WWE Superstar Roman Reigns made shocking and heart-breaking revelations during yesterday’s live episode of RAW.
In the opening moments of Raw last night, the 33-year-old emerged to announce that he had been living with leukaemia for 11 years.
He added that the disease’s return would force him to leave the sport for some time.
The four-time world champion in WWE mingled briefly with fans at ringside before dropping the persona of Roman Reigns to address the WWE Universe as Joe and detail his history of living with leukaemia.
“For months, maybe even a whole year, I’ve come out here as Roman Reigns and said I’d come out here every week, that I’d be a fighting champion, that I was going to be consistent, that I was going to be a workhorse – but that’s all lies.
“It’s a lie because the reality is, my real name is Joe and I’ve been living with leukemia for 11 years and unfortunately it’s back.
“And because the leukemia is back i cannot fulfil my role, I can’t be that fighting champion and I’m going to have to relinquish my Universal Championship”
But he made one thing clear on the way out: “This is by no means a retirement speech.”
Speaking of the “faith” that had carried him through his life, Reigns promised the WWE Universe that he would return to “swing for the fences” at whatever curve balls life threw at him.
A final sign-off before a tearful embrace with The Shield atop the ramp: “I will beat this, and I will be back, so you will see me very, very soon.”
Following his announcement, Reigns was joined by Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins on the stage for an embrace.
WWE released a statement confirming the unfortunate news.
It said: “Tonight on Monday Night Raw, Roman Reigns (aka Joe Anoa’i) announced that he is relinquishing the WWE Universal Championship and taking a leave of absence from WWE as he once again fights leukaemia, which had been in remission since late 2008.
“Reigns is taking his battle with leukaemia public in an effort to raise awareness and funds for research in order to advance cures for the disease.”