appearances and matches, most recently at WrestleMania 32 in 2016.
Rikishi (cousin)
Another cousin of Roman Reigns is Solofa Fatu Jr., who wrestled as Rikishi in WWE. He is the brother of Umaga and The Tonga Kid, both former wrestlers and cousins of Roman Reigns as well. Rikishi debuted in WWE in 1992 as Fatu, one half of the tag team The Headshrinkers with Samu (another cousin of Roman Reigns). They won the World Tag Team Championship in 1994 before splitting up in 1995. Rikishi then underwent several gimmick changes, such as The Sultan, a masked wrestler managed by The Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund, and Make a Difference Fatu, a rapper who wanted to inspire kids to stay away from drugs and gangs. He finally found his niche as Rikishi, a fun-loving and dancing big man who wore a thong and often used his signature move, the Stink Face, on his opponents. He was part of the popular faction Too Cool with Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay, winning the World Tag Team Championship again in 2000. He also had a brief main event run as a heel when he revealed that he was the driver who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin at Survivor Series 1999. He later turned face again and feuded with his cousin The Rock over their family legacy. Rikishi left WWE in 2004 and wrestled for various promotions until his retirement in 2017. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Usos (cousins)
The Usos are the twin sons of Rikishi and the cousins of Roman Reigns. They are Jonathan Solofa Fatu and Joshua Samuel Fatu, who wrestle as Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso respectively. They debuted in WWE in 2010 as babyfaces, wearing face paint and performing a traditional Samoan dance before their matches. They quickly established themselves as one of the best tag teams in WWE, winning the Tag Team Championship seven times and feuding with teams such as The New Day, The Wyatt Family, The Shield, and more. They also turned heel in 2016 and adopted a more aggressive and streetwise persona, calling themselves The Uso Penitentiary. They are currently aligned with their cousin Roman Reigns as part of the Bloodline stable, helping him retain his Universal Championship and dominating the SmackDown brand.
Nia Jax (cousin)
Nia Jax is the only female wrestler in the Anoa’i family and the cousin of Roman Reigns. She is Savelina Fanene, the daughter of Joseph Fanene, who is the brother of Ata Maivia, The Rock’s mother. She is also a former plus-size model and a body positivity advocate. She signed with WWE in 2014 and debuted on NXT in 2015 as a dominant and powerful heel. She moved to the main roster in 2016 and became one of the top female wrestlers in WWE, winning the Raw Women’s Championship in 2018 by defeating Alexa Bliss at WrestleMania 34. She also won the Women’s Tag Team Championship twice, once with Shayna Baszler and once with Tamina (another cousin of Roman Reigns). She is currently out of action due to a knee injury.
Other relatives
There are many other wrestlers who are related to Roman Reigns, either by blood or by marriage. Some of them are:
- Yokozuna, a former WWE Champion and Hall of Famer who was the cousin of Rikishi and Umaga.
- The Tonga Kid, a former wrestler who was the brother of Rikishi and Umaga and the uncle of The Usos.
- Samu, a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- Manu, a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- Black Pearl, a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- LA Smooth, a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- Lloyd Anoa’i, a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- Afa Jr., a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- Samula Anoa’i, a former wrestler who was the son of Afa and the cousin of Sika.
- Tamina, a current WWE wrestler who is the daughter of Jimmy Snuka and the niece of Peter Maivia.
- Naomi, a current WWE wrestler who is married to Jimmy Uso.
- Jacob Fatu, a current wrestler who is the son of Tonga Kid and the nephew of Rikishi.
- Lance Anoa’i, a current wrestler who is the son of Samu and the grandson of Afa.
- Solo Sikoa, a current WWE wrestler who is the son of Rikishi and the brother of The Usos.
- Ava Raine, a current WWE wrestler who is married to Jey Uso.
Conclusion
Roman Reigns is not only a great wrestler but also a proud member of a wrestling dynasty that spans generations and continents. He has many relatives who have made their mark in the wrestling industry, either as champions, legends, or future stars. He is also a leader and a role model for his family, especially for his cousins The Usos. Together, they form the Bloodline, a dominant force that rules over WWE with an iron fist. Who is related to Roman Reigns? The answer is simple: some of the best wrestlers in the world.
