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WWE Backlash 2026
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00:30Ladies and gentlemen, there is significance to the lay that is around the neck of Jacob Fartu tonight.
00:35It was put together, it was made by the daughter of Haku.
00:40Haku is the uncle of Jacob Fartu and the man who invented the famed Tongan Death Grip.
00:47It is the rare move. It's normally not used.
00:51Jacob Fartu has revitalized it, but he committed a sin in the eyes of Roman Reigns and the family.
00:56You never use the Tongan Death Grip against a family member.
01:00Yeah, I don't agree with that philosophy whatsoever.
01:02Yeah, you can use all your moves against me except for that one that hurts the most and that I
01:08can't get out of.
01:09Well, that's like Jacob Fartu saying to Roman Reigns,
01:12Hey, you're not allowed to spear me. You're not allowed to use a Superman punch against me.
01:17Doesn't work for me. Not when the World Heavyweight Championship is on the line.
01:21The Tongan Death Grip is a devastating nerve hold.
01:24You grab the Adam's apple.
01:25You cut the wind off to your opponent and cause them to pass out.
01:29Roman Reigns has felt that move the past couple of weeks on Monday Night Raw.
01:33If Jacob Fartu locks it in tonight, we could have a new world champion.
02:01Come back home and keep it up.
04:41The warning from Jacob Batu last night, telling his cousins, the Usos, to stay out of this tonight, or Jacob
04:52will burn the entire family to the ground.
06:16it, Taylor. The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the World Heavyweight
06:33Championship. Introducing the challenger from Sacramento, California, weighing in her 291
06:51pounds, the Samoan Werewolf, Jacob Bartu. And his opponent, from Pensacola, Florida, weighing in
07:18her 265 pounds, he is the World Heavyweight Champion, the OTC, Roman Reigns.
07:43Jacob Bartu has explained why he is bitter toward his cousin. For the years that Roman
07:50Reigns ruled with the bloodline at his side, Jacob Bartu was never invited to join the
07:56family. Roman Reigns never brought Jacob Bartu aboard. That is where the issues lie with
08:02Jacob. For Roman Reigns, he believes he made Jacob wait. They need to earn his opportunity
08:07to come aboard, to come to WWE. And now that he's here, Roman Reigns believes he's been slapped
08:13in his face by his cousin and his family member, Jacob Bartu.
08:29Roman Reigns faces a very dangerous, a very disturbed, and an unhinged competitor who, as he glances
08:39his way down at the World Heavyweight Championship, has said he needs this title. He doesn't want
08:45it. He needs it for his family. This is a man who, when he got out of prison, was sleeping
08:49on a mattress on a floor with his wife and seven kids.
08:53Roman starved like Jacob Bartu had to starved for many years, in part because Roman Reigns
09:00never invited him into the fray here as part of the bloodline. That is a hunger that will live
09:06with you forever. It doesn't matter how many times Jacob Bartu feasts, he will always fight
09:12hungry, and he's fighting hungry tonight.
09:18And I gotta tell you right now, I seriously question that Roman Reigns didn't think that
09:24Jacob Bartu had earned that invite. For me, he just knew that Jacob Bartu was the only family
09:30member he could not control. Jacob Bartu makes his own rules.
09:35While Jacob Bartu forced Roman's hand with a Tongan death grip, forcing Roman Reigns to take
09:42this match up and off the shoulder tackle, Bartu right back up to his feet. Roman is questioned
09:49whether Jacob Bartu is up for the responsibility of being champion.
09:55That's just mind games from Roman Reigns if you ask me. Clearly, Jacob Bartu is more than capable
10:01of beating anybody in WWE, and Roman knows it.
10:15Would not be a good night for Roman if he lost his championship a month after winning it at
10:21WrestleMania to his family member Jacob Bartu. So if you're Roman, how do you keep the title tonight?
10:26You avoid the Tongan death grip at all costs. We've seen the past couple of weeks just how
10:31devastating it is. It is a visceral hold. You don't just feel pain, you feel your life slipping
10:38away, and it has put the fear into Roman Reigns. And I guess on the other hand, Jacob's gotta lock
10:43in
10:43that death grip to have a chance to win the title. And there's a shoulder tackle, shocking Reigns
10:47a bit. Jacob Bartu, all gas, no brakes. That's how he lives his life.
10:54Leap long now by Reigns. Roman with a clothesline, and Jacob's still on his feet.
10:59Yeah, very hungry. Jacob Bartu, and when you're hungry, Wade, you're dangerous.
