Jacob Fatu Issues Bold Statement Just Days Before WWE Clash In Italy
Jacob Fatu will face Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Backlash rematch at WWE Clash in Italy.
On May 31, Italy will host its maiden televised live event, which was first announced in September last year.
Following Reigns’ title win against CM Punk at WrestleMania 42, he was challenged by his cousin, Jacob Fatu, on the subsequent Raw episode, setting up a title match at Backlash.
The bout witnessed tremendous back-and-forth action, but it was ultimately the OTC who prevailed after he took advantage of an exposed turnbuckle before hitting a spear on Jacob Fatu.
After the match, The Samoan Werewolf launched a vicious assault on the champion, even attacking a few staff members who had come out to separate them. The 34-year-old then posed for the cameras with the world title.
The feud has since continued, even resulting in The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) falling victim as Reigns’ collateral.
On May 25, both Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu stepped into the ring for a contract signing segment. Reigns maintained that after his victory in Italy, Fatu would have to acknowledge him.
Fatu retorted by saying that after he beat Reigns, the 41-year-old would have to acknowledge him as the new Head of the Table. The two then shook hands in respect to end the segment.
Jacob Fatu Committed To Setting A High Bar At Clash In Italy
The Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns match at Backlash was a high-intensity affair. It will also be only the third Tribal Combat match in WWE history, with Reigns winning on both previous instances.
In a match where everything is legal, the bloodline members will be aiming to leave everything inside the squared circle.
Fatu, meanwhile, spoke to ESPN’s SportsCenter just days before his upcoming title match against his cousin. Fatu was reminded of the existing bad blood between the family members before being asked what would be different this time around.
Man, the only difference is we’re doing the rematch, tapping in, following the code of the bloodline rules, and I’m definitely walking out this time heavyweight champion. [0:20 onwards]
The previous two matches contested under Tribal Combat rules saw Roman Reigns defeat Jey Uso (SummerSlam 2023) and Solo Sikoa (January 6, 2025 / Raw).
The Samoan Werewolf Praises Roman Reigns Before WWE Clash In Italy
Despite the tensions between the bloodline members over the World Heavyweight Championship, there exists a huge amount of respect on both sides.
The Samoan Werewolf called it an honor to face his cousin, who is a veteran in the Stamford promotion, even calling him “one of the greatest of all time.”
You know what? If we could just pull the curtain back just a little bit, besides everything else, it’s an honor, and I wouldn’t have it no other way. Since I’ve been here in WWE, it’s been a lot of first times that I’ve been a part of everything. So for us to go for the very first time, PLE in Italy against one of the greatest of all time, Roman Reigns, man, it doesn’t get no better at Clash in Italy.