WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns has revealed that he is suffering from leukaemia.
The 33-year-old, real name Leati Joseph Anoa’i, publicly revealed live on Raw that he was first diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago, having been in remission as he rose to the top of the WWE.
But in an emotional address on Monday night, Reigns revealed that his leukaemia had returned.
“Y’all have made my dreams come true,” Reigns said to the crowd. “It didn’t matter if you cheered me or you booed me, you’ve always reacted to me and that’s the most important thing and for that I have to say thank you so much.”
He also stressed that his address “wasn’t a retirement speech,” but confirmed that he will need to take a leave of absence to undergo treatment and, as a result, was relinquishing his WWE Universal Championship title.
.@WWERomanReigns has to relinquish the Universal Championship due to a battle with leukemia. #Raw pic.twitter.com/EhomllNwjK
— WWE (@WWE) October 23, 2018
