Jacob Fatu admitted he was feeling the pressure before stepping out at WrestleMania 42, and Roman Reigns stepped in at the perfect time with a message that helped calm him down.
Speaking with Daniel Cormier, Fatu said the nerves didn’t really hit him until he was already geared up and ready to walk out for his Unsanctioned Match against Drew McIntyre. That’s when he crossed paths with Roman Reigns backstage, and the World Heavyweight Champion gave him advice that stuck with him right before the match.
Fatu explained that Reigns kept things simple and told him to slow down and take in the moment instead of letting the pressure overwhelm him.
“Nah, but yesterday was, it was emotional. It didn’t hit me until I actually was getting ready to walk out. I’m so nervous. I seen a couple cats on the way. I seen my big Uce, I seen the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns yesterday. Right before I walked out. He still calls me Jake, Jakester, Jakey, you know what I mean? So he had to (tell me), you know, ‘hey, man, calm down. Enjoy the moment,’ you know? Something that my wife always tells me, but Roman was like, ‘just take it all in,’ and before I went out, man, being ready, having my gear on and locked in, just thinking about all the tough times, all the struggle, everything to bring me to this moment right here. I mean, come on, I’m very blessed to be in WWE for two years and be 2-0 at WrestleMania right out the gate.”
That advice clearly paid off. Fatu went on to defeat Drew McIntyre on Night One of WrestleMania 42, keeping his undefeated WrestleMania record intact and proving he could handle the pressure on one of WWE’s biggest stages.
Do you think Roman Reigns’ advice helped Jacob Fatu deliver at WrestleMania, or was Fatu always destined to win that match? Let us know what you think.