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ROMAN REIGNS DISCUSSES BROCK LESNAR, THE ROUGHEST PERIOD OF HIS LIFE, HOW HE WOULD HAVE DONE IN THE NFL, SMACKDOWN IN NYC, WRESTLEMANIA AND MORE: REIGNS ON MICHAEL KAY SHOW RECAP

WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns appeared yesterday on The Michael Kay Show on The YES Network yesterday to promote Wrestlemania 38 as well as tonight's Smackdown taping in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center.

Roman was asked if he has a special feeling towards this time of year in WWE and whether he get the chance to take a moment to appreciate things.  He said you have to.  He's got great mentors including Michael Hayes, who has told him that he has to enjoy the moment.  He said he doesn't do it at the level of The Freebird, but you've got to enjoy the ride or else you are doing yourself a disservice

There's always a fine line of maintaining focus.  It's an entertainer's life so there are moments where you have to say this is crazy and you can't believe you are living this life and this day.  He told his daughter recently to find something that she loves as much as he enjoys his and to do something that makes her happy every day.  You have to put in the work to maintain it and remain relevant and give the people fresh layers of performance to keep compelling them to care.

Reigns was asked what was the hardest period of his life.  Reigns said that the original leukemia diagnosis at 21-22 years old being an Division 1 athlete with visions of playing for the NFL.  That was his Plan A, B and C.  All the eggs were in the NFL basket and to have all those dreams taken away from him at the same time he had any real health scare.  He's one of those people who move forward.  When something is negative, he can move it away or compartmentalize it to move forward but to have that happen at such a young age when he was so "young and clueless", thank God he had his wife and his mother to help guide him through that time period.

Had he not gotten sick, he believes he would have had 12 years in the NFL and then been retired.  He was really good at it.   He was asked if he's jealous of those he knew who were able to have that NFL career and be done.  Reigns said he's not the type that hates.  He uses what others do as motivation to level himself up.    Reigns said he's sitting on a nice nest egg now as they don't wrestle for free.  He's going to be 37 soon and he's enjoying life and the journey.  He doesn't think he's shown his final form yet.

Roman was asked about Brock Lesnar.  He said that he respects him, but when it comes to one-on-one, he has to personally motivate himself and bring himself to that main event, championship level, God Mode.  He has respect for Brock as an athlete and their history in Reigns' career.  He has many things to be thankful for when it comes to his involvement and rivalry with Brock, including showing him how to improve and how to handle things better when Reigns has made mistakes in the past.

The Smackdown taping in NYC was brought up.  Reigns said they are going to go out and have a great energy and an interactive show as only he can do.  There's a special energy in the Arena when he, The Bloodline and Paul Heyman are presenting.  Brock is running around trying to decapitate them with forklifts.  Roman said if it's up to him, they'll have structure and order but Brock, the crazy farm boy he is, wants something different.

Roman was asked about the greatest of all time.  Roman says he believes he's living today as the GOAT and is just trying to push himself at that level as the face of WWE.  He's the greatest of all times when it comes to Championship runs.  Paul Heyman is the greatest of all time in his role.  The Usos are the greatest team.  All together, they are unstoppable.  Every show is an audition for next week.  They have to knock it out of the park in order to do it next week.  That gives them the opportunity to have their swagger.

You can listen to the entire interview at this link.

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