Subhojeet Mukherjee on May 5, 2026
Jacob Fatu isn’t backing down after laying out Roman Reigns on Monday Night RAW — he’s explaining exactly why he did it.
After the chaotic contract signing on the May 4 episode of WWE Raw saw Jacob Fatu put Roman Reigns through a table, the moment instantly became the defining image heading into Backlash. Now, speaking to ESPN, Fatu gave his side of what pushed things over the edge. He started by leaning into the intensity fans saw on RAW, making it clear his mindset hasn’t changed at all.
“Oh man, it’s all gas, no brakes, as y’all could tell what it was. You know, at the end of the day, Backlash live and direct on the ESPN. Live and direct in Tampa.”
When asked directly whether something Reigns said triggered that reaction, Fatu didn’t hesitate — pointing straight to family as the breaking point.
“Absolutely. See, it’s different. You know, it’s different when you talk about my kids, when you talk about family.”
That’s where things get deeper. Fatu acknowledged the history between them, even recognizing Reigns’ role in the family and in WWE — but made it clear that doesn’t stop him from going after the top spot.
“You know, this is my older cousin. This is the tribal chief, but at the end of the day, what family don’t fight? I need to feed my family and take care of them just as well as he does.”
He also pointed to the legacy both men are tied to, noting how long their family has been part of WWE — while positioning himself as the next one ready to rise.
“Our family has been in WWE for well over a couple decades… with me coming in for two years now, it’s only right just to head to the top.”
And that leads directly to Reigns. Fatu made it clear that if he wants to reach that level, there’s only one way to do it — go straight through the man who’s been sitting there for years.
“If you want to go through the top, you got to take out who’s at the top… and who’s at the top of the food chain and who has been there for a very long time—we’re talking about 12 WrestleManias—is none other than Roman Reigns.”
That’s the mindset heading into Backlash. Fatu isn’t framing what happened on RAW as a moment that got out of hand — he’s presenting it as exactly what needed to happen. And with family pride, legacy, and positioning all tied into it, this feud isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Bottom line, Fatu isn’t apologizing for what he did — he’s owning it, and making it clear that taking out Roman Reigns is part of the plan as he looks to take that top spot. With Backlash just days away, the situation has gone from tense to personal — and now it’s about who actually backs it up in the ring.
Do you think Jacob Fatu has what it takes to knock off Roman Reigns at Backlash, or is the Tribal Chief still too far ahead? Let us know your thoughts.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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