Jim Ross has expressed reservations about the speed at which the Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu program has developed heading into Backlash, questioning whether the match is coming too soon.
Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross was asked about his expectations for the Backlash main event and was candid about the booking timeline.
“This can’t be considered ideal creative because it’s so quick. Those two guys have amazing, unlimited potential. You can preserve their bodies, keep them healthy longer if you don’t have them wrestle that much. And I now somebody’s thinking, What about Darby Allen? He wrestles every week he has lately. And I can’t think, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. He’s been he’s getting Darby Allen over. Who is Darby Allin? Why should I like him? So we’re given the opportunity to explain that. So that’s just too quick. So when you see something booked too quickly, you could peel the onion back and see there’s got to be another reason. It may be that that’s the best thing available. Sometimes that’s it.”
Ross went on to praise Fatu. “He’s a hell of a young hand. He’s still green, but he’s got lots of potential. He’s got that good da DNA in his running through his veins. But Romans the man, don’t ever mistake that. Roman’s the man. Things could get cluttered underneath him and confusing and and lightly booked, maybe. But he’s not that Booker. He’s out there to execute. And from what I’ve seen, every time I have seen him, he’s delivered. So why? Why screw with that formula? It’s that works.”
Reigns won the World Heavyweight Championship over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42 night two and faces Fatu in his first defense at Backlash on May 9 in Tampa, Florida. Fatu had challenged Reigns on the Raw after WrestleMania, with Reigns formally accepting on the following episode.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Grilling JR with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
