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23rd Oct 2018

WWE star Roman Reigns announces cancer diagnosis, gives up Universal Championship title to fight illness

Alan Loughnane

We wish him all the best

Leati Joseph Anoa’i, known to WWE fans as Roman Reigns, opened up the broadcast of Monday Night Raw by announcing that he has leukaemia. The wrestler had been diagnosed 11 years ago, but had been in remission.

During the announcement, Reigns confirmed that his leukemia was back, and that he wouldn’t be able to carry out his duties as a wrestler, and therefore would have to relinquish the Universal Championship.

“You know the deal, you know how life is,” Reigns said.

“Life is not fair, it’s not all peaches and cream. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. And right now the best thing for me to do is to go home, to focus on my family and my health.”

The 33-year-old wrestling star promised fans that he would return, saying: “I will beat this, I will be back, and you will see me very, very soon.

“By no means is this a retirement speech,” he said. “Because after I’m done whooping leukemia’s ass once again, I’m coming back home. And when I do, it’s not just going to be about titles and being on top. No, it’s about a purpose.”

Following the emotional speech, Reigns shared an embrace with  Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, who form the wrestling stable The Shield.

The announcement of Reigns’ diagnosis saw #ThankYouRoman trending on Twitter, with fans and fellow wrestlers showing their support.

Topics:

Roman Reigns,WWE