PROVIDENCE, RI (CelebrityAccess) — Roman Reigns, one of the WWE’s most popular wrestling personalities, announced that he’s stepping back from his career as a performer with the organization while he battles with leukemia.
Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoaʻi, started his career as a professional football player before he transitioned into a performer for the WWE in 2010.
In a seemingly heartfelt speech during a wrestling event at Dunkin’ Donuts Arena in Providence, RI on Monday night, Reigns announced that he was relinquishing his title and putting his career on hiatus while he focused on his family and health.
Reigns revealed to the crowd that he’d been diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 22, but said it went into remission, only to recently return.
Reigns, who did not perform at the event, cited his faith and noted that he plans to return to the WWE when his health permits.
“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 told the audience on Monday night.
“I will beat this, and I will be back, so you will see me very, very soon,” Reigns he added.
