WWE fans suffered a huge shock as Universal Champion Roman Reigns made a heart-breaking and emotional revelation about his deteriorating health condition due to his long battle with leukaemia. Reigns made an official statement about his illness during the live telecast of the WWE’s RAW event. He has also forced to give up his championship belt after not being able to compete further at the big stage in world wrestling and entertainment.
Leukaemia is cancer which starts in blood-forming tissue, usually the bone marrow. It leads to the over-production of abnormal white blood cells, the part of the immune system which defends the body against infection.
The four-time world champion told his millions of fans that he had been diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago but was in remission. But he says the leukaemia has returned which means he can no longer ‘be that fighting champion’.
During the emotional speech, the 33-year-old star also revealed his real name – Leati Joseph Anoa’i. The father-of-three said he felt like he ‘owed an apology’ – but the wrestling world has rallied in support of the Florida native.
Addressing the crowd, the 33-year-old said: “I feel like I owe everyone an apology”.
.@WWERomanReigns has to relinquish the Universal Championship due to a battle with leukemia. #Raw pic.twitter.com/EhomllNwjK
— WWE (@WWE) October 23, 2018
“For months, maybe even a whole year, I’ve come out here as Roman Reigns and said I’d come out here every week, that I’d be a fighting champion, that I was going to be consistent, that I was going to be a workhorse — but that’s all lies.
“The reality is, my real name is Joe and I’ve been living with leukaemia for 11 years.
“And unfortunately, it’s back. The leukaemia is back and unfortunately, because it’s back I can’t fulfil my role, I can’t be that fighting champion. And I’m going to have to relinquish the universal championship,” the Universal Champion added.
EXCLUSIVE: Moments after announcing that his returning leukemia has forced him to relinquish the Universal Championship, @WWERomanReigns is met with an outpouring of support backstage. #Raw pic.twitter.com/JRv0iYLILJ
— WWE (@WWE) October 23, 2018
Reigns, who has a wife and three children, continued: “I am coming back because I want to show all of you, the whole world, I want to show my family, my friends, my children and my wife, that when life throws a curve ball at me, I am the type of man that will stand in that batter’s box, I will crowd the plate, I will choke up and I will swing for the fences every single time.
“Because I will beat this and I will be back and you will see me very, very soon.”
Reigns has main-evented Wrestlemania and won the Royal Rumble during his WWE career.
After Reigns bold admission about his disease, fans and other wrestling stars from across the globe sent messages of support on Twitter.
‘Courage - strength in the face of pain or grief.’ You have given us your everything including a courageously vulnerable moment. We, your WWE family, give you all of our love and support. #ThankYouRoman #NeverGiveUp
— John Cena (@JohnCena) October 23, 2018
Sending all the love to @WWERomanReigns he’s a Superman and one of the hardest workers in @WWE and a true leader. #ThankYouRoman
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) October 23, 2018
@WWERomanReigns My Family And I Are Thinking Of You And Are Keeping You In Our Prayers! We Are Here For You! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) October 23, 2018
Very emotional start to #Raw with Roman Reigns announcing he has leukemia and needs to obviously step away from wrestling. He gave a great speech, the fans chanted his name and supported him. He gave up the Universal Title. Then he got a hug from his Shield brothers. God bless. pic.twitter.com/5rCwBqrVCJ
— John Canton (@johnreport) October 23, 2018
Reigns is a four-time world champion having held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship three times and the Universal Championship once. After Reigns’ surrender, the new champion will be crowned at the Crown Jewel pay-per-view on November 2. Braun Strowman will take on former champ Brock Lesnar for the championship title.
Share This Post