11:05Hungry, motivated, and as terrifying and unhinged a force as we have seen in many years in this industry.
11:13Roman Reigns, dunking rake to our announce table here, and Jacob Bartu now gonna fly with a suicide dive.
11:19And now the Tongan death grip. Jacob Bartu, his eyes rolling back in his head. Driving Roman now into the
11:26post with that death grip.
11:27Again applied. Oh, what a shock this would be. He's fading.
11:31Trying to suck the life out of Roman Reigns in the early part of this matchup.
11:34And that was a little warning, Wade. That was a warning shot across the bow for Jacob Bartu.
11:39That's the master key for defeating Roman Reigns, and it is the right hand of Jacob Bartu.
11:45Luckily for Reigns, that was applied outside the ring by the time he got back in the ring, but immediately
11:50on the offense.
11:52Yeah, got a little bit overzealous there, and Roman Reigns able to take control.
11:56Yeah, we know. Look, you can see how devastating that move is. Roman knows it. Looks like he's going for
12:00that hand.
12:01Well, you have to, right? You gotta take it out of the equation.
12:04Damage the hand, you can't apply the death grip. And again, Roman Reigns trying to punish Bartu here.
12:09And right into the steel post. That could be a shattered metacarpal right off the bat.
12:15Roman Reigns looking on as Jacob Bartu grabs his hand. Roman continues the attack.
12:22And again, you had to know, Wade, Roman Reigns is going to have some sort of way to counter the
12:27Tongan death grip.
12:28Well, you know full well Roman is as smart as they come, and he's shown it off in the early
12:33goings here.
12:41It is loud in Tampa. 15,215 on hand, sold out. This is our main event for the World Heavyweight
12:48title.
12:49Roman Reigns, a seven-time World Champion, Jacob Bartu in his first ever WWE World Championship match.
12:56Let me ask you this, Carl. If Jacob Bartu does somehow win the World Heavyweight Championship,
13:02who is the real chief of the Samoan dynasty?
13:06Well, I mean, Jacob Bartu has a claim, right?
13:09Well, you have to be. How can you be the chief of the entire family if a family member is
13:14better than you in that ring?
13:16Yeah, but what if Jacob...
13:17I don't think it holds up.
13:17What if Jacob loses? Will he acknowledge the tribal chief?
13:20I mean, I can't imagine Jacob Bartu acknowledging anybody, but that is what Roman Reigns is demanding.
13:27Jacob Bartu falling in line, though? I don't see it.
13:32Something has to give, though.
13:35These two have been in the ring together before, but in tag team action.
13:39First time ever tonight, one-on-one.
13:41As Roman Reigns now looks to punish Jacob Bartu,
13:44who just grabs the arm of Roman and neutralizes the champion.
13:49And Bartu with a wicked short clothesline.
13:52Jacob Bartu is just made of stone.
13:56Immediately checking it on that right hand.
13:59Thoughts whirring through the mind of the werewolf.
14:02Hey, ask Drew McIntyre what Bartu's all about.
14:04That unsanctioned match at WrestleMania.
14:06We haven't seen Drew since.
14:07I've been texting Drew about zero replies.
14:09Who knows what state McIntyre is currently in,
14:13mentally and physically, after that matchup.
14:15We're used to that.
14:16And Bartu now dragging Roman back to his feet.
14:20Trying to take control of the world champion.
14:23Roman driven shoulder first to the post.
14:25And Jacob Bartu suddenly has taken over.
14:31And there's been modus operandum for Jacob Bartu since arriving in WWE.
14:37Do you think Roman saw this coming?
14:40I think he absolutely knew this was coming.
14:43This is why he wanted Jacob Bartu nowhere near WWE.
14:47Jacob's got to be careful now.
14:48He's playing to the crowd.
14:49He's got the champ in trouble.
14:51He's got to get his focus back on Roman.
14:53Well, just imagine how high the adrenaline.
14:54And there you go.
14:55Perfect point there.
14:57Jacob Bartu.
14:58Roman Reigns was waiting.
14:59He was waiting for Jacob to make that mistake.
15:02And here comes the world champ.
15:03All the physical gifts in the world for Fatu, but there's no cheating experience at the top.
15:07And when it comes to experience at the top, pacing yourself, points, timing.
15:13Nobody beats Roman Reigns.
15:15Roman into the corner again.
15:19And Jacob Bartu goes down off the big boot.
15:25And this is where confidence may start ebbing away from Jacob Bartu.
