WWE star Roman Reigns reveals cancer fight, surrenders title

Four-time world champion, Roman Reigns, has relinquished his Universal championship title because of his ongoing battle with leukaemia.

The wrestler, whose real name is Joe Anoa’i, revealed he was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just 22 years old and he had been in remission.

“When I was 22 years old, I was diagnosed with this. And very quickly I was able to put it in remission. But I’m not going to lie, that was the hardest time in my life. I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have a home and I had a baby on the way,” Reigns said on WWE’s Monday Night Raw program.

The former football player, however said that the cancer had returned and he will have to step away from the ring.

“My real name is Joe and I have been living with leukaemia for 11 years,” Reigns said. “Unfortunately it is back and because the leukaemia is back I cannot fulfil my role, I can’t be that fighting champion and I’m going to have to relinquish the Universal Championship.”

Before he dropped his belt and left the ring, the member of The Shield wrestling group noted that he was not retiring and will be back wrestling soon.

“I want to make one thing clear — by no means is this a retirement speech,” Reigns said. “I will beat this and I will be back, so you will see me very very soon.”