Roman Reigns has opened up about the body image pressures that come with being one of WWE’s top stars.
Speaking with Men’s Health ahead of the release of Street Fighter, in which Roman Reigns plays Akuma, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion discussed the pressure performers can put on themselves to maintain a certain physique. Reigns acknowledged that he sometimes deals with his own self-criticism, particularly in an industry where appearance plays such a significant role.
“Sometimes that’s like, we all got a little bit of body dysmorphia, right? We’re all fighting this little critic in our head,” Reigns said. “So luckily I have a lot of time in, so I will always carry some muscle mass, but I’m in an aesthetic business and this is what I signed up for.”
Reigns added that maintaining a particular physique year-round can be difficult given the demands placed on professional wrestlers.
“The demands that we’re asked, it is hard to stay unless that’s just the way you are,” Reigns said. “That’s your genetics, and you’re one of those brothers that are just ripped year-round.”
Roman Reigns Discusses The Challenges WWE Performers Face
Roman Reigns joked that he doesn’t naturally stay lean year-round and can start getting “chubby” just by looking at a doughnut. However, he explained that a wrestler’s physical condition can also be affected by injuries, mental well-being, and responsibilities away from the ring.
“I think there’s ebbs and flows, and I think it goes back to how do you feel? Are you injured? Are you beat up? And then is that affecting you mentally?” Reigns said.
The 41-year-old also stressed that WWE performers deal with many of the same everyday responsibilities as everyone else.
“We’re humans just like everybody else. We have our day-to-day. We’re paying our bills. We’re taking our kids to school. We’re doing all the normal stuff,” Reigns said.
Reigns added that those factors can influence how a performer looks at different points of the year, although he acknowledged there are times when wrestlers have to ensure they are physically prepared regardless.
Alongside his WWE career, Reigns will portray Akuma in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie, which is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026. WWE star Cody Rhodes and NJPW’s Hirooki Goto are also part of the film’s cast.
