Roman Reigns on WrestleMania XL buildup, trust in team & his origin story | WWE on ESPN

Joe Tessitore sits down with Roman Reigns ahead of WrestleMania XL and talks about the buildup for his face-off with Cody Rhodes, trust in his team and his origin story.
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[@m1l_music]

I love that he took advantage of the empty arenas during Covid and honed his craft and created this character of the Tribal Chief. He became a much better and overall phenomenal performer!

[@donderdonderptyltd5]

Yeah this guy is a good heel who knows his game...

[@maggielusk6833]

He did no doubt but I've always found Roman captivating and interesting to watch! He's the man got me back into wrestling! Hadn't watched since I was a child!

[@anasshahid224]

Well said, the lack of fans truly allowed Roman to shine with the Tribal Chief character.

[@KronosOnTheBeat]

I missed that time, could you tell me how he benefited from no fans in arena?

[@Kfields1234]

@@KronosOnTheBeatnun there fake fans they only started saying he was good once he turnt heel

[@gee7846]

Our Tribal Chief! so proud of Roman, been a fan since day one. Win or lose, he'll always be a legend especially to some of us, he's our childhood.

[@sandiletwala3001]

Well said

[@rm22.02]

You often hear guys talk about ‘doing the little things’ in the business such as facials, body language and feeling the crowd’s energy/playing on their emotions. I don’t think anybody to date does any of that better than Roman Reigns.

[@junBNCRmDEnFO1.HGM.sGIurJ3032]

WWA-BJCDE

[@MarioAdwater82]

he's definitely a pro

[@peluminova2515]

He refined his craft to a masterful level. He'd do so well in Hollywood after his time as Tribal Chief

[@maggielusk6833]

Absolutely 100% facts.

[@joseabreu-nn5cu]

John Cena.

[@Milan-jd3he]

Roman gets finally the recognition he deserves from Fans to marks ☝️☝️☝️

[@busheechewee1134]

This is why Roman Reigns is the Face of WWE. They trust him to carry the company...even almost 4 years since he came back during the pandemic. The Tribal Chief and his Wiseman did what no one else did: created compelling storytelling with no fans in attendance. To this day, the Head of the Table and the Bloodline are still the most must-see performers in all WWE. Anyone who gets involved in their storyline also gets elevated...It's still all by design. Roman Reigns continues to be The One in WWE. For this reason, Roman Reigns will retain his title on Night2 and then move on to breaking Hogan's championship record. Acknowledge Him! ☝🏽

[@darrenpurves6150]

Host is smooth and you can see how his guests would warm to him

[@legendkiller7495]

5:17 how do i become the sun 🔥🔥🔥🔥 roman is very well spoken . Mic skills on another level

[@K9-Z3RO]

taking his health into consideration, it's pretty understandable he drops the title at mania his done more then enough for wwe roman made smackdown watchable again definitely put the company on his back took it to new levels

[@maggielusk6833]

Without Roman there's no point in me watching anymore! He's the reason I watch! He's always captivated my interest since his days in developmental thru the Sheild and his singles titles but we've never done or seen anything like the Tribal Cheif before! Everything else pales into insignificance very meh!

[@SS-tg8lf]

Anyone else notice that over the years Reigns' speech patterns have changed? Before he sounded like a shy young dude trying to find himself. Then he started talking like a College jock. Now he talks like an experienced adult 👍

[@rafaelcolon2665]

Love you Roman 😊😊

[@sebastienanicet2961]

Roman is a future HOF☝🏼🩸

[@drphot6050]

His rise has been phenomenal!

[@sofiadrosos1308]

The pandemic era really helped Roman hone his character. 4 years of incredible work. Great interview.

