It may finally be time forWWEto deliver a delayed WrestleMania dream match. One year ago, it seemed as if the stage was set forRoman Reigns to go toe-to-toe with The Rockon the Grandest Stage of Them All. However, the vitriol of the WWE Universe vehemently against Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes being passed over forced WWE to pivot into Rhodes vs. Reigns II.
One year later,WWE seems to be planting the seeds again for Roman Reigns vs. The Rock at WrestleMania, but this time, they may actually follow through based on an emphasis on their Samoan titles. Monday Night Raw’s premiere on Netflix saw Reigns defeat Solo Sikoa to become the undisputed Tribal Chief, but not without the blessing of The Rock presenting Reigns with the Ula Fala.
What’s most significant about their post-match interaction is that, prior,The Rock continually emphasized that he is the High Chief Seiuliforthe Anoa’i family tree, which in Samoan cultures ranks higher than a Tribal Chief.
How Did The Rock Become a High Chief?
High Chief Seiuli Position Explained
While WWE loves to blur the lines between reality and fiction,High Chief Seiuli is a position that The Rock holds in real life. The term first caught the attention in a post on X that he posted the day before Raw’s Netflix premiere. In it, The Rock would announce his upcoming appearance on the show while also expressing his excitement about soon returning to Samoa. He’d refer to himself as the High Chief Seiuli and allude to the weight that title comes with, carrying his Samoan culture proudly with respect wherever he goes.
Any High Chief in Samoan cultures serves as the sacred orator of the family, responsible for being the key decision-maker. As outlined byThe Samoa Observer, Dwayne Johnson was first anointed with the title when he visited the island country in 2004. There, he met with the late Paramount Chief Malietoa Tanumafili II, the then-Head of State of Samoa who officially ordained the honor onthe former WWE World Champion. The High Chief Seiuli is a title that must be bestowed on someone of Samoan descent by another high-ranking official of Samoan heritage.
How is the High Chief Related to a Tribal Chief
Tribal Chief Answers to the High Chief
Roman Reigns first became the Tribal Chief at WWE’s Hell in a Cell premium live event in 2020, markingthe official start of the Bloodline.As with the High Chief role, the Tribal Chief must be crowned and elected as such by another high-ranking Samoan of the family. For Reigns, he was awarded the Ula Fala by Gataivasā Afa Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi and Pola’ivao Leati Sika Amituana’i Anoa’i, better known as WWE Hall of Famers Afa and Sika, The Wild Samoans. Both are the proverbial heads of their family, respectively being Roman’s uncle and father.
In Samoan cultures, the Tribal Chief is essentially the leader and first option for the family, conducting all public matters regarding the family. However, in legal terms, the Tribal Chief would essentially be the director to the High Chief’s CEO position, meaning that legally,the Tribal Chief is quite literally beneath the High Chief. While the Tribal Chief is the head leader, he does often need to get approval from the High Chief for major decisions, and oftentimes, the High Chief can overrule the Tribal Chief’s decisions.
What Does This Mean for the Bloodline Storyline?
A Deeper Meaning Behind Rock Giving Roman the Ulla Falla
That brings everything back to how these Samoan traditions can potentially weave their way into current WWE storylines. After his X post, The Rock’s High Chief Seiuli title would be namesdropped by him constantly in his opening promo in the Raw premiere on Netflix. While this is obviously a title that The Rock is proud of and expresses through his promo how proud he is of being a High Chief,this would be the first time he’d mention it in WWE storylines onscreen, which may not be a coincidence.
Following Reigns' Tribal Combat match with Solo Sikoa, The Rock would enter the ring and choose to personally crown Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief by adorning him with the Ula Fala. On the surface, this looks like The People’s Champion paying respect to his distant cousin, but with the context that The Rock literally and legally ranks above Roman Reigns in their family hierarchy,this is The Rock giving his blessing for Reigns to be the Tribal Chief, allowing him to wear the Ula Fala. No major decision happens without the High Chief’s approval, not even a Tribal Chief’s appointment.
Netflix Censoring The Rock’s Entrance On Raw Confirms 1 Thing About The WWE’s New Era, Despite Triple H’s Promise
WWE’s game-changing debut on Netflix launched a new era for the company, but despite the changes, The Rock proved that one thing won’t change.
The WWE Universe can’t forget that just over a year ago, on the Day 1 episode of Raw, Rock first teased a match with Roman Reigns by declaring he wanted a seat at the Head of the Table (Reigns' nickname).As High Chief, The Rock has an actual stake in the Tribal Chief’s seat at the table, and that stake seems amplified as both parties are once again on the Road to WrestleMania one year later. All signs seem to be pointing back to the WrestleMania sign for these two, andWWEcould be using their respective Samoan titles to foreshadow the inevitable.
Source:The Samoa Observer
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is a global entertainment company primarily known for professional wrestling. Founded in 1953, it produces live events, television programs, and streaming content. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, WWE operates multiple brands, including Raw, SmackDown, and NXT.
