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Once a very polarizing figure in WWE, similar to John Cena, Roman Reigns has had a tremendous 2019, returning to the ring after overcoming a leukemia diagnosis that took him off WWE TV in late 2018.
Since returning to WWE, Roman Reigns has become one of the biggest stars of the company and the SmackDown brand, and used his battle against leukemia to help inspire others and raise cancer and leukemia awareness as a Superstar on WWE TV.
As 2019 comes to an end, Roman Reigns currently finds himself in a feud against Baron Corbin, and no doubt The Big Dog's sights will be set on possibly winning the Royal Rumble match next year, and going on to headline WrestleMania 36 in Tampa.
Given the above, let's take a look at 5 Roman Reigns backstage stories every fan needs to know.
#5 Roman Reigns wants to team up with his cousin The Rock at WrestleMania
Roman Reigns and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson are famously cousins, which has led many fans to the conclusion that a Rock vs Reigns dream match would be an excellent addition to any WrestleMania card, but The Big Dog feels otherwise, recently stating that he would rather team up with The Rock at WrestleMania than face The Great One.
During a recent interview with TV Insider, Reigns discussed the possibility of facing The Rock at WrestleMania and said the match would have to be something the fans really want to see in order for it to happen.
"It would have to be something the fans are just overwhelming about," said Reigns. "They have to make it very clear this is the matchup they want. Then we have to take into account our family and the way that affects us and the way we’d tell our story."
#4 Jon Moxley still communicates with Roman Reigns
On New Year's Eve of last year, Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks made the historic announcement that All Elite Wrestling would be forming, and since then the upstart wrestling promotion has debuted its new show Dynamite on TNT.
One of the biggest names to make the jump from WWE to AEW in 2019 is Jon Moxley, as the former WWE Champion left his post as a top star in World Wrestling Entertainment to join All Elite Wrestling in its quest to provide fans with a "paradigm shift" in pro wrestling.
During a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Moxley admitted that he still keeps in touch with his former Shield partner and WWE star Roman Reigns. Moxley had the following to say on their current relationship (H/T Fightful):
"You get in the bubble. You're busy. I mean, not really. Not so much. A little bit. You know, text Roman a little bit here and there. But he's super busy. I mean, they're so busy in the bubble and stuff, you know, and I'm busy, too."
As of this writing, Moxley is thriving in AEW and both Reigns and Rollins are thriving in WWE, meaning a Shield reunion might not be in the cards for a very, very long time, if ever.
#3 Chris Jericho believes Reigns would be more over in AEW
During a recent appearance on the Keepin' it 100 podcast, AEW star Chris Jericho discussed top WWE stars Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, and claimed they would be more over in AEW as the company does not force its talents to deliver scripted promos.
"I watched Survivor Series and it was really good," said Jericho. "But they had this promo with Daniel Bryan and Miz and it's like, for the sake of our children, our families, you have to stop The Fiend. Nobody talks like that.
"You know what I mean? You can still put the guy over big time but, not worry, like, what... is he's going to come to your house and break in your house and steal your kids... it's just not believable. And it's cartoonish in a bad way.
"If you had a guy like Roman Reigns in AEW, he would be so over. Roman is so legit, a real cool dude, man. He's a great guy. He's super cool. He's like the guy you want to hang out with.
"And you know, they never portray him like that on the show. They always give him these promos to read and the real Roman Reigns never really shines through."
#2 The Fiend is currently tapped to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36
According to recent report from Wrestling News Co’s Paul Davis, The Fiend is currently scheduled to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36 in Tampa.
Plans for WrestleMania change on a very consistent basis, so the above should be taken strictly as a rumor at this point, however, should The Fiend hold onto the WWE Universal Championship from now until WrestleMania 36, it looks like one of the main events for the big PPV next year could be The Big Dog facing off against The Fiend with the title on the line.
Should the match between The Fiend and Reigns take place, it will be interesting to see who emerges victorious in the bout, as Bray Wyatt currently sits at 0-3 at WrestleMania, having lost to John Cena at WrestleMania 30, The Undertaker at WrestleMania 31, and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 33. Wyatt did not compete at WrestleMania 32, 34 or at this year's event as he was still of WWE TV.
Things have certainly changed for Bray Wyatt now that he is The Fiend, and with his current momentum trending upward on a weekly basis, he might finally score a win at WrestleMania.
#1 Roman Reigns said Baron Corbin used to be disliked backstage in WWE
Roman Reigns is currently embroiled in a feud with Baron Corbin, who still refers to himself as The King after winning this year's WWE King of the Ring tournament.
Corbin draws a very mixed opinion from pro wrestling fans and pundits, with some claiming he is a great heel worker in WWE, and others claiming he draws too much "go away heat", as fans care little to see him on their TV screens.
During a recent appearance on Corey Graves' "After the Bell" podcast, Roman Reigns revealed that Corbin used to be disliked backstage in WWE, but has grown to be a well-liked member of the WWE roster.
"If you would’ve told me I would’ve main-evented a European tour with ‘Football Tom’, I would’ve said ‘Get the hell out of here. Yeah, right.’ One thing, even with the boys back then, he got a reaction, right? He rubbed us a certain way, and when push came to shove and it was time for him to get in the ring, they were like, ‘Dude, you’re going to get fired if you don’t get in the ring.’ He picked it up, he’s a big guy, he’s got good timing... I’ll give him that."