[@dangelobrown87]

Rock vs Roman storyline they need to continue their story

[@Thomas-zs5wt]

not with the title though

[@dangelobrown87]

@@Thomas-zs5wt Roman was not dropping the title to Rock anyway

[@ur.ummays]

Cody wins at WM. Rock "betrays" Roman for failing to bring home the title, attacks him and becomes the new tribal chief and leads the bloodline. Roman becomes "injured" from the attack to take a long deserving break due to his condition. Rock vs Cody late in the year and wins the title. Roman returns and wins the Royal Rumble to challenge the Rock for tribal chief status and the title at WM 41. Rock vs Roman WM 41.

[@drphot6050]

@@ur.ummays I'm digging this concept

[@Thomas-zs5wt]

@@ur.ummays are you secretly a writer at wwe

[@christopherwattman1645]

Tessitore is the man. Dude could interview a tree and make it a good interview.

[@mr.siboofficial8133]

CORONA TIME WWE ALMOST RATED DOWN... ONLY MAN THAT TIME CHANGED THE WWE HISTORY 💯 "ROMAN REIGNS" MY TRIBAL CHIEF I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOREVER ❤☝🏼🔥

[@anasshahid224]

Great interview, you have been killing it all WM week with these interviews. Roman Reigns is the man! One of the best wrestlers in the world today, a true mega star. ⭐️ 👏

[@Xperience122]

We are shocking the world again at WrestleMania ☝️☝️☝️☝️

[@SteadyGrinding23]

Yessir ☝️

[@mr.siboofficial8133]

ONE & ONLY THE KING OF WWE "ROMAN REIGNS" ❤☝🏼🔥

[@kaibricturner8836]

Proud of you Roman! ☝🏾

[@CarlosBranford]

TRIBAL chief Roman reigns forever I acknowledge you Roman reigns as my tribal chief ☝️☝️☝️

[@DarrellGrant-nw5nu]

Trash

[@CarlosBranford]

@@DarrellGrant-nw5nu Roman is always the goat

[@MohdAslam-yw1co]

ROMAN REIGNS LOVE❤

[@rcaydenphillips8472]

Roman reigns 🐐

[@DarrellGrant-nw5nu]

Trash

[@marshallmartin6064]

It's gonna be a sad day tomorrow when my Tribal Chief looses 😢😢 Acknowledge him and what he's done for us

[@shikuri3178]

Well if he retains, majority will be angry

[@marshallmartin6064]

@@shikuri3178 I was in that building last year I was one of few that wanted him to retain that energy was something I never experienced before I'm over here yelling at all these people to acknowledge him

[@holdmyweight3597]

He’s winning against Cody. Mark this down

[@JB825_]

​@@holdmyweight3597 That would be AWFUL, it's time for him to lose the title, it was time last year, but now it's REALLY time.

[@dimoyy297]

​@@JB825_shut up

[@kalibakingJesustha1]

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!☝️☝️☝️

[@diamondeyesfilms]

☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾

[@nickalvarez8716]

Acknowledge the Tribal Queef losing

[@MrLove717]

Don't cry too much when stardust loses​@@nickalvarez8716

[@MrLove717]

Don't cry too much when stardust loses​@@nickalvarez8716

[@Sledgepz]

I hope Roman Reigns win

[@souravdas1525]

Cant wait to hear and still the wwe champion roman reings

[@AlfredFJones1776]

Thanks for everything Roman. Hope your vacation is good and am excited for the Roman vs Rock match at mania 41

[@joseatx1992]

Cody is not winning 😂

[@maggielusk6833]

Love Romans confidense. Hes so smart and articulated but i wanted the guy to ask Roman about the retirement rumours about Roman going round right now. Way i look at it if Roman leaves am done watching. Hes the only interesting and captivating thing on it!

