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Roman Reigns left WrestleMania 42 with the World Heavyweight Championship earlier this month, but it didn’t take long before a new challenger emerged with his eyes on the gold.
Jacob Fatu made it clear on the following “Monday Night Raw” last week that he is aiming for his first world title. Reigns told him he had to think about it and that Fatu had to prove he deserved a shot at the championship. Fatu not only defeated Solo Sikoa on “Friday Night SmackDown” but also took out the entire MFT faction with him.
Entering Raw this week, Reigns was in a deliberating segment with Jey and Jimmy Uso about what he should do about the “Samoan Werewolf.” Jimmy Uso said Fatu’s quest for greatness and what comes with it shouldn’t “come at the expense” of Reigns. Jey Uso warned that Fatu was “dangerous”.
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Roman Reigns performs in the ring on Monday Night RAW at Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas on April 27, 2026. (Cooper Neill/WWE)
The power struggle came to a head later that night when Reigns and Fatu met in the ring.
Reigns said he put the World Heavyweight Championship “in the main event” and made the title “relevant.” Next, Fatu addressed Reigns, who said he hoped Fatu “made the right choice” to unite the lineage and “not divide it.”
“You said you gave me a week, I didn’t need a week. I didn’t need a day. Hell, I didn’t even need an hour to think about it. I know exactly what I wanted when I came here last Monday,” Fatu said. “I didn’t stutter, I didn’t hesitate when I told you I didn’t want this title, but I need this title.”
Fatu said that Reigns must be “stuck” in his own main event mania and that Reigns didn’t “work” like him to get where he is.
“But that’s not how you start, that’s how you end,” he continued. “And it made me stand here now in front of your a–. Before WWE, you didn’t call me, Jimmy didn’t call me, Jey didn’t call me, but you know who called me? Solo called me. Solo gave me a chance. Solo is the one who put me on since I’ve been here.”
Reigns suggested that Sikoa had nothing to do with Fatu’s arrival in WWE, saying “Solo couldn’t have a cup of coffee delivered here if he wanted to.”
“Who do you think runs this place?” » Reigns asked rhetorically. “The OTC runs this place. And yeah, I’ve been a little distracted. Things are getting a little hectic around here. But I never forgot about you and I’m the one who signed your a–. But you’re here a little confused, seems like a fool to me.”
“You don’t deserve it. You didn’t earn it. Letting you compete with me is nepotism. I can’t do that.”
Jacob Fatu wrestles Roman Reigns on Monday Night RAW at Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas on April 27, 2026. (Cooper Neill/WWE)
Reigns didn’t finish his thought before Fatu attacked him with a Tongan deathgrip to the face.
“I will take everything from you, everything,” Fatu swore.
Reigns then accepted Fatu’s challenge.
Later, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced the World Heavyweight Championship fight for Backlash – the next premium live event on the WWE calendar.
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Monday evening Rollins
Seth Rollins opened the show by addressing Bron Breakker, who cost him a victory over Gunther at WrestleMania. Rollins responded by attacking Breakker and his Vision comrades last week.
Rollins and Breakker argued over who was responsible for Breakker’s success. Rollins wondered how this ultimately benefited Breakker. Breakker responded that he didn’t need Rollins to climb to the top of the mountain, he wanted Paul Heyman.
“You needed us,” Breakker said urgently.
Rollins said he saw potential in Breakker and Heyman asked him to take Breakker under his wing as Breakker moved from NXT to the Raw roster.
“Look at you Breakker, you have everything. And I’ve been here 14 years, I’ve seen athletes from all disciplines come here,” Rollins said. “They’re big, they’re strong, they’re fast, but you’re unique. You’re the biggest, strongest, fastest, most versatile I’ve ever seen in the 14 years I’ve been in this business. You have everything, everything to be the next big star in this industry. Everything except the most important thing (points to his head).
“I know better than anyone what it means to be a 28 year old cat full of ps and vinegar who comes into this company thinking that the company owes you something, not wanting to wait for anyone. I know better than anyone what it means to bet on yourself, to take risks, to make decisions, tough decisions that people won’t be happy with. I know. But the difference between you and me is that you try, I succeed. You try, I succeed, and you know why? Let me just paint some pictures for you. Every time I bet on myself it ends in a main event or a world championship. You bet on yourself, what did that get you Austin Theory and Logan Paul.
Bron Breakker faces Seth Rollins in the ring on Monday Night RAW at Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas on April 27, 2026. (Cooper Neill/WWE)
Rollins clearly stated that Breakker was “not ready yet” for the big moment.
“I’m not ready? Is this the story you want to follow?” Breakker said, “I hate to break it to you, Superstar, but before all this was a thing, I was well on my way to being a main eventer with or without you. I didn’t need you or your help or anything. And you want to blame me for losing the World Heavyweight Championship? That’s fine. The truth is: your body can’t take it, your mind is too fragile, and your shoulder can’t take the weight of the strap anymore.”
Breakker then sang about Rollins being the best at “being #2”. Rollins responded that Breakker “wasn’t even number 2 in your own family.”
Rollins said he would give Breakker the opportunity to play Backlash. Lévesque made it official later that evening.
Other remarks
Lévesque also booked Iyo Sky against Asuka for Backlash. Asuka interrupted Sky’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship match against Becky Lynch, keeping their months-long feud hot. The two icons of Japanese women’s wrestling will now face each other in the next big event.
Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez attacked Stéphanie Vaquer from the back. Michael Cole later said on the show that Vaquer had suffered an “AC joint sprain” and might be out “for a while.”
Paul and Theory interrupted Joe Hendry’s performance during the show and attacked him, seemingly starting a feud with Raw’s Last Call.
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Match results
Raquel Rodriguez faces Bayley on Monday Night RAW at Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas on April 27, 2026. (Cooper Neill/WWE)
Penta def. Rusev
Becky Lynch def. Iyo Sky will retain the Intercontinental Women’s Championship.
Rey Mysterio def. The Great American
Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez def. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria
