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WWE legend Rikishi is open to a comeback – providing it’s handled in the right way.
Fans are clamouring for the former Intercontinental Champion to make a return as his real life twin sons Jimmy and Jey Uso prepare to fight each other in a rare brother versus brother match at WrestleMania 40.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, he teased: ‘I think in order for Kishi to be involved, it’d probably be a one time thing, only because it’s very hard to drag me away from my family now.
‘And I would probably do it just for the fans… To just come in, it has to be a big event, something like WrestleMania or big SummerSlam.
‘It won’t be on on a Monday Night Raw. It’s one of those surprise, “holy sh-” type of, “It’s Rikishi coming out!” ‘
The 58-year-old retired wrestler has made it clear he wouldn’t want it announced ahead of time, and a big time event – WrestleMania 40 next month, perhaps? – is the only stage he’d truly consider.
Rikishi has revealed what it would take to get him back on screen (Picture: WWE)
His sons Jimmy (right) and Jey Uso are facing off at WrestleMania 40 (Picture: WWE)
He’d also have to be involved with his sons, to give everyone involved a truly special moment.
He added: ‘I mean, that would be an epic, epic moment, but not only for myself, but for my boys. For all of us to be in the same room together looking over 80,000 people strong or 90,000 people strong, WrestleMania or SummerSlam!’
As a father, Rikishi – whose other son Solo Sikoa is also a huge part of WWE as a member of The Bloodline alongside Jimmy Uso, cousin Roman Reigns and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – is ‘very proud and happy’ to see his boys have such great success.
All three of Rikishi’s sons – Jimmy, Jey and Solo Sikoa – are in WWE (Picture: WWE)
‘It’ll be cool for the fans throughout the world to see these young talented brothers, go head to head,’ he said. ‘I mean, what family doesn’t have drama? And to be able to have the father possibly involved?’
He admitted it would be ‘something off the bucket list’ for Jimmy and Jey, although Rikishi is used to seeing them go head to head for a long time now.
‘For me, it’s nothing new. I’ve been seeing them going at it for years since they were babies,’ he laughed. ‘All the way from breaking the furniture in the living room to the beds and everything. So the good thing about it, at least they’ll get paid on a big stage!’
Rikishi has played down the idea of actually ever wrestling again (Picture: WWE)
However, Rikishi has no plans of getting back in the ring to wrestle himself, even if fans get their wishes and he makes a return to be involved in some way at WrestleMania in Philadelphia.
‘I miss all the fans. But I love the second half of my life now, being home to be able to live a normal life, being able to spend time with my grandkids, taking them to school,’ he smiled.
Rikishi would rather meet his fans than get thrown off Hell In A Cell (Picture: WWE)
He’s a big admirer of the next generation coming up, namedropping the likes of Bron Breakker and Trick Williams currently making waves in NXT.
However, at this point Rikishi is more than proud of his great legacy, and he isn’t tempted to try and figure out a more physical way of staying involved in the industry.
‘I just don’t want to be beaten up anymore. You know, I don’t want to take bodyslams, I don’t want to take clotheslines,’ he said. ‘I enjoy it, to be able to have the podcast and stuff because it gives me a way to reach out to a lot of my fans.’
Rikishi was a recent guest at For The Love of Wrestling in Manchester. Dates and details for next year’s event are available here.
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