[@teizhanmcfall5239]

Roman & Rock will win tonight. And Reigns will win tomorrow on night 2

[@TheOnlyDTM]

You’re about to be disappointed tomorrow night lol

[@emmanuelquaye-gl4gs]

Hmmmmm

[@teizhanmcfall5239]

@@TheOnlyDTM Okay

[@RAL0981]

@@TheOnlyDTMnothing is garunteed

[@KrazyKarthik1]

Roman❤❤❤

[@APHELELEAKNJATYELA7]

If roman loses im done he is the reason im watching wwe again

[@bakcort]

I agree 😊

[@RoReigns52]

GOAT

[@JayStiles-kt2pm]

Nope

[@dizzysoul6684]

​@@JayStiles-kt2pmtribal chief >>>> all indie vanilla midget wrestlers

[@_WF23]

The GOAT will retain.

[@camronaka5050]

We got it weekend ☝️☝️

[@debeatup]

Thank you My Tribal Chief☝🏾

[@arqueviousfoster91]

Best storyline in a long time

[@Sunny7209]

He has changed and evolved

[@roni.z]

Solo will be the next in line ❤ It's obvious that Roman loves him and he named Solo the Tribal heir because he know that Solo deserves it and can handle the business 💪🏼 Nobody deserves to be the face of WWE more than Solo 😍💪🏼

[@baffourappiah3853]

Honestly Roman was outshined in the build to Mania, it feels more like Rock vs Cody.

[@AKmohanrajj1]

Everyone Was Outshined Cody, Seth & Roman

[@baffourappiah3853]

@@AKmohanrajj1 Naaa, its clearly Rock from the heel side and Cody as the babyface.

[@simbongilemathenjwa6593]

Rocky outshined everyone in that feud, Cody was made look weak,and treated like a skurnk Seth was the afterfourth, and Roman was not active made take take back seat for the rock, the Rock was made look stronger and superstar in the feud ... But I love how they tried to fix it ...last Monday at Raw...They made Roman look more dominant when he saved the rock and layed smackdown on Cody and Seth, and at the end when they raised the titles Roman looked dominant with the championship and Rocky looked like a sideman of Roman ... exactly how they should have build the feud as tag match not focusing only on one person, i feel like Rocky overbooked himself, and almost ruined everything during the build, like he was making everything about himself until triple H fixed on the last Monday night Raw before WrestleMania.

[@dimoyy297]

I mean the Rock is one of the most famous people in the world for a reason

[@bambamjackson8757]

ROMANN REIGNSSSS ALL DAYYY!!! ☝🏾☝🏾🩸🩸🩸😤😤😤☝🏾🩸

[@fahazhanriaz9879]

Perfection from the beginning ☝️🩸

[@AnthonyMcqueen1987]

Hope he keeps the belt and chase records Cody Rhodes to me is boring. He is not championship material and he will lose that belt as soon as he gets it. Which will make Roman's run with the belt meaningless. Smash Rhodes once and for all and make history.

[@sixarms]

Respect

[@WorldBeater123]

One of the greatest championship runs in the history of the company. Salute!

[@ayo-yd9gh]

Cody wins at WM. Rock "betrays" Roman for failing to bring home the title, attacks him and becomes the new tribal chief and leads the bloodline. Roman becomes "injured" from the attack to take a long deserving break due to his condition. Rock vs Cody late in the year and wins the title. Roman returns and wins the Royal Rumble to challenge the Rock for tribal chief status and the title at WM 41. Rock vs Roman WM 41.

[@DarrellGrant-nw5nu]

Yep

[@MrML4L]

rock wouldnt be going over for the title period. He has already shown you can have the best match on the card without the title.

[@triggatrey15thgasup]

Roman Reigns vs The Rock if that happens at WrestleMania 41 it's not going to be a mid card it will be for the undisputed WWE universal Champion

[@MrML4L]

@@triggatrey15thgasup did I say mid card? You don't need a title for a main event match. That's been proven time after time.

