Early Life and Family Background

Leati Joseph "Joe" Anoaʻi was born on May 25, 1985, in Pensacola, Florida. He comes from the distinguished Anoaʻi family, a renowned Samoan-American wrestling dynasty. His father, Sika Anoaʻi, was a professional wrestler and a WWE Hall of Famer. Roman Reigns is also a cousin of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, one of WWE's most successful athletes turned actors.

Before turning to professional wrestling, Reigns pursued a football career. He played college football at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a member of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. In 2007, he had brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, followed by one season with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He retired from football the same year to pursue a WWE career.

Professional Wrestling Career

Roman Reigns signed a developmental contract with WWE in July 2010. Initially wrestling under the ring name "Roman Leakee" in WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), he was later rebranded as "Roman Reigns" in 2012. His main roster debut occurred at the Survivor Series in November 2012, where he appeared alongside Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins as part of the faction "The Shield." The trio quickly gained popularity for their dominant performances and tactical teamwork.

Reigns transitioned into a solo career following the disbandment of The Shield. He achieved significant success, claiming victories against major WWE figures, including Triple H at WrestleMania 32 and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. Despite his accomplishments, his rapid rise was met with mixed fan reactions, as some viewers criticized WWE's heavy promotion of Reigns at the perceived expense of other talent.