WWE’s “RAW” show on Monday night turned somber very quickly after the promotion announced some difficult news about Roman Reigns.
Reigns opened the show by taking the mic and saying he was relinquishing his championship belt because his leukemia returned. He ended up laying his title belt in the ring to show he was relinquishing it.
.@WWERomanReigns has to relinquish the Universal Championship due to a battle with leukemia. #Raw pic.twitter.com/EhomllNwjK
— WWE (@WWE) October 23, 2018
.@WWERomanReigns has officially relinquished the Universal Championship on #RAW. pic.twitter.com/Dov281qW94
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 23, 2018
The WWE also announced the news in a press release.
Press release from WWE: pic.twitter.com/KR1DX0kTl4
— Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) October 23, 2018
Reigns’ leukemia had been in remission since 2008.
Reigns, real name Leati Joseph Anoaʻi, is 33 years old. He has been controversially pushed as a major face of WWE the past several years and has headlined WrestleMania the last four years, including a shocking win over The Undertaker.
He is a four-time world champion in WWE. Reigns was suspended 30 days in 2016 for a violation of the company’s wellness policy.
