Jacob Fatu is challenging Roman Reigns for the world heavyweight championship in the main event of WWE Backlash, which you can watch here on ESPN this Saturday night (May 9).
Many longtime WWE fans assume Roman Reigns’ probability of winning the match is well above 90%, considering it’s his first title defense since winning the belt at WrestleMania 42. WWE is aware of that sentiment, and has tried to create doubt about the outcome by making Fatu look really, really strong using the unstoppable Tongan
Death Grip in the build up to the fight.
The Samoan Werewolf was interviewed this week on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, where the hosts talked about this assumed “safety net” that Roman has after just winning the belt. Fatu tried to shut that shit down by saying the the know-it-all fans who complain about WWE booking will definitely be purchasing the event on ESPN anyway. He then got back into kayfabe mode and said expectations will be defied because he’s unlike any wrestler Roman has ever faced in WWE.
“Let’s keep it 100. He just won it. This is the next PLE. So I can understand why people think, ‘Oh, well he’s not gonna lose. It’s just a match. He’s gonna fall in line.’ Nah, that’s ass, alright? That’s ass.
…Y’all think you know the booking? Oh, Roman Reigns, first title defense against Jacob, there’s no way Roman’s losing it? Man, that’s ass. Because check this out, of course y’all gonna be watching…so everybody else complaining online about this and that, hey, I bet you will definitely buy that ESPN app, and I bet you gonna be sitting there watching it, and enjoying the show, and not saying a word during the match.
So for everybody tapping in like that, come on with it. Just another bandwagon follower jumping on, okay? Because as soon as I do take that title…people gonna switch. Then when the ball gets in your court, it’s a whole ‘nother game.
So yeah, I can understand why people think I’m not gonna win. First PLE, first title defense out of WrestleMania, there’s no way. But hey, check this out. There was no way Jacob was supposed to be here. There was no way Jacob was supposed to be main event, PLE, Roman Reigns, right out of WrestleMania. But we’re here. And keep it 100, like I said before, [Roman] ain’t never ran into nobody like me. I said that against Cody. They don’t make ’em like me. Hell, they ain’t never made ’em like me!”
How surprised will you be if WWE books Jacob Fatu to beat Roman Reigns for the world title at Backlash? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.
