WWE star Roman Reigns reveals he's fighting leukemia

WWE World Champion Roman Reigns left the fight fans stunned when he broke the character to reveal he was fighting leukemia.

Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa'i, made the announcement on Monday at the flagship WWE show Gross. Dressed in street clothes and battling tears, the 33-year-old said he would be forced to forgo the WWE's universal title and seek treatment.

"As leukemia is back, I can not fulfill my role … I can not