American Samoa’s Joe Anoa’i, better known around the world as Roman Reigns, the World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest active star and certainly its most polarizing performer, has announced that his life long battle with leukemia is forcing him to step away from the squared ring, effective immediately.
He shocked the wrestling world with his announcement on Monday Night RAW as he also gave up his Universal Champions title.
The 33 year old said he was originally diagnosed in 2008 as a 22 year old and although he quickly went into remission, he has been fighting the disease since then.
“That’s all lies and it’s a lie because the reality is my name is Joe and I’ve been living with leukemia for 11 years and unfortunately it’s back,” Anoa’i said.
“Because the leukemia is back, I can’t fulfill my role. I can’t be that fighting champion and I’m going to have to relinquish the universal championship. I’m not going to lie, I’ll take every prayer you can send my way but I’m not looking for sympathy, I’m not looking for you to feel bad for me because I have faith.”
The former Georgia Tech standout college footballer told fans that this was certainly not his last time with WWE.
“Sometimes life throws you a curveball and the best thing for me to do is to go home and focus on my health,” Anoa’i said.
“But I want to make one thing clear: By no means is this a retirement speech because after I’m done whupping leukemia’s ass, I’m coming back home. And when I do, it’s not going to be about titles and being on top, it’s about a purpose.
He promised fans he was coming back because “I want to show you all at home and my family and my children and my wife that when life throws a curveball at me, I will choke up and I will swing from the fences every single time. I will beat this and I will be back so you will see me very, very soon.”
