Lance Anoa’i, the third-generation wrestler and nephew of WWE superstar Roman Reigns, has secretly signed with WWE and is set to debut in NXT promotion in the coming days.
The Anoa’i family has been a cornerstone of professional wrestling, particularly within WWE, for decades and decades.
The family has produced some of the greatest WWE superstars, such as The Rock, Roman Reigns, and the late Umaga.
As the Anoa’i family continues to expand their reach in wrestling, the latest addition is Lance Anoa’i. He has signed a contract with WWE last summer.
Lance previously wrestled in Major League Wrestling, and now he is returning to the ring after an injury.
The wrestler began his professional career through Independent circuit wrestling and even spent a lengthy time in MLW.
Roman Reigns Saved His Nephew Turned Cousin Lance Anoa’i In 2019 Showdown Against Shane McMahon!
Lance Anoa’i is closely related to Roman Reigns through their shared lineage in the renowned Anoa’i family.
The family is a prominent professional wrestling dynasty with a heritage of producing legends.
Reports suggest that Lance is the son of Samu Anoa’i, a former WWE star known as one-half of the Headshrinkers.
The new WWE signing is the grandson of Afa, one-half of the legendary Wild Samoans. The other half of the tag team was Hall of Famer Sika Anao’i.
Unfortunately, both the legendary brothers passed away in 2024, just on the interval of two months.
Leati Joseph Anoa’i, aka Roman Reigns, is Sika’s son, which makes him Lance’s uncle. Thus, their family ties are evident.
Technically, the Original Tribal Chief is his uncle, while WWE introduced him as one of Reign’s cousins in 2019.
Reigns saved him when Shane McMahon brutalized him in the WWE RAW event on May 27, 2019.
Five years later, the original uncle and nephew might reunite in WWE, as Lance is returning after an injury sideline.
Besides, the Samoan family is rooted in wrestling history, tracing back to Rev. Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi and “High Chief” Peter Maivia.
The iconic lineage has produced Rikishi, Yokozuna, and The Uso Brothers, who are also cousins to Lance and Roman.
Since then, Samu and Afa have maintained a strong bond, which has united the whole family on and off the wrestling mat.
The family is also connected to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson through his mother, Ata Maivia.
He is the third generation of the Anoa’i family of wrestlers and since also the uncle of Lance Anao’i.
This modern iteration of the Samoan legacy continues to dominate WWE programming. Lance is again reviving it with his return to the NXT event.
Tribal Chief’s Cousin Lance Anoa’i Likely To Secretly Return On NXT After Injury Setback This Summer!
Lance Anoa’i has signed with the WWE NXT brand, but a major injury has delayed his in-ring debut.
He was born on February 15, 1992, comparatively very young than other wrestling family members.
However, the wrestler has shown his skills in various promotions, including MLW and Pro Wrestling Noah.
On October 29, he announced that MLW would grant his release from the promotion. Later in summer, Lance Anoa’i signed a contract with WWE.
#WWE Passed On Signing #RomanReigns’ Cousin Lance Anoa’i A Number Of Times https://t.co/ToBmU2D0HD pic.twitter.com/z8wlQNZNTd
— Ringside News: WWE & AEW Wrestling News (@ringsidenews_) October 30, 2023
Although he hasn’t made his debut, he participated in WWE tryouts from 2015 to 2019.
In 2015, the athlete teamed up with Rhett Titus on SmackDown but lost against the Ascension.
Again, he participated in a WWE NXT event against The Author of Pain, where he gave his best effort but ultimately lost.
As Lance is returning again in 2024, fans are intrigued about his potential involvement in ‘The Bloodline.’
Given his familial ties, he certainly would be interested in being part of “The Bloodline,” but nothing is certain yet.
It would be fun to see how the management would fit him into the storyline with Roman Reigns and The Rock after he returns to action.
In Case You Didn’t Know:
- Lance began his wrestling career at a young age, debuting on April 3, 2010.
- During his time with MLW, he was part of the Samoan SWAT Team alongside Juicy Finau.
- The wrestler went beyond the US to fight in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N-1 Victory tournament in Japan.