[@triggatrey15thgasup]

@@MrML4L this is a new era kid, John cena and the Rock didn't need it the first time but they had to the second time, ROMAN REIGNS DO NEED TO KEEP THE BELT TO FIGHT THE ROCK TO BE A PART OF FINISHING HIS STORY. you think rock vs Roman going to close Wrestlemania with no title on the line 🤣

[@rcaydenphillips8472]

🩸🐐☝️ goat

[@DarrellGrant-nw5nu]

Trash

[@etw4988]

Thank you Roman☝🏾🐐

[@kang7664]

Honest question, don’t Roman and Heyman have involvement in creative? What about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as he sits on the board of TKO. How long have The Rock and Roman and Heyman known who’s leaving WM 40 as champ on Sunday night? And did The Rock have any say in who wins?

[@ur.ummays]

I watched the documentary and it seems like he has a big involvement in his own creativity because behind the scenes he's the one to include the usos, solo sikoa and Sami Zayn into the storyline. I don't think he chooses the outcome of his matches but I'm pretty sure he knows the results before hand

[@simbongilemathenjwa6593]

Roman and Paul are behind the creative, with the bloodline story,him and Paul Call the final decisions on how Roman and the bloodline story is presented, I'm not sure if him and the company decided to have him retain or not, but if he want to retain it possible because he calls the shot with the creative of the entire WWE backstage since 2020, when it come to the bloodline story. I think the Rock is limited with board of directors not with the wwe, he has nothing to do with in staff and creative teams of wwe.

[@depekthegreat359]

My favourite ever Interracial wrestler(Samoan-Italian through his ancestries) is the undisputed "Greatest Of All Time" and I fully hope for him to retain the title to be written in a history book,good friends!!!:-D

[@daedaejones5908]

Era of the Villain ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾😈😈😈😈😈😈

[@rcaydenphillips8472]

Roman beat Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 Cody crybabies

[@trishayoung6373]

I think we should all thank WWE for doing the Thunderdome and letting us fans see the wrestling during COVID ,thank you WWE

[@Myonlytribalchief]

Love my tribal chief.

[@DarrellGrant-nw5nu]

Trash

[@obialex3448]

Cody Rhodes fans : Roman is a paper champion, he always needs help to win 😡 Also Cody Rhodes fans : John Cena and Stone Cold will help Cody win 😊 The joke writes itself. Clowns

[@heavenli444]

i’m gonna miss him if he loses that break is gonna hurt 😭

[@ayashayash8171]

" i had 1 one thing on my mind to be a man of impact and influence " legend

[@ronwhitaker4757]

"to be a man of IMPACT and INFLUENCE"...That;s why I'm a big Roman fan!

[@nicholasguppy186]

Roman Reigns is my favorite wrestling i don wanted him to loses at Wrestlemania 40 it will be sad😢

[@NabukeeraBlessedmai-dk3nh]

Roman Reign thank you so much. WWE fans will always remember you . New generation you made us love WWE , even though there has been champions but you have been unique , in fighting and entertaining. I loved you.

[@KjMurphy-ho8gb]

i hope roman wins on night 2 and continue his reign as champion

[@s0ccer96]

The Bloodline is the only reason I even tune into WWE (along with Paul Heyman of course!)

[@NsndnHehhe]

Love you Roma 🥰🥰☝️😀😀

[@HaniUpadhyay-s6f]

Roman is life ❤❤

[@nicholasguppy186]

Im proud of Roman Reigns

[@Viperoliver]

I miss Em as Champ already 😢, But he always be my Tribal Chief ☝🏾

[@samjohnsondas3793]

I wanna se The rock vs Roman Reigns

[@petrisordumitru5013]

Next year wm41 without the title, makes the match more unpredictable.

[@Gabrielle-Z]

Roman Reigns and the whole Bloodline story line is what got me tuned in with WWE, they are fire. 🔥☝🏼

[@nicholasguppy186]

I hope Roman Reigns win at Wrestlemania 40

[@bdwbdw9]

i acknowledge you roman.From hongkong 🎉

[@latonyapierce3236]

❤❤❤❤ my roman mf reihns 4 life!!😂😂😂😂😂

[@cartoon-j2x]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@joellayne684]

Acknowledge Him!!!!

