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Tag: Rikishi

  • Real Life Bloodline Member Endorses Roman Reigns After WWE World Title Win

    Real Life Bloodline Member Endorses Roman Reigns After WWE World Title Win

    WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi recently endorsed Roman Reigns following his World Heavyweight Championship victory over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42.

    ‘OTC’ defeated CM Punk in the WrestleMania 42 main event to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. The victory marks another major title reign for the former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

    The WWE Hall of Famer has now called the Tribal Chief irreplaceable to the company’s business.

    Rikishi’s Comments on Roman Reigns

    Speaking on Off The Top, Rikishi was asked for his thoughts on Reigns recapturing the title in the night two main event. His response emphasized Reigns’ value to WWE.

    “When in doubt, call the tribal chief. You can see it, the whole world feels it. The company feels it. The bank feels it. Anybody that’s involved with WWE, you feel it. There is nothing else that needs to be proven anymore.

    What Roman says out there, what Roman does, he’s that big pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. You can come on the rainbow and it’ll just kind of stop there. But when he starts to come through, that needle moves all the way to that pot of gold.”

    He also opened up on the weight of responsibility that comes with being the company’s face, expressing personal concern for Reigns’ well-being.

    “The one thing that I pray a lot for is just his health, his mindset, to be able to continue. Because he mentioned it before, a lot of people that come through, they want that spot, but can you handle it? Are you the guy to handle that?

    To be able to be that face for the company, to be able to be respected by all, to be able to get up in the morning, fly from one city to the next city, to be able to do these early morning shows. Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel. All that stuff. It’s not only in the ring, but it’s the responsibility of being that guy,” Rikishi said.

    Roman Reigns’ Championship Status

    The win at WrestleMania 42 adds another championship to Reigns’ resume. Reigns has been positioned as WWE’s top star for several years. His latest title victory reinforces that status heading into the post-WrestleMania season. WWE officials are reportedly taking a different approach to his second major title run.

    Reigns recently pulled from all four previously advertised June episodes of WWE Raw. The change is directly tied to WWE Night of Champions 2026

  • Rikishi Steps Away From KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy

    Rikishi Steps Away From KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy

    WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has announced via X he is stepping away from KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, the promotion and training facility he founded in California in 2009, ending a 15-year run at the helm of one of the West Coast’s most established independent wrestling operations.

    The departure comes approximately one year after a violent incident involving MMA fighter Raja Jackson at a KnokX Pro live show in fall 2024. Jackson severely injured wrestler Syko Stu during the event, punching an unconscious opponent in an attack that led to Jackson’s arrest on multiple battery charges and sent shockwaves through the independent wrestling community. The incident prompted KnokX Pro to implement new safety procedures and protocols in the months that followed.

    The facility had built a reputation over its existence as a development hub for aspiring wrestlers on the West Coast, maintaining an affiliation with WWE’s ID program, which identifies and develops independent wrestling talent with potential for the main roster.

    The academy’s future direction has not been announced. No details have been provided regarding who, if anyone, will take over operations, or whether KnokX Pro will continue in any form without its founder’s involvement.

    Rikishi is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015, inducted as part of the Headshrinkers tag team alongside Samu. He is also the father of Jimmy and Jey Uso, making the Fatu family one of the most prominent in WWE’s recent history.