Roman Reigns Beats Jacob Fatu to Retain World Title at WWE Backlash 2026

Roman Reigns defeated his cousin, Jacob Fatu, at WWE Backlash on Saturday to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

Reigns beat CM Punk for the title in the main event of Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 last month, making him a world champion for the first time since his loss to Cody Rhodes two years earlier at WrestleMania 40.

The Tribal Chief didn't get to celebrate his victory for long, though, as he was confronted by Fatu in the main event segment of Raw one night after winning championship gold.

Fatu said that he didn't just want Reigns' title, he needed it. He also needed everything that came with it, including providing a better life for his family.

Reigns didn't immediately give Fatu an answer regarding his challenge because he wanted The Samoan Werewolf to take a week before deciding whether he was really ready for the potential burden of being world champion.

On the ensuing episode of SmackDown, The Usos tried to advise Fatu against challenging Reigns, but The Samoan Werewolf pressed forward instead and made a statement by beating Solo Sikoa in a match and taking out the rest of The MFTs.

The following week on Raw, Reigns asked Fatu if he had taken some time to reconsider his stance, but Fatu made it clear that he never wavered and still wanted the World Heavyweight Championship.

To show The OTC how serious he was about wanting to take the title, Fatu locked Reigns in the devastating Tongan Death Grip and left him gasping for air.

Fatu then left the ring, and as Reigns caught his breath, he vowed to make Fatu pay for his actions in a World Heavyweight Championship match at Backlash.

While Fatu gave Reigns everything he could handle, The Tribal Chief prevailed in his first title defense since becoming world heavyweight champ, which perhaps foreshadows another lengthy title run.