WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross opens up on his podcast and shares the name he once envisioned to surpass The Rock.
The People’s Champion is arguably one of the biggest names in the wrestling industry and his Samoan bloodline. However, former WWE commentator Ross recently shared another name he trusted as the one to topple The Brahma Bull.
Reigns’ uncle, Umaga known as Jamal then was released in 2003 over misconduct. However, Ross knew he had more potential and believed in him. Speaking on his podcast, Grilling JR, the 72-year-old shared:
So, it’s going to be the guy you see in the mirror. If you make some changes, get your life under control, and take care of your family. It’s really pleasant, quite frankly. So, you know, I give him hope. I gave him hope that he could be a big star here, ‘you might be the biggest star in the entire Samoan family because you got skills that nobody has.’ Of course, The Rock came along and took that spot, but we had a good conversation.
Before releasing Umaga, Ross opened the door for his future return to the company:
It was just that we have to make a change. Unfortunately, it’s going to cost you your job. Now, you’re going to get plenty of offers to work, and I’m certainly not going to infer that we don’t want you to come back. But you’ve got to see change. You’ve got to get under control.
The Samoan Bulldozer returned in April 2006 under a new character. It marked the resurgence of his career as Umaga before being let go in 2009 because of a violation of the company’s wellness policy.
Despite the AEW commentator’s beliefs, Umaga could never surpass The Rock’s popularity although he left behind his legacy before his death.
The Rock Played A Pivotal Role Behind WrestleMania XL Main Event
Despite his current run as a part-timer, The Final Boss returned to the promotion earlier this year and became an integral part of Cody Rhodes‘ story.
The main event of WrestleMania XL witnessed Rhodes keep Roman Reigns down to win his first WWE Championship. However, soon after the WWE WrestleMania documentary was released, fans learned about The Rock’s role.
In other news: Shawn Michaels also recently heaped praises on this promising NXT superstar.