How long did Roman Reigns’ brother Rosey compete in WWE? Exploring his career

Roman Reigns is a rare WWE Superstar who only emerges once in a lifetime. Wrestling runs deep in Reigns’ veins as he hails from the renowned Anoa’i family. Being the son of Sika, who was one half of The Wild Samoans, it’s no shock that Reigns has found success in the wrestling world. Interestingly, his older brother Rosey had already made a name for himself in WWE before Reigns took on the title of The Tribal Chief and stepped into the ring.

Despite being unable to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL, Rosey, also known by his real name Matthew Anoa’i, found success in the world of wrestling. Over the span of 22 years, he competed in various countries such as Puerto Rico, Japan, and the United States. However, unlike his brother Roman Reigns, who has been a part of WWE for his entire career, Rosey spent a shorter amount of time with the company, only five years.

At that time, Rosey’s main role in the wrestling world was as a tag team wrestler. Alongside his cousin Eddie Fatu, he made his debut in 2002 as one-half of the Island Boys, who eventually evolved into the team known as 3-Minute Warning. Despite their efforts, they were unable to make a significant impact, and when Eddie Fatu left the company, Rosey was left to find a new partner. He joined forces with The Hurricane, adopting the persona of “Rosey, The Super Hero in Training,”and together they achieved tremendous success, ultimately capturing the World Tag Team Championship.

Despite the possibility of a 3-Minute Warning reunion, Rosey’s partnership came to an end in 2006 and he was left without a current role in the company. He was eventually released that same year and went on to wrestle in Japan for a period of time before establishing himself as a regular in the independent circuit. Tragically, in 2017, he passed away from complications arising from congestive heart failure.

Roman Reigns: A Legacy of Greatness

Although they never had the opportunity to step into the ring together, Rosey and Roman Reigns were always extremely close. As the older brother, Rosey always took care of his younger brother Joe. As a result, Reigns was understandably devastated when he received the news of Rosey’s death.

In 2024, Roman Reigns has become the “face of WWE”, a remarkable achievement that he likely never thought was possible. His older brother, as seen in his recent A&E biography, had always believed that this was his destiny. In a clip from the biography, Reigns is shown a snippet of an old interview with his brother Rosey, where he speaks of Reigns’ special qualities and his destined path to greatness.

Despite his typically calm and stoic demeanor, Roman Reigns couldn’t contain his emotions as he reflected on the impact Rosey had on him. Even though he may not be physically present, Rosey will undoubtedly be watching over The Head of the Table from above, a testament to their special bond.