15:30Roman knows what he's doing here.
15:31And here we go.
15:32Locked and loaded.
15:34Roman Reigns.
15:35Superman punch.
15:37Into the cover.
15:38For the retention.
15:39And Jacob kicks out at once.
15:41And right back to his feet.
15:43Roman can't believe it.
15:49Roman looks like he's seen a ghost.
15:52What a lap job.
16:04And Roman now.
16:06Blocks by Fatu.
16:08Jacob Fatu with another right hand.
16:12Roman sent across the ring.
16:14Telegraphed by Jacob.
16:15And that kick just fired him up even more.
16:17Just everything is just bouncing off the Samoan werewolf.
16:21Off the running senton to Roman Reigns.
16:23Normal rules of physicality don't apply inside that ring when Fatu is present.
16:29He reminds me a lot of the late great Umaga.
16:33Fatu now taking the fight to the world champion.
16:362, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
16:47And speaking of Umaga.
16:59What a frightening sight.
17:01And now you know why so many people have caught in favor.
17:04And general.
17:04Superman punch again by Roman.
17:06Collapses into the cover.
17:07Is it enough this time?
17:08This time 2 and a half.
17:10Referee Sean Bennett right there.
17:11Make no mistake.
17:13That was a burst of speed and energy from Roman Reigns.
17:16But Roman is hurting in a big way.
17:18Just when Fatu fell in the head of steam.
17:21Catching him cold.
17:23But praying for a victory was Roman Reigns.
17:26But both men now in a heap.
17:28It has been an amazing night.
17:30An electric night today in Tampa.
17:33WWE backlash showed out.
17:3615,215 in the house.
17:38For our main event.
17:39Roman Jacob for the world title.
17:43What an opportunity for Jacob Fatu.
17:46This is Roman just processing information as the match continues.
17:50Where are my strengths lying now?
17:52Where are my weaknesses?
17:53What about my opponents?
17:55How do I beat this guy?
17:56Roman Reigns now.
17:57There's the drive-by.
17:59Classic Reigns.
18:00The back of the head of Jacob Fatu.
18:02Catching those steel steps.
18:05Like a double whammy there.
18:06And Roman's got some ideas here.
18:08Yeah, I like the look at Roman Reigns' eyes.
18:10As he now tears apart our announce table here at ringside.
18:14This is where things turn really ugly in a hurry.
18:17And with these kind of...
18:19Oh, God.
18:20Oh, no.
18:21Jacob Fatu.
18:22Tongue and death grip's in.
18:24Jacob with a tongue and death grip.
18:26Locked in on Roman Reigns.
18:27Who may be fading here.
18:29Jacob with Roman up top.
18:31And a power bomb through the table to Roman Reigns.
18:38And Jacob's got to get the champ back in the ring, Wade.
18:41He's got to get the champ back in the ring.
18:44Is Jacob Fatu locked in on winning this match?
18:48Or is he getting carried away with physical destruction here?
18:51Well, he's got to destroy Roman to win the damn match.
18:53At a count of seven now.
18:54Roman's got back into the ring.
18:57Jacob Fatu's got a chance.
18:59Jacob Fatu with a massive opportunity here.
19:07Roman Reigns trying to drag himself somehow up in the corner as Jacob Fatu waits for an attack.
19:15Spear!
19:16Spear by Reigns!
19:18Cover!
19:19Jacob kicked out!
19:25Well, what a roll of the dice from Roman Reigns.
19:28This desperation spear connecting flush should be the ancient myth.
19:34Not when you're in there with the well.
19:36Roman Reigns learning a lot about his cousin tonight.
19:39As is the 15,000 plus here in Tampa.
19:42The millions watching around the world.
19:44World Heavyweight Championship at stake.
19:47Reigns and Fatu.
19:59And that spear knocked the wind out of Fatu.
20:02And then the unbelievable kick out by the Samoan werewolf.
20:07That was right after.
20:08Roman Reigns have been powerbombed through our announce table.
20:13That's why Roman is who he is.
20:16Bouncing back from that.
20:17Roman trying to feed off the WWE fans here tonight.
20:22Reigns has walked this path of maximum threat.
20:25More than anyone usually surviving.
20:30Yeah, but can Jacob Fatu survive?
20:32After the spear.
20:34Fatu dragging himself up in the corner.
20:36Roman Reigns with the roar.
20:39Jacob Fatu puffs up, Samoan drop.
20:43Dragging Roman Reigns into position.
20:45Here comes Fatu.
