Leati Joseph Anoa’i also known as Roman Reigns is a professional wrestler who has become one of the biggest names in the World Wrestling Federation (WWE). Often tipped as the next John Cena, Roman Reigns successes in the ring has earned him a huge fan base. He is also an actor and a retired footballer (Gridiron Football). This article on Roman Reigns biography facts, childhood, career and personal life present an in-depth review of the profile and life of the WWE superstar from childhood to present. Other highlights include his accomplishments and other onscreen and offscreen facts about his life.
Table of Contents
Roman Reigns Biography Quick Facts, Age
- Real/Full Name: Leati Joseph “Joe” Anoa’i
- Ring Names: Leakee, Roman Reigns
- Date of Birth: 25th May 1985
- Age: 38 years old
- Place of Birth: Pensacola, Florida
- Nationality: American, Samoan
- Height: 191cm ( 6 ft 3 in)
- Weight: 130kg (280 lbs)
- Education:
- High School: Pensacola Catholic High School; Escambia High School
- College: Georgia Institute of Technology
- Occupation: Professional Wrestler
- Debut: 2010
- Wrestling Career: 2010–present
- Parents:
- Father: Sika Anoa’i
- Mother: Patricia Anoa’i
- Siblings:
- Brother: Matthew Anoa’i (A.K.A Rosey) (deceased)
- Sister: Vanessa Anoa’i
- Halfsister: Summer Anoa’i
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Galina Becker (married 2014)
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Social Media Profiles: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Roman Reigns Childhood/Early Life & Family Background
Leati Joseph “Joe” Anoa’i was born on the 25th of May 1985 in Pensacola, Florida as the second son of three children born to his parents Sika Anoa’i (father) and Patricia Anoa’i (mother). His father Sika Anoa’i who was also a famous professional wrestler was part of the famous tag team “The Wild Samoans” and also in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Anoa’i grew up with his family in Pensacola Florida and being related to several wrestlers who made up his extended family including big names like Umaga, Yokozuna Rikishi, Rocky Johnson and of course Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Wrestling was like a way of life.
Anoa’i attended Pensacola Catholic High for a while before switching to Escambia High School. He was part of the football team of both schools and was even named “Defensive Player of the year” by the Pensacola Journal.
Roman Reigns College/Professional Football Career
Anoa’i decided to further his education and was admitted to the Georgia Institute of Technology. While in college, he joined the ‘Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Football Team’ and even became one of the team captains in his senior year.
In 2007, Anoa’i got signed to the Minnesota Vikings but was diagnosed with leukaemia while on a routine medical checkup and was dropped after one month of being signed. By August of the same year, he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars but was dropped again a week later, just before the start of the NFL season. Anoa’i joined the Canadian Football League and was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos he went on to spend one season with the Eskimos and played 5 games. By November he was released by the Eskimos and he decided to retire from professional football.
Roman Reigns Professional Wrestling Career
Roman signed a contract with WWE in 2010 and got assigned to their developmental territory in Florida known as the Florida Championship Wrestling. He made his debut on television as ‘Roman Leakee’ on the 19th of August 2010, in a 15-man Battle Royal with Alex Riley being the victor. Leakee was again part of a 30-man Grand Royal on January 16, 2011, but he got eliminated, then he and Donny Marlow formed a tag team to challenge Big E Langston and Calvin Raines for the FCW Tag Team Championship but they lost.
Leakee’s first big win came in January of the following year when he pinned down Leo Kruger who was the FCW Heavyweight Champion, but that was a non-title match. His next match was another big win, where he got the better of Seth Rollings and Dean Ambrose in a Triple Threat Match becoming the number 1 contender for the FCW Heavyweight Championship but lost the title decider to Leo Kruger. Leakee then formed another tag team with Mike Dalton, and they won the FCW Tag Team Championship only to lose the belts to Jason Jordan and CJ Parker a while later.
The FCW was later rebranded to NXT in August 2012 and Leakee took a new ring name for himself, becoming Roman Reigns and making his ‘NXT’ debut on October 31st.
When Roman Reigns made his main roster debut in the WWE, he made his entrance as part of a trio with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. They attacked Ryback who was in the middle of a Triple Threat bout for the WWE Championship and allowed the defending champion CM Punk to retain his title. After the match, the trio labelled themselves The Shield and in several other matches, they would routinely jump out of the crowd to attack CM Punk’s opponents.
These villainous acts started feuds with Sheamus, Ryback and John Cena, this started a series of 6-man tag team matches’ with The Shield recording consecutive wins against some very big names in the WWE including Randy Orton, John Cena, and Big Show until they finally lost by disqualification to Cena, Bryan and Kane. The Shield continued on their villainous path, causing feuds and winning most of their matches until Rollins left them and joined Triple H.
With one member of The Shield gone, Reigns and Ambrose did a few tag team matches before having a run of single matches that brought him in contention for the world title. After his victory in a Battle Royal, he entered into a Ladder Contest for the then-vacant WWE Heavyweight Championship at the fifth Money in the Bank event, but he lost to John Cena. He again was in contention for the title, in a Fatal Four-way match that included Kane, Randy Orton and the defending champion John Cena, with Cena being the victor.
After that fight, Reigns started a feud with Randy Orton and they both had a go at each other in the ring in an event called SummerSlam with Reigns being the victor. His next target was Seth Rollins for leaving The Shield and an event called Night of Champions was set up for the both of them, but Reigns had to give it up because he was to be in surgery to treat an incarcerated hernia, so Seth Rollins was pronounced the winner by forfeit.
Reigns did return to the ring, reigniting his feud with The Big Show and later on with John Cena. He had several matches with the likes of Strowman, Lashley, Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar. Until he made the announcement on the 22nd of October 2018 that he would be out of the ring indefinitely because his leukaemia had returned. He had been silently battling the illness for 11 years and had to go on an indefinite leave of absence to treat the ailment.
Reigns did return to the ring in February 2019 to announce the remission of his illness, then The Shield returned a few weeks later in a match against Lasley, Cobin and McIntyre, which ended in victory for The Shield – then he got drafted into the SmackDown brand.
Roman Reigns Wife & Personal Life
Roman Reigns got married to fitness model Galina Becker in December 2014 and their union is blessed with twin boys and a daughter named Joelle Anoa’i.
Reigns is a staunch Catholic and can be seen performing the sign of the cross whenever he is stepping into the ring.
Roman Reigns Acting Career
Outside the ring, Anoa’i has also begun to make his mark in the movie industry, with his biggest movie being the Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw where he played the role of Mateo Hobbs. He also played himself in the movie Countdown and has also played different roles in TV shows.
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