WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns opened last night's episode of Monday Night Raw by announcing that his 11-year long battle with Leukemia is not over yet. In one of the heaviest moments in Raw's 25-year history, Reigns explained that the cancer had returned and he would therefore be stepping away from the WWE ring and relinquishing his Universal title.
"My real name is Joe, and I've been living with leukemia for 11 years," Roman Reigns said, in front of the crowd at Providence's Dunkin' Donuts Center. "And, unfortunately, it's back. And because the leukemia is back, I cannot fulfill my role -- I can't be that fighting champion -- and I'm going to have to relinquish the Universal championship ... I want to make one thing clear: by no means is this a retirement speech. Because after I'm done whipping leukemia's ass once again, I'm coming back home."
Reigns had been scheduled to defend his Universal title in a Triple Threat Match against Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman at the upcoming, and controversial, Crown Jewel PPV in Saudi Arabia. Following Reigns' announcement on Monday Night Raw, WWE revealed that Brock and Braun would now be going one-on-one for the vacant belt on November 2nd.
"The Beast Incarnate" and "The Monster Among Men" have only squared off in singles competition once before, when then Universal champion Lesnar defeated Strowman at the 2017 No Mercy PPV.
According to a new report from The Wrap, WWE officials will make an official decision on Wednesday regarding whether or not to host the event in Saudi Arabia, after Turkish officials release the results of their investigation into Khashoggi's death.