WWE official Adam Pearce has discussed his run-ins with ‘The Tribal Chief’ Roman Reigns saying that he would never turn down the chance to face Reigns in the ring.
Pearce is an on-screen authority on WWE shows as well as being a backstage producer and trainer with the company. Having to make matches on-screen inevitably can draw the ire of WWE Superstars and Pearce drew the biggest ire of all when he upset WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
Reigns went as far as to enter Pearce into a number one contender’s match for his Universal Title and then with Jey Uso ensured Pearce won giving him a title shot at the Royal Rumble. Rather than face certain catastrophe at the hands of Reigns, Pearce feigned injury allowing him to name a replacement. That replacement was Reigns’ fiercest rival at the time, Kevin Owens.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, former five-time NWA Champion Adam Pearce discussed being a part of the story with Reigns and how he wouldn’t have turned down the opportunity to face the man that sits at the head of the table.
First Pearce confirmed whose idea it was to involve him in the story:
“Well I think it goes to show with anything that happens in WWE, there is one voice that makes things happen [Vince McMahon].
“I was happy to be a part of it. Roman and I have certain chemistry on camera, he’s really taken to this mob boss mentality and does it so well. You can’t teach on-screen chemistry, I think he and I have enough of a personal relationship that the conversations always felt real. It was naturally fun and really easy to play off him and Paul Heyman. It took on a life of its own… I was getting ready man, getting my boots polished you know, getting ready to go.”
“If you come to me tomorrow and say ‘Hey, let’s rewind to the Royal Rumble’. If that match was actually going to happen, there is no chance I’d turn that down. That would have been incredible. But it’s not something I ever pushed for or ever expected to happen. It’s not something I aspire to.”
Pearce continued, noting that he stills stays in ring shape through teaching and training despite having had his last match in 2014:
“When I took my boots off in 2014 it was because I was ready to move on to the next chapter in my professional life. But I’m at the Performance Center an awful lot. Yes, I technically had my last match in 2014 but it wasn’t like I’m not in the ring multiple times a week. Teaching, coaching, staying fit. I wasn’t worried about the physical aspect of things because I was still doing it behind the scenes. I’m still wearing my size 13s if needs be, if the occasion calls for it, I’m capable. But I’d much rather wear my suit and tie than my tights and boots!”
Adam Pearce finished with some complimentary words for his would-be opponent Reigns while adding that Reigns’ place at the top of the wrestling world may well have corrupted him.
Pearce explained:
“There’s an interesting old adage: ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. Maybe we’re seeing that with Roman, Heyman, and now The Usos. You don’t know what goes on in someone’s mind. I think Roman Reigns is at the very top echelon of our industry. I don’t think that’s disputed by anybody anywhere. To lead the industry is huge. He has to look in the mirror and deal with that every day of his life. He’s the Universal Champion for a reason, what he’s going to do with that power is entirely up to him. We’ve seen both sides of Roman Reigns. But that absolute power has corrupted him and we’ll see what happens in the future.”