Kevin Anoa'i
From Iwe
| Joesph Anoa'i | ||
| Birth name | Kev-Leati Joseph Anoa'i | |
| Born | May 25, 1985 (age 27) Pensacola, Florida, United States | |
| Resides | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Spouse(s) | Galina Becker (m. 2014) | |
| Children | 1 | |
| Family | Anoa'i | |
| Professional wrestling career | ||
| Ring name(s) | Joe Anoa'i Roman Leakee Leakee Roman Reigns | |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |
| Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | |
| Billed from | Pensacola, Florida | |
| Trained by | Afa Anoa'i Sika Anoa'i Florida Championship Wrestling | |
| Debut | 2010 | |
Kev-Leati Joesph "Joe" Wilson (born May 25, 1985) is an American professional wrestler and former Canadian football defensive tackle. He is signed to IWE, where he works under the ring name Roman Reigns.
A member of the Anoa'i family, a renowned Samoan-American wrestling dynasty, Anoa'i initially forged a career in professional football, having played the sport since high school. Following stints with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos. Released from the Eskimos in 2008, he retired from football.
IWE signed him in 2010, and Reigns made his main roster debut in 2012 as part of the Shield together with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. While as part of the trio, Reigns was a one-time IWE Tag Team Champion with Rollins. He also equaled the record for most eliminations in a Survivor Series elimination match with four in the 2013 match and set the record for most eliminations in a Royal Rumble match with 12 at the 2014 event. Since going into singles competition in 2014, Reigns won the 2014 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award and the 2015 Royal Rumble match.
Contents |
Football career
| No. 99 | ||
| Career information | ||
| Status: | Retired | |
| CFL status: | Import | |
| Position(s): | DT | |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |
| Weight: | 280 lb (130 kg) | |
| 'College:' | Georgia Tech | |
| Organizations | ||
| As player: | ||
| 2007 2007 2008 | Minnesota Vikings* Jacksonville Jaguars* Edmonton Eskimos | |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only | ||
| Tackles | 9 | |
| Knockdowns | 0 | |
| Sacks | 0 | |
| *CFL statistics only | ||
Anoa'i is a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, and was named first-team All-ACC his senior year. After going undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Upon being waived by the Vikings, he was added to the Jacksonville Jaguars roster to provide depth at defensive tackle. In 2008, Anoa'i was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos and accepted a spot on the team's practice roster.
Professional wrestling career
International Wrestling Entertainment / IWE
Developmental territories (2010–2012)
In July 2010, Anoa'i signed a developmental contract with International Wrestling Entertainment (IWE) and was later assigned to their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He debuted on September 9, 2010, using the ring name Roman Leakee, in a loss to Richie Steamboat in a singles match. Further losses to Idol Stevens and Wes Brisco ensued, before he gained his first win on September 21 over Fahd Rakman. He continued competing in FCW throughout the remainder of the year, wrestling mainly in tag team matches. On the January 16, 2011 episode of FCW television, Leakee was a competitor in a 30-man Grand Royal, but was eliminated. Later in 2011, Leakee formed an alliance with Donny Marlow and the pair unsuccessfully challenged Calvin Raines and Big E Langston for the Florida Tag Team Championship on July 8.
In 2012, Leakee became a main eventer in singles competition, and he pinned Florida Heavyweight Champion Leo Kruger during a tag team match on the 8 episode of FCW television. On the February 5 episode of FCW television, he defeated Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins in a triple threat match to become the number one contender to the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship. He failed to win the championship when he lost to Kruger in a singles match the following week. He would later go on to win the Florida Tag Team Championship alongside Mike Dalton before dropping it to CJ Parker and Jason Jordan. Anoa'i made his NXT debut on the October 31 tapings under the name Roman Reigns by defeating CJ Parker.
The Shield (2012–2014)
- Main article: The Shield (professional wrestling)
Royal Rumble winner (2014–present)
Persona and reception
Personal life
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Moment of Silence (Back suplex side slam)
- Downsized (Jacknife Powerbomb)
- Signature moves
- Entrance themes
- "Special Op" by Jim Johnston (IWE; 2012–present; Used while part of the The Shield)
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #371 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011
- International Wrestling Entertainment
- IWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Seth Rollins
- Royal Rumble (2015)
- Slammy Award for "What a Manuver" of the Year (2013) – for the Spear
- Slammy Award for Faction of the Year (2013) - with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins as The Shield
- Slammy Award for Trending Now (Hashtag) of the Year (2013) - #BelieveInTheShield - with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose as The Shield
- Slammy Award for Breakout Star of the Year (2013) - with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose as The Shield