20:47Mighty moonsault.
20:48He connects.
20:49Look at it.
20:49Will we have a new champion here?
20:51The cover.
20:52Up to the leg.
20:54Roman kicks out at two and a half.
20:56You gotta be kidding me.
20:57Oh, my God.
20:58Keeping the championship reign intact.
21:02Keeping his position at the head of the family intact.
21:06Unfathomable explosive strength.
21:09And timing from Fatu.
21:11Followed up by this double jump.
21:13Mighty moonsault.
21:15What a landing it was.
21:16But here's the question, Wade.
21:18Fatu hit it.
21:19Roman with everything.
21:20And Roman still kicked out.
21:21And now Fatu's losing it.
21:23Unhinged.
21:23The headbutt's being delivered to the champion.
21:25Yeah, this is where Fatu can be his own worst enemy.
21:29You've got to stay in control now.
21:30You have a massive upper hand.
21:32You have one hand on the World Heavyweight Championship.
21:36Finish the job.
21:38Fatu now mounting the champion.
21:41Delivering right hands.
21:42Family ties be damned tonight.
21:45Forget about family.
21:46Be a cold, violent warmonger in that ring.
21:49It is worth it.
21:53Jacob understands and realizes what winning the championship means to his life.
21:57To the life of his family.
21:59Everything changes in a split second when that happens.
22:02A security for you and your family.
22:05For the rest of your days.
22:09And Fatu now.
22:10Going to climb up to the top rope yet again.
22:12Roman prone.
22:13And he got the knees up.
22:14Went for a swan time.
22:15Roman rage got the knees up.
22:17But Roman may have done damage.
22:18Well, Fatu got distracted by people in the crowd yelling at him.
22:22And that beat may have been enough for Roman to get a knee up.
22:25But how bad is that right knee of Roman Reigns?
22:27And again, it was the second time tonight Fatu got caught taunting with the crowd.
22:31And it allowed Roman to capitalize.
22:33But again, to your point, Roman's knees are hurt.
22:35Well, think about the adrenaline inside both these competitors.
22:39But Roman Reigns knows how to control, channel that adrenaline.
22:43It's a main event.
22:44Championship on the line against arguably the best of this generation.
22:48A man who walks on water.
22:50Roman Reigns.
22:52Fatu must be buzzing.
22:53And he's not controlling it right now.
23:24And he's not controlling it right now.
23:36And Roman dropped in the corner.
23:38Back in and on up.
23:40Jacob Fatu.
23:41Big fight field tonight in Tampa.
23:44Another one by Fatu.
23:46Relentlessly pummeling the tribal chief who he refuses to acknowledge.
23:51And now calling for the Tongan death grip.
23:54He's already made Roman pass out once.
23:57Last week.
23:59Looking to do it again.
24:00And this time for the world title.
24:02Roman's tank looks completely dropped.
24:03There it is.
24:05Tongan death grip is in.
24:06Roman Reigns struggling.
24:08Middle of the ring.
24:09Does he have a counter?
24:11And life force slipping away for the tribal chief.
24:14And with it his grip on the world heavyweight championship.
24:18And Roman may be fading.
24:19It's in locked in tight.
24:21Cutting the breath off.
24:22Cutting the air to the lungs of Roman Reigns.
24:25Who's now down to one knee.
24:26The champion fading.
24:27The official Sean Bennett right in his face.
24:30Trying to see if Roman Reigns is going to give up.
24:32And give the title to Fatu.
24:33And those eyes have turned into deep black pits on Roman Reigns.
24:38Oh God.
24:39Roman may be out.
24:40Oh no.
24:40Roman Reigns may be out.
24:41It may be Jacob Batu's moment here.
24:44Roman Reigns does no way.
24:47One last gasp for the champ.
24:49Tapping into that something extra that puts guys like Roman above and beyond everyone.
24:55And a referee just got squashed in the corner.
24:59A bit of right to the eyes of Jacob Batu.
25:01Perhaps inadvertently in the process.
25:03But he did the job.
25:04And a superman punch.
25:05Batu still on his feet.
25:07Roman Reigns with another one.
25:10Batu still on his feet.
25:12What does Roman have to do to put Batu down?
25:15Maybe missing it.
25:16Impossible Cole.
25:17Big kick.
25:19Oh and a superman punch off the pop-up.
25:22Spear by Reigns.
25:24Cover.
25:25One.
25:26Two.
25:27Oh.
25:28A kick out of two and a half.
25:31Oh.
25:32Now Roman can't believe it.
25:34Way more than two and a half Cole.
25:37My God.
25:37I thought that was it.
25:39The pop-up.
25:40A great reaction.
25:42Superman punch.
25:43Followed by a flush spear.
25:45And somehow a kick out.
25:47And damn that one was close.
25:50It is loud tonight in Tampa.
25:53A World Heavyweight Championship match that is not disappointed.
25:57Loud in Tampa.
25:59But you need calm in the mind if you're a competitor at this point.
26:03And the calm is disappearing.
26:04And now again.
26:06Jacob Batu with the talking death grip.
26:09Locked in once again on the champion.
26:10Roman Bowling to the referee.
26:12Dropped his goal right up.
26:13And now Roman grabbed it at the official Sean Bennett again.
26:16Roman now to the corner.
26:18And the turnbuckle ripped off.
26:20The turnbuckle pad taken off.
26:22The turnbuckle now exposed.
26:24And Jacob Batu.
26:25Head first into the turnbuckle.
26:27Spear by Reigns.
26:29Cover now.
26:29By Roman Reigns.
26:30Roman retains the title.
26:35Here is your winner.
26:37And still.
26:39The World Heavyweight Champion.
26:43The OTC.
26:48Roman Reigns.
26:51Wade.
26:52The Champion Roman Reigns.
26:54Survived.
26:55I have no clue how Roman just won that matchup.
27:00With a life getting squeezed out of his jugular.
27:03By Jacob Batu.
27:05I mean you tell me who looks like the winner here.
27:07Roman Reigns is specked.
27:09Well desperately Reigns grabbed the turnbuckle.
27:12Which exposed the steal.
27:14And it went right to capitalize.
27:15And now Jacob Batu.
27:16Jacob Batu now.
27:18Is enraged.
27:19Jacob's completely lost it.
27:21We said he's unhinged.
27:22Get out of there Bennett.
27:23Gotta go do you any good being in the ring.
27:25Get out of there.
27:26There's no talking sense to the Samoan Werewolf.
27:29And now the Tonga death grip again on Roman Reigns.
27:33Roman defenseless here.
27:34We barely survived this match.
27:35The official trying to get Jacob off the Champion.
27:44Oh no.
27:45Come on now.
27:48I mean the disappointment for Batu just too much.
27:52Unfathomable in his mind that he was not going to win here tonight.
27:56Well Jacob Batu.
27:57He called a shot.
27:59He stepped up.
28:00And you come at the King.
28:01You better not miss.
28:02And that's what Jacob did tonight.
28:04And now Jacob Batu.
28:05Wiping out officials out here.
28:07Our general manager Adam Pearce from Monday Night Raw.
28:09Out here as well.
28:10Well this is why so many people didn't want Batu in WWE.
28:15He cannot be controlled.
28:16Oh he's unhinged.
28:17He's an absolute menace.
28:19Back into the Tonga death grip on Roman Reigns.
28:22A devil has been awoken here tonight.
28:25Jacob Batu has just gone completely thorough in that ring.
28:29And you're going to need more than a...
28:31Oh look at Roman.
28:32Roman foaming at the mouth.
28:33His airways are cut off.
28:35They've got to get Batu off him.
28:36Before some serious damage is done to the Tribal Chief here.
28:42I told him.
28:44I told him.
28:47I told him.
28:52This is the Jacob Batu Wade we were all warned about.
28:57This is the Samoan werewolf.
28:59This is the unhinged version of the man.
29:02And he was pushed to this tonight.
29:05This is the version of the Samoan werewolf we've all been terrified of seeing.
29:11This is the version of Jacob Batu.
29:14That Roman Reigns wanted to keep far, far away from his family.
29:20And that sight on your screen right now is the reason why.
29:26Roman survived it by the skin of his teeth.
29:28Jacob Batu is back.
29:30Batu's back.
29:31And again.
29:32Back with the tongue and death grip on the champion.
29:35Call the cops.
29:36Get somebody out here.
29:37Handcuff this guy.
29:39Well, when he's got to spread a stunk up or something, he is unrelenting here.
29:44You've got a half a dozen men in there that can't pry Batu away from the champion.
29:56What could have been for Jacob Batu, but perhaps his pursuit of the championship isn't over.
30:05What could have been for Jacob Batu?
30:07What could have been for Jacob Batu?
30:11What could have been for Jacob Batu?
30:11What could have been for Jacob Batu?
30:12What could have been for Jacob Batu?
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