WWE star Roman Reigns announces he has Leukemia

Reigns, WWE’s top superstar, was diagnosed at age 22 and has been privately battling the disease since

Roman Reigns, WWE’s biggest active star and certainly its most polarizing performer, announced in a shocking statement Monday night that his real-life battle with leukemia will force him to step away from the ring effective immediately. The 33-year-old Reigns, real name is Joe Anoa’i, opened Monday’s episode of Raw with the reveal that was anything but a storyline or predetermined moment.

WWE’s universal champion said he was originally diagnosed back in 2008 at age 22. Though he quickly went into remission, he has been fighting the disease since. Reigns apologized to the Providence, Rhode Island, crowd for not being the workhorse and fighting champion his character aimed to be. He also announced he will relinquish the title effective immediately.

“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.. 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.

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