Royce Keys motivates Jacob Fatu before Backlash title clash

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Royce Keys delivered a backstage pep talk to Jacob Fatu on Friday Night SmackDown ahead of Fatu's World Heavyweight Championship match against Roman Reigns at Backlash. The exchange followed warnings from Jey and Jimmy Uso during Fatu's in-ring promo at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Keys and Fatu share a history from independent promotions including West Coast Pro.

After the Usos interrupted Fatu's speech, where he vowed to win the title for his family and threatened retaliation against interference, cameras captured Fatu backstage. Keys dismissed the cousins' words: "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."

Keys continued: "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." Jey Uso later approached Keys before his match against Tama Tonga, warning him to stay out of it or risk the attention of the "Tribal Chief."

Backlash takes place Saturday in Tampa, Florida.