Growing up in a family steeped in wrestling lore, Roman Reigns has been surrounded by greatness from the moment he was born.
Reflecting on his childhood, Reigns shared a heartwarming anecdote on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, recalling a time when he likely considered WWE legend Hulk Hogan to be his uncle.
“I’m pretty sure I thought Hulk [Hogan] was my uncle at this point. Like why has he got blonde hair? Everybody in our family is huge and larger than life, so you get used to it. So it’s a bit of conditioning. Those are always great moments to look back on,”
Reigns reminisced.
.@WWERomanReigns thought @HulkHogan was his uncle when he was younger 🤣 #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/YUzxYmhdoe
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) April 4, 2024
Hogan’s towering presence and status as a 13-time World Champion across WWE, WCW, and NJPW left an indelible mark on Reigns’ childhood.
But Hogan wasn’t the only wrestling legend who captured Reigns’ admiration. Another icon from the 1990s WWE era whom Reigns looked up to was Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. In numerous interviews, Reigns professed his admiration for Hart’s no-nonsense approach to the business.
“Bret Hart was always my guy,”
Reigns stated.
“I enjoyed that sports-centric, athletic type of performance that he put on. He was a pro wrestler’s pro wrestler. His work ethic and the amount of dedication he put in is second to none.”
You’re about to witness Greatness. ☝🏽#AcknowledgeMe @FallonTonight @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/Tx7XhlvOIS
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) April 4, 2024
Reigns’ affinity for Hart’s style resonated deeply with the wrestling community, with Hart himself praising Reigns’ performance in his first WrestleMania main event against Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins in 2015. Hart hailed the match as an “instant classic,” a sentiment echoed by fans and critics alike.
Indeed, Reigns’ journey from his early days admiring wrestling legends to becoming one himself has been nothing short of extraordinary.
As he continues to dominate the WWE, his reverence for the icons who paved the way serves as a testament to his unwavering passion for the sport.