Former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has revealed that his ascent to the very top of the professional wrestling world was not solely based on his own talent, but also on a deep study of the greatest athletes and performers across various sports. The “Tribal Chief,” who has been a dominant force in WWE for the past decade, including a record-breaking 1,316-day reign as WWE Champion, shared his unique approach to learning and evolving in the competitive landscape of sports entertainment. His comments highlight a pragmatic and strategic mindset, as he looked to extract lessons from icons like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Tiger Woods, as well as wrestling legends who came before him.
Appearing as a guest on The Pat McAfee Show, Reigns was asked about his influences and the greats he studied to reach his current level of success.
“Outside of talking to Dwayne Johnson, I haven’t had the privilege of talking to those guys. I’ve definitely studied that. I watched Michael Jordan, Tiger, Tom Brady, all these guys. The GOATs of their sport. It’s an easy watch. You can dive into that and look into the psyche of what these guys are thinking, feeling, and going through.”
He then expanded on what he learned from those figures and how he applied it to his own career in WWE.
“A lot of times, they’re going through some s–t in real life. They’re going through personal stuff, which is interesting, because to chase greatness when your life is nuts is a skill in its own right. I’ve definitely studied. You take pages from people’s playbooks. Rock, Cena, older guys like Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, The Undertaker. Everybody has something that they do, ‘That’s so smart. Where did you figure that out?’ You just steal that. It’s just stealing plays. Like football, it’s copycat. Take what you like, make it your own, and they are singing your praises.”
Reigns is scheduled to face Bronson Reed in an Australian Street Fight at the WWE Super Show-Down: Perth Premium Live Event this Saturday, October 11.
