Royce Keys rallies Jacob Fatu before Backlash title clash
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 8, 2026 - Royce Keys offered encouragement to Jacob Fatu on Friday Night SmackDown ahead of Fatu's World Heavyweight Championship match against Roman Reigns at Backlash. The pep talk came backstage after Jey and Jimmy Uso warned Fatu in the ring. Keys, a longtime wrestling acquaintance of Fatu from independent promotions including West Coast Pro, urged him to ignore the family members.
Keys told Fatu: "I heard what your cousins said out there, forget all that noise. Failure has never been an option for us, has it? Failure was never an option, even when we didn’t know where our next dollar was coming from. Tell me this - when has Jacob Fatu been afraid of any man that breathes the same air as him? Go to Backlash, bring that home. Werewolf your a-- up because Jacob Fatu is all gas, no brakes with it. People like us, we’re gonna take everything we want."
Earlier, Fatu delivered a promo vowing victory for his family and threatening the Usos against interference: "This isn’t just a main event. This is for my family. If there’s one thing my family will see me do it’s becoming the WWE world heavyweight champion. If you think about interfering, I will bring this whole goddamn family tree down." Jey Uso had countered: "Wanna know the worst part? He’s gonna break you down, emotionally, physically and he gonna do all that to you right in front of your family, Uce."
Later, Jey Uso approached Keys before Keys' match against Tama Tonga and warned him to stay out of the dispute or risk drawing the attention of the "Tribal Chief." Backlash takes place Saturday in Tampa, Florida.
