WWE Smackdown released an intense promo featuring six-time WWE superstar Roman Reigns and his new ally, Cody Rhodes. Reigns returned to his old hunting grounds, Georgia Tech’s football stadium, where he played college football.
"Everything you put your eyes on here ... it's mine. Years ago, I shed blood, sweat, and tears on this field. Many times ... so, that means this is my field. And if this is my field, it is my stadium and it if it is my stadium, you better believe this is my city," said Reigns.
The location was symbolic to Rhodes as well because of his and his father's connection to the state.
"Multiple generations of my family have bled for this city, and in this city ... This is your field, but this is my home," said Rhodes.
The promo was released to let fans know that the star wrestlers are forming an alliance. However, Rhodes warned that the alliance is strictly business. The two-time Intercontinental Champion questioned if Roman Reigns would stay true to his word. To this, Reigns replied:
"For the first time in a long time, there's no weight on my neck. It's on yours."
Roman Reigns' career at Georgia Tech brought him closer to Atlanta
After graduating from high school, Roman Reigns, who was then simply known as Joe Anoa'i, wanted to focus on his football career and had interest from Conference USA schools. But his search ended when he visited the Georgis Tech Yellow Jackets.
"Once I went to Tech, I just knew that that's what it was, man," he said, as per ESPN. "The city of Atlanta just offered so much. It was the city I was looking for, the experience I was looking for.
"There was something about Tech and the legacy of it, being a part of something. A lot of these other schools, one of their sales pitches were, 'You're gonna create history here because the program's not that old.'
"But there was just something about being at Tech and you know, being a part of something that's been around for a century long. ... There's just something about joining that fraternity that just made it an easy close on me."
Not only did his football career skyrocket in Atlanta, but his personal life also. His wife, Galina Becker, was the track and field athlete at Georgia Tech.
Roman Reigns declared for the 2007 NFL draft but went undrafted and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings in May 2007. Though his professional football career was short, Roman Reigns ended up becoming the world's most influential wrestler.
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