WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi recently spoke with Chris Featherstone for FOX Sports, talking about Roman Reigns and the rest of the build to Wrestlemania 32.
Rikishi talks about the simple fix that could save Roman Reigns, his heel turn and feud with The Rock, the six-way Hell In A Cell match and his infamous bump, Undertaker versus Shane McMahon and more. You can read a few excerpts below:
Rikishi says turning Roman Reigns heel would help him longterm:
“All due respect to the fans. Without the fans, there is no Roman Reigns. Without the fans, there is no Samoan Dynasty, there is no Triple H, there is none of us. So the fans are entitled to their opinion. Again, let’s keep in mind, this wave that’s going through Roman Reigns at the time, he’s not the first, nor will he be the last. He is who he is. As far as the rumors about him not being able to wrestle, well I beg to differ, because I know that he comes from a bloodline that’s called Samoan Dynasty, Anoa’i strong. We all know how they wrestle and I think and know that we do it very well.
I feel that, in due time, you’re gonna see Roman Reigns become Roman Empire. Let’s take it back to John Cena and Rock back in the day, when people felt like they was just shoved down their throats. Eventually, they earned the people’s respect, and the next thing you know, they were just loved by the whole world. To me, you don’t want to go against the WWE Universe. You never want to do that. To me, what works is to go with the flow. If you hate me so much like that, had it been me, I’d tell Vince, switch me heel right now. Let’s give it to these people. I’d be the baddest frickin’ heel that they’d ever see. And in due time, you would hate me so much, when I do turn babyface, guess what, [you’d love me]. It’s a very simple fix.”
Rikishi talks about his own heel turn, feud with The Rock in 2000:
“I was reluctant at first when Rikishi took off. It was one of the top moments, other than winning the tag team straps with my cousin Samu as The Headshrinkers. When Rikishi hit that top spot, it was the right timing for myself, pretty much unexpected for everybody. They didn’t see this blond-haired, 450-pound guy wearing a thong was gonna get over so big and be a household name ’til today. When that came about, it was already a no-brainer for me. Number one is to be able to work with your family members is always a pleasure, and always a fun part of the business to where part of your job is to go out there and have fun and create magic with your family. But who better to work with than the most entertaining guy in entertainment itself [The] Rock?”
Rikishi predicts the Hell In A Cell match between Shane McMahon and Undertaker:
“I have to go with Undertaker. We gotta give the respect to the big man. No doubt I think that there’s going to be an entertaining match. Shane with his crazy bumps, who knows what type of bump he’s gonna take for WrestleMania. We’re talking about the Super Bowl of Super Bowls in professional wrestling, and knowing Shane, he’s gonna bring something out.”
Rikishi also recently spoke with Bill Apter for WZ TV and told him why he thinks Roman Reigns gets such a mixed reaction from the crowds; you can watch that interview in the player below:
