Wrestling Inc’s Andy Malnoske recently caught up with Roman Reigns‘ cousin, MLW and House of Hardcore wrestler Lance Anoa’i. Anoa’i opened up about Roman Reigns’ battle with leukemia and talked about his reaction when he first found out, “It was very hard on our family. My phone blew up the day he announced it. I didn’t even know until the announcement; but, we all believe in him. We’re all supporting him. We’re all behind him.” Anoa’i addressed Roman Reigns’ possible WWE return, “We have no idea on a time frame yet, but we hope it is sooner than later because I know, just like his family, all of the fans of the WWE Universe sure want to see him back.”
Anoa’i then opened up about the bond he shares with Reigns, “Me and Roman, well Joe, we got very close lately with me doing a lot of extra work with WWE. He’s been like a role model to me, so hearing the news, I took it very hard. I knew about the cancer 11 years ago when he was in college. He beat it once and he can do it again. Being with no job, it just proves, anything can happen. Dreams do come true, if you just work hard at it. Just never give up and keep working.”
Anoa’i comes from the same wrestling rich blood-line as Reigns. He is the nephew of Manu and his cousins include the late WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna and SmackDown Superstars The Usos. Anoa’i’s father is Samu, one half of the legendary WWE tag team The Headshrinkers. Samu is suffering from stage iv liver cancer and Anoa’i opened up about his battle, “[My cousin] is battling cancer. Also, my father is battling stage iv liver cancer, so it’s been hard on our family.” The Anoa’i family are rallying around one another and putting their hope in their faith to get them through these trying times, “All we can do is keep going and support each other. That’s what family is all about. All we can do is trust in God.”
(Transcription Credit: Michael McClead, WrestleZone)
Readers interested in watching the Anoa’i interview in its entirety may do so below:
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