[@BlackDragonRuler]

They way everything is being built and the hype it’s making me nervous about night two and is making me feel like Cody might get the W because they’re giving Roman a lot of well deserved flowers. Which makes it feel like the end of his reign.

[@Meshackomondi-wr9wj]

No tribal chief No WWE

[@DarrellGrant-nw5nu]

Trash

[@chasingfelix3609]

Roman loses in front of all of the bloodline and his family. Rock then beats him down and is acknowledge as Tribal Chief and the next year leads up to Rocks vs Reigns.

[@rohan9545]

🐐

[@florencevallejo]

MY MAN CRUSH❤❤❤❤❤

[@cosmicvcosmic]

his last full day as champion

[@5STARR.DRIPKIDD]

We gotta help Roman reigns. He suffers a medical condition called leukemia. We need to donate our bone marrow to help him.

[@NabukeeraBlessedmai-dk3nh]

ROMAN WE LOVE YOU AND WE NEED MORE ROMAN REIGN TO THE FACE OF WWE

[@mr.siboofficial8133]

CHARACTER HEEL❌ REAL LIFE A MAN WITH GOLDEN HEART☝✅❤I LOVE YOU & I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOREVER & EVER MY TRIBAL CHIEF "ROMAN REIGNS" ❤☝🏼🔥

[@DCwolverine]

Acknowledge him!!!!!

[@ousmanmanneh3657]

No cody crybabies in this comment section 😂😂😂😂

[@nickalvarez8716]

Just Tribal Queef meatriders 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@khan-gg1ke]

It looks so good ! I really hate Cody crybabies 🤡🤡 they ,re such a sensitive crybabies!

[@nickalvarez8716]

@@khan-gg1ke Yet yall can't stop worrying about us 😉 man you rocky roman simps are desperateeee 😝

[@russellnorwood2470]

Young legend 💯💯🐐

[@pianoarmond]

Roman is the man! This man had beat cancer. Hes beat the odds.

[@RAL0981]

I don’t think nothing Cody will do will be more interesting than the bloodline it’s even rumored the bloodline saga to continue with more members rumored to come.

[@matthewbush2371]

Can tribal Chief holds his undisputed universal championship against America nightmare Cody Rhodes

[@micahflameable]

Roman my GOAT

[@ashleystevens6829]

This man is gorgeous but toooo monotonous whether it's his tone or colour scheme or responses. Glad there's a new champ!

[@nicholasguppy186]

Roman Reigns ☝☝☝☝☝☝👑👑👑👑👑

[@Buttercookie1]

Roman must be getting tired doin all these events..from dawn to dusk.. thats dedication gotta respect that. Hope he buys his wife anew car and roses for being so busy. Thanks man

[@vidushijaiswal5379]

Roman Reigns can achieve the greatest heights 🔥🔥🔥💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@MrLove717]

Like if Roman Reigns loses to stardust I will gladly stop watching WWE (no hate), I'm not going to complain about the product I'll just wait for the moment these crybabies turn on their bland hero Cody If Cody loses I don't care what the crybabies do and they can go watch AEW for all I care

[@bakcort]

I have been saying this since weeks before wrestlemania 39. Why should cody rhodes be the one to dethroned our dominate Tribal Chief

[@MrLove717]

@@bakcort OMG 😭😭😭😭they really gave the to stardust 🤡 🤦

[@cptvane3439]

6:04 he changed from joe to the tribal chief for a moment

[@THAGFC]

☝🏾 Let’s Go Roman‼️ I gotta lotta money riding on you this weekend 🤌🏽

[@Robj007]

☝🏿

[@mysteriousguy666]

Roman will break bruno record 🔥🔥☝🏼

[@vidushijaiswal5379]

Roman Reigns is great❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@beerusreal6]

From Wrestling in front of 2 people to wrestling in front of millions. That's tribal chief for u.