NEWARK, N.J. — The last few weeks have been rough for Roman Reigns. A pair of losses to Universal Champion Brock Lesnar sent The Big Dog home empty-handed from both WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble event, but after WWE Backlash, there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel for the embattled, three-time WWE Champion. Reigns vanquished his longtime rival Samoa Joe, powering his way through a long, protracted effort that was designed to torture, demoralize and deplete the resources of the Raw Superstar.
Joe more than made good on his promise to punish The Big Dog. Reigns’ win was the product of an unfathomable tolerance for pain and his ability to exploit what was, in hindsight, the sole mistake by The Samoan Submission Machine.
Samoa Joe throws caution to the wind and launches himself through the air in an intense bout with Roman Reigns: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
Joe ambushed Reigns before the bell and sent him crashing through the Spanish announce table with a Uranage, kicking off a strategy that began with Reigns trapped in holds that targeted his shoulders for minutes on end and culminated in a series of Coquina Clutch attempts that The Big Dog narrowly managed to avoid.
Joe’s strategy was as rudimentary as it was effective. Even when Reigns landed a thunderous Spear, Joe was close enough to the ropes to stop the pinfall, and The Samoan Submission Machine only turned up the heat when he felt it was time to lock in his near-ironclad submission hold. When Joe finally applied the Clutch, grapevine legs and all, Reigns seemed to be drifting into unconsciousness before he rolled over with a last-ditch effort to grab the ropes and force a break.
Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe dazzle the WWE Universe in demolition derby of epic proportions at WWE Backlash.
Perhaps feeling desperation for the first time in the match, Joe perched Reigns atop the turnbuckle to set up a Muscle Buster, but when The Big Dog leapt over his opponent’s head, Joe drove himself head-first into the turnbuckle. Seizing his opening, Reigns administered a final Spear to score the pinfall.
It likely won’t be enough to stop Joe from claiming he made his point and punished The Big Dog past the point of no return. It might not erase the bitter losses to Lesnar. But it’s a big win for Roman Reigns. And that’s a start.
NEWARK, N.J. — The last few weeks have been rough for Roman Reigns. A pair of losses to Universal Champion Brock Lesnar sent The Big Dog home empty-handed from both WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble event, but after WWE Backlash, there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel for the embattled, three-time WWE Champion. Reigns vanquished his longtime rival Samoa Joe, powering his way through a long, protracted effort that was designed to torture, demoralize and deplete the resources of the Raw Superstar.
Joe more than made good on his promise to punish The Big Dog. Reigns’ win was the product of an unfathomable tolerance for pain and his ability to exploit what was, in hindsight, the sole mistake by The Samoan Submission Machine.
Samoa Joe throws caution to the wind and launches himself through the air in an intense bout with Roman Reigns: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
Joe ambushed Reigns before the bell and sent him crashing through the Spanish announce table with a Uranage, kicking off a strategy that began with Reigns trapped in holds that targeted his shoulders for minutes on end and culminated in a series of Coquina Clutch attempts that The Big Dog narrowly managed to avoid.
Joe’s strategy was as rudimentary as it was effective. Even when Reigns landed a thunderous Spear, Joe was close enough to the ropes to stop the pinfall, and The Samoan Submission Machine only turned up the heat when he felt it was time to lock in his near-ironclad submission hold. When Joe finally applied the Clutch, grapevine legs and all, Reigns seemed to be drifting into unconsciousness before he rolled over with a last-ditch effort to grab the ropes and force a break.
Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe dazzle the WWE Universe in demolition derby of epic proportions at WWE Backlash.
Perhaps feeling desperation for the first time in the match, Joe perched Reigns atop the turnbuckle to set up a Muscle Buster, but when The Big Dog leapt over his opponent’s head, Joe drove himself head-first into the turnbuckle. Seizing his opening, Reigns administered a final Spear to score the pinfall.
It likely won’t be enough to stop Joe from claiming he made his point and punished The Big Dog past the point of no return. It might not erase the bitter losses to Lesnar. But it’s a big win for Roman Reigns. And that’s a start.
