The Tribal Chief sees himself in Street Fighter’s warrior
Summary
– Roman Reigns says Akuma shares key traits with The Tribal Chief
– Reigns views Akuma as a competitor rather than a villain
– Street Fighter arrives in theaters on October 16
Roman Reigns believes his WWE persona has a lot in common with Akuma from the upcoming Street Fighter movie.
During an interview with Complex, Reigns explained that he does not view Akuma as a traditional villain. Instead, he sees the character as a fighter searching for the most honorable battle and the strongest opponent.
Reigns compared that mindset to his Tribal Chief character, saying he has never viewed himself as either a good guy or a bad guy. He described himself as “the guy,” which is how he has approached his WWE career.
The WWE star also discussed balancing the character’s established identity with his own contributions as an actor. He said the movie would preserve Akuma’s connection to the game while filling in details that allow the cast and creative team to expand the story.
Reigns added that he felt comfortable while filming, although performing on a movie set is different from working in front of a live WWE crowd. He said the biggest challenge was not the acting itself, but performing without a large audience watching.
Street Fighter is scheduled to premiere on October 16. The cast also includes WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, who plays Guile.
