The OTC Roman Reigns may have turned face, but he is still the same controlling and manipulative character that he’s always been.
Roman Reigns’ reinvention back in 2020 as the Tribal Chief made him reach greater heights. He became the Head of the Table, the “Needle Mover,” and the centerpiece of WWE programming. Alongside that dominance came a historic 1,316-day championship reign from 2020 to 2024, with The Bloodline constantly doing his dirty work.
After losing to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, Reigns disappeared for months before eventually returning as a babyface by attacking his former enforcer, Solo Sikoa. Since then, fans have cheered him against clear-cut villains, but underneath the crowd reactions and the OTC catchphrases, Roman is still the same person he was during his reign of terror. The presentation may have changed, but the manipulation never truly went away.
He never truly apologized to The Usos
Roman may have reunited with Jey Uso and embraced the “yeet” movement, but he never genuinely apologized for years of emotional manipulation and abuse toward The Usos.
Throughout the Bloodline saga, Roman constantly used family loyalty as leverage. He demanded obedience because they were blood, forcing Jey and Jimmy Uso to fall in line under him. Even when the cracks started showing and The Usos finally rebelled, Roman never fully acknowledged the damage he caused.
Instead, the story simply moved forward as if everything was forgiven because the fans started cheering him again.
He still sees The Usos as below him
Even after Jey Uso broke away from The Bloodline and established himself as a singles star, Roman still treats him like a subordinate rather than an equal.
Jey has built an impressive resume on his own. He won the Intercontinental Championship, the Royal Rumble, and eventually the World Heavyweight Championship. Yet Roman continues to carry himself like the family’s chosen one while everyone else exists beneath him.
Whenever Roman needs help, he suddenly acknowledges his cousins. But when they are succeeding on their own, he rarely stands beside them unless it benefits him. That dynamic has never changed.
Cheating to beat Jacob Fatu
At Backlash, Roman defeated Jacob Fatu through questionable tactics, something that instantly raises red flags for a supposed hero.
Roman once again relied on the same shortcuts and manipulative instincts that defined his Tribal Chief run. It felt less like redemption and more like a reminder that he is still capable of falling back into his old habits whenever things get difficult.
That victory over Fatu may have been framed as triumphant, but the way Roman achieved it says otherwise.
Jacob Fatu isn’t a good guy either
But Jacob Fatu has his reasons. Though he is far from innocent, his motivations make sense.
For years, Fatu has been portrayed as the forgotten member of the family. He became an outsider who never received the same opportunities and treatment as Roman Reigns. While Roman became the golden child and the face of the dynasty, Jacob was left trying to prove his worth.
Fatu’s aggression comes from wanting to finally be seen, even if it means tearing down the family’s chosen one to get there. In many ways, Jacob mirrors Roman himself: ruthless and willing to do anything to secure his place at the top.
The difference is that Jacob openly admits who he is, he wants to do it for his children and for himself. While Roman continues to act like he has changed despite showing many of the same toxic traits.
Fatu even pointed out that Roman never truly cared about him or saw value in him. According to Jacob, it was Solo Sikoa who recognized his worth despite all their differences. That alone adds another layer to the feud because, from Jacob’s perspective, it is about proving that he and his family deserve what Roman has.
Images courtesy of WWE.
Frequently Asked Questions
The article argues that despite becoming a fan-favorite babyface, Roman Reigns still displays the same manipulative and controlling traits from his Tribal Chief run, citing his treatment of The Usos and his tactics against Jacob Fatu as evidence the change is only surface-level.
Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu at Backlash through questionable, underhanded tactics rather than a clean victory, which the article frames as a sign that Reigns still falls back on the same shortcuts that defined his heel run as Tribal Chief.
Jacob Fatu has long been portrayed as the overlooked member of his wrestling family, never receiving the same opportunities as Roman Reigns. His aggression toward Reigns stems from wanting recognition, with Fatu noting that Solo Sikoa acknowledged his worth when Roman did not.
According to the article, Roman Reigns never genuinely apologized to Jey and Jimmy Uso for the emotional manipulation he used to keep them loyal during The Bloodline era, even after reuniting with Jey and adopting the “yeet” celebration.
Roman Reigns’ reinvention as the Tribal Chief in 2020 led to a historic 1,316-day championship reign that lasted until 2024, during which The Bloodline carried out his instructions and helped establish him as WWE’s top act.
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