Sunday 8 April 2018 08:54, UK
Roman Reigns is anticipating a highly-physical contest in his WrestleMania match against Brock Lesnar on Sunday night, describing the reigning Universal champion as a "lethal athlete".
Elimination Chamber winner Reigns will face Lesnar live on Sky Sports Box Office at midnight on Sunday in what is likely to be the main event of WWE's biggest show of the year.
The duo were involved in a one-on-one match three years ago - which became a triple threat when Seth Rollins cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase - in a bout which became very physical and saw Lesnar shed blood for the cause.
It was an excellent contest and Reigns is expecting his Sunday night assignment to be equally brutal.
"It's rough," he told Sky Sports. "He's a lethal athlete. He's one of the greatest combat sports fighters of all time and it doesn't change in our genre of entertainment, he brings that physicality to the squared circle just like he does in the UFC octagon," he said.
"It's up to us to handle that and I think I showed the whole world at WrestleMania 31 that I can withstand Suplex City and take everything Brock Lesnar has to offer.
"There have been other occasions when I've stepped in the ring with him and I know exactly what to expect."
A key feature of the build-up for the match between the two has been Reigns' unhappiness that Lesnar enjoys the benefits of a part-time contract with WWE.
While some of his comments have been storyline, Reigns is happy to be the "team player" he has portrayed himself as because of his genuine love for the business.
"I treat every match as though it's WrestleMania," he said. "Whether we're in the tiniest little town on a Friday night or we're at The O2 in London, every match is a huge match for me.
"Because I have the respect for the performance. You never know what's going to happen out there and sometimes it's the smallest things that can get you.
"I have a deep appreciation to wake up every day and I always say that I'll do the rest. As long as God lets me step foot in the ring then I'm going to put 100 per cent into it.
"I'm willing to do this, to grind it out, because I love this. WWE is my team."
