Published: May 6, 2026 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: May 6, 2026 by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE
The World Heavyweight Championship isn’t the only thing at stake when Roman Reigns faces Jacob Fatu at WWE Backlash, according to Paul Heyman.
One of only two title matches announced for WWE Backlash on May 9, Roman Reigns defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Jacob Fatu after weeks of aggression.
Fatu has recently looked back on the challenges of his life, stating that he was the “cousin that wasn’t supposed to be here“, arguably the polar opposite of the top WWE star that is Roman Reigns.
It’s their respective positions that Heyman would compare during a recent appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, stating that the upcoming match has a lot at stake when it comes to positioning in WWE, saying:
“What’s at stake is a lot of family honor here. Roman Reigns is the Head of the Table. And, Roman Reigns is a multi, multi, multi, multi, multi, multi, multi millionaire, being the absolute number one top star in the entire industry, thanks to his Wiseman, Paul Heyman.
“Now, here’s Jacob Fatu, who makes a nice living, but it’s not the nice living of the Tribal Chief. And, Jacob Fatu sits there and says, ‘Why are my kids wearing hand-me-downs from Roman Reigns’ kids? Why shouldn’t my kids have all the new toys, the jetplanes, the high life, and we will give our hand-me-downs to Roman’s kids?’
“So, what’s at stake? Who’s the Head of the Table in the Anoa’i/Fatu dynasty? Who’s the top star in WWE? And, tens of millions dollars are at stake.
“And, no matter what you think of sports entertainment or professional wrestling or WWE, the top star makes the most money, and Jacob Fatu wants to be the top star.”
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Time For A Change At The Top?
Roman Reign has, as Heyman states, been at the top of the tree in WWE for quite some time, arguably securing his position in uncompromising style during the Thunderdome era of 2020.
The longest-reigning Universal Champion, Reigns may have seen a reduction in appearances as a part-time WWE star, but his presence was still well-received by the fans.
A victory over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42 would see Reigns become the World Heavyweight Champion, although the future direction for the star has recently suggested he may not be defending the title at Night of Champions on June 27.
It may not be a foregone conclusion that Reigns will drop the title to Fatu, but the opportunity is there to elevate the former WWE United States Champion to new heights in line with the points that Heyman raises.
Fatu is arguably an intimidating force of nature in a very different way from Reigns, presenting a much more hostile opponent to any challenger. Placing a top championship around his waist of this full-time star could restructure the landscape in WWE, with plenty of opportunity for Fatu to hone the skills he brought into the company with his signing in 2024.
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