The Big Dog, The Tribal Chief, Leati Joseph Anoaʻi, Leakee, Leader of The Shield, The Head of the Table, the Face of the WWE — no matter what name you know him by, Roman Reigns is one of the biggest names, if not the biggest name, in sports entertainment today. His return to the WWE for the first time after his loss against Cody Rhodes in Wrestlemania 40 hit almost 100 million views on social media.
But exactly how much do you know about The Big Dog? Behind the titles, the hair, the tattoos, the muscles, and the amazing 1,316 days as undisputed WWE universal champion, there’s a life story of shocking depth and triumph. If you’re a fan of WWE stars and have been googling “WWE Roman Reigns,” you’ve come to the right place.
A Look At Roman Reigns’ Early Life And Background
Roman Reigns was born Leati Joseph Anoa’i in Florida on May 25th, 1985. He was born into somewhat of a wrestling dynasty. While not quite a vast dynasty such as The Guerreros or The Harts, Roman’s father, Sika Anoa’i, and his brother are former wrestlers. But it doesn’t stop there; his extended family includes big wrestlers such as Umaga, Yokozuna, Rikishi, and The Rock.
You might have noticed something about the people listed above—the exotic names and unique look they share with Roman Reigns. This comes from the family’s heavily mixed race. Roman shares a half-Italian, half-Samoan background, which accounts for his distinct dark features and tribal tattoos.
Despite his prominence in WWE, wrestling wasn’t Roman’s first love. Throughout high school, he found himself drawn to football. He played for three years at Pensacola Catholic School, where he was named “Defensive Player of the Year.”
Joe Anoai didn’t stop his football career in high school. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and played on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. From there, he went on to get signed by the Minnesota Vikings, which he — and the world — thought would be the start of a promising career in professional football.
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Who Is Roman Reigns’ Father?
On June 25, 2024, Roman Reigns’ father and WWE Hall of Famer, Sika Anoa’i, passed away at 79. The WWE said in a statement, “WWE is saddened to learn that Sika Anoa’i, a WWE Hall of Famer, one-half of The Wild Samoans tag team, and father of Roman Reigns, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Anoa’i’s family, friends, and fans.”
After two months of his father’s death, Roman Reign’s uncle and WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa’i passed away at the age of 81. Afa’s son Samu Anoa’i posted on Facebook, “It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of my father Afa Anoai Sr. It was a peaceful transition and he was surrounded by loved ones. Please respect our privacy as we mourn our father.”
In 1973, Afa and Sika’s lethal brother duo began their wrestling careers in Stampede Wrestling with Stu Hart. The Wild Samoans went on to win the Tag Team Titles on three occasions in the WWE.
What Was The Disease Roman Reigns Had?
While Roman Reigns was externally in the best shape of his life, a war raged inside him. The same year the Minnesota Vikings signed him, he received a diagnosis that would change his life — Leukemia, a form of blood cancer. At the age of 22, Reigns was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, in 2007.
After his diagnosis, the Minnesota Vikings dropped him. Later that year, he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he was quickly released from that team, too. While Roman went on to play for the Edmonton Eskimos just the next year, one has to wonder if getting dropped by two teams two years in a row soured his appreciation for the NFL.
When Did Roman Reigns Start In WWE?
After his cancer went into remission, Roman Reigns finally came onto the WWE scene in 2010. He rose through development quickly. At first, he was signed to their development territory, FCW, under the ring name Roman Leakee.
Roman was popular in FCW, winning their top title several times. In 2012, WWE rebranded FCW as NXT and began using it as a supplemental show to the titanic Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown. He started strong as a heel (or villain) named Roman Reigns.
The Shield
Romans’ rise to the big time as a scene-maker in main plots came as part of the WWE heel tag team The Shield. The Shield consisted of other rising superstars, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins, and portrayed a dark law-enforcement/mercenary-type faction that could be bought and sold to do the bidding of higher-ups such as Triple H.
The Shield would wear intimidating uniforms and attack people inside and outside the ring. Needless to say, this brought Reigns a sufficient amount of hate to make him one of the top heels in the company.
