Penta El Zero Miedo vs Roman Reigns (via Getty)
He went undrafted in the 2007 NFL draft and spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars before signing in the Canadian Football League. Leati Joseph Anoa’i was born and would become a formidable defensive lineman, a standout in his college career at Georgia Tech. His physical characteristics and athletic history later would become key parts of his wrestling persona. But football didn’t provide the professional future Anoa’i was hoping for. Eventually, his playing career came to an end, which opened the door to a whole different career path that would lead him to WWE.
Roman Reigns is one of the most recognizable performers in WWE today, but his road to the squared circle was paved by a previous aspiration to play football.
Roman Reigns WWE journey from football player to global superstar
Undrafted in 2007, Anoa’i joined the Minnesota Vikings and had a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stage Key detail High school Defensive tackle at Pensacola Catholic College Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets NFL opportunity Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars CFL Edmonton Eskimos WWE signing 2010 Anoa’i left football behind and joined WWE’s developmental system in 2010. The big breakthrough came at Survivor Series in November 2012. In 2018, he revealed he was suffering from leukemia and announced that he was stepping away from WWE. He returned to WWE in 2019 after announcing his leukemia was in remission. Reigns returned in 2020, in a very different presentation.
Anoa’i began his football career in Pensacola, Florida, as a defensive tackle at Pensacola Catholic High School. His performances earned him a chance at Georgia Tech, where he became a key part of the Yellow Jackets’ defense. At Georgia Tech, Anoa’i developed into a respected defensive player and was named a team captain in his senior season. That experience gave him years of exposure to strength training, physical competition and high-pressure environments, skills that have translated naturally to pro wrestling. Later, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. Eventually, health problems and injuries ended his football dreams, and he thought about a new career. He first wrestled as Roman Leakee but settled on the Roman Reigns name that would become synonymous with his wrestling career. Reigns debuted on the main roster of WWE with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. The trio banded together to form The Shield, which quickly became one of the most dominant factions in WWE history. The Shield was a unique presentation with Reigns’ power, Rollins’ athleticism and Ambrose’s unpredictable style. Reigns learned a lot working with established WWE stars as he slowly became a major singles attraction. Reigns’ career also suffered a major personal setback. His absence killed whatever momentum he had as one of WWE’s biggest stars. The comeback turned out to be an important chapter in his career and was followed by another major transformation in his on-screen persona. He sided with Paul Heyman and took on the role of The Tribal Chief, presenting himself as the leader of his family and a dominant force in WWE. The character became synonymous with The Bloodline, a storyline involving members of the Anoa’i wrestling family and other top WWE performers. Reigns’ presentation evolved from a simple top babyface character to a more controlling and commanding champion. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Reigns’ career is a major transition from a Georgia Tech defensive lineman who aspired to play professional football to a WWE headliner, two physically demanding sports. Joe Anoa’i’s journey eventually led to Roman Reigns, a character who has had more transformations than just one identity throughout his WWE career. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.