The year was 2012, and a young, determined Leati Joseph Anoa’i—soon to be known as Roman Reigns—was just beginning his journey in WWE. Coming from the legendary Anoa’i family, wrestling was in his blood, but that didn’t mean the road would be easy.
At the time, Roman’s older brother, Matthew Anoa’i, known to fans as Rosey, had already made a name for himself in WWE. He had been part of the superhero-themed tag team with The Hurricane and even held tag team gold. Though his time in WWE had ended, Rosey remained an invaluable mentor to his younger brother.
Roman was training at WWE’s developmental territory, FCW (Florida Championship Wrestling), which was soon rebranded as NXT. It was a grind—early morning workouts, late-night matches, and hours of perfecting his craft. Despite his football background, professional wrestling was a different beast, requiring a mix of strength, agility, and charisma.
One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Roman sat on a bench, drenched in sweat, his hands wrapped in tape. Frustration was setting in. He had the look, the power, and the lineage, but something felt off—he wasn’t connecting the way he wanted to.
That’s when Rosey called.
“How’s it going, Uce?” his brother asked, his deep voice calm but knowing.
Roman sighed. “Man, it’s tough. They want me to be this cold, ruthless powerhouse, but I don’t feel like I’ve found my thing yet.”
Rosey chuckled. “Takes time. You can’t force it. You remember what Dad used to say?”
Roman nodded, recalling their father, Sika of The Wild Samoans, drilling into them that wrestling wasn’t just about moves—it was about presence. “Yeah…‘Make them believe before you even throw a punch.’”
“Exactly,” Rosey said. “You already have that, Joe. Just trust yourself. When you step out there, don’t be anyone else. Just be you—but turned up to eleven.”
The advice stuck with Roman. A few months later, he debuted on the main roster as part of The Shield, alongside Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. He carried himself with quiet confidence, a dominant force in the trio. As the years passed, he evolved into “The Big Dog” and later into the Tribal Chief, the face of WWE.
Though Rosey tragically passed away in 2017, Roman always carried his brother’s wisdom with him. Every time he stepped into the ring, every time he held a championship high above his head, he honored his family—including the brother who had helped him believe in himself during those early, uncertain days.
And now, as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns continues to prove that his family’s legacy is in powerful hands.