Controversial Face Push
However, from 2014 to 2020, Roman Reigns was pushed as a babyface (or hero). But WWE chairman Vince Mc. Mahon didn’t want to stop there. He had plans for Roman Reigns to become the company’s top babyface and, therefore, the face of professional wrestling.
This is a tall order and requires the correct person for the job. The legendary Hulk Hogan was the most famous person to do this in the past. The closest thing to this in recent years is John Cena: a large, friendly-faced, child-friendly good guy who can play the superhero role. However, there was a problem. John Cena looks something like the hero from a Saturday morning cartoon. Roman does not, making the decision controversial.
While children liked Roman, many critics and seasoned wrestling fans didn’t buy the push. Roman’s intimidating stature made more sense as a heel, and the older patrons didn’t enjoy being told who to root for. While undergoing controversy, Roman Reigns made the most of his time as the face of the WWE. He won the WWE championship several times and participated in several legendary matches.
Another Battle With Cancer
In 2018, Roman’s Leukemia came back. At the time, he served as the reigning WWE champion and was forced to drop the belt. It was at this time that Roman told his cancer diagnosis to the world.
Roman Reign is very lucky to take a pill version of chemotherapy and not need to opt for radiation. He’s stated that it has some “nasty” side effects but isn’t nearly as bad as radiation therapy. In February 2019, less than half a year after his diagnosis, Roman returned to the ring. His cancer had gone into remission.
Roman Reigns Returns To WWE
Since 2020, Roman has truly found his place in the WWE. He revealed a new “Tribal Leader” persona with a new look, new entrance music, and a new attitude. This new Roman is unapologetically villainous, cocky, self-centered, and will do anything to get ahead.
Roman plays this persona extremely well—people believe it. He can now combine his adeptness at playing the villain from the beginning of his career with the popularity and star power he gained from 2014 to 2024.
One of Roman’s most popular gimmicks to get the crowd to hate him made use of his presence in a wrestling dynasty. He claimed he was the “Head of the Table” and the “Tribal Leader,” commanding the dynasty with an iron fist. He bullied his cousin — babyface wrestler Jey Uso — under the guise of familial rivalry.
In 2024, Roman Reigns lost his fight to Cody Rhodes at the Wrestlemania 40. With the loss, Reigns’ 1,316 days reign as undisputed WWE universal champion ended. After Bruno Sammartino (2,803), Bob Backlund (2,135), and Hulk Hogan (1,474), the Tribal Chief reigned the most with 1,316 days.
Roman Reigns Net Worth
According to Sports World News, Roman Reigns’ net worth is estimated to be around $20 million. He’s one of the highest-paid wrestlers in the WWE, with a base salary of $1.5 million yearly. Reportedly, he receives an additional $5 million through earning rewards and merchandise.
He’s shown an adroitness at private investing, with his investments reaching over $2.5 million. Roman Reigns’ popular face has earned him many endorsement deals as the big brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Nike, KFC, and Old Spice.
Who Is Roman Reigns Married To?
Roman Reigns’ wife is Galina Becker. She was also an athlete in high school and college, attending Georgia Technical Institute, where she met Roman Reigns. She has also worked as a fitness model, although her main focus nowadays is her children. The couple had their first child together in 2008. Their daughter, Joelle, was born before Roman had even joined the world of professional wrestling.
In 2016, they had twin boys, completing their family of five. Galina used to be very active on social media, developing friendly relationships with several superstars from the WWE universe, but she deleted her accounts after 2016. This was most likely to focus on parenting. While many sports stars find their lives wracked with scandal and controversy, Roman Reigns has mostly been able to keep his private life out of the limelight.
Now You Know Roman Reigns
The next leader in a dynasty, a cancer survivor, a football player, a champion, a hero, a villain, an investor, and a father. Roman Reigns has played many roles throughout his career. Some would say it’s a miracle that he’s achieved the status she has today.
Roman still has to live with the threat of cancer looming over his head. He never knows when it’s going to come back. However, he’s stated he’s optimistic and is determined to make the most of his career.
While Roman was a great football player, he would have quickly been forgotten in the NFL. His transition to his true calling — the WWE — ensured that he would stay in the minds of wrestling fans for decades to come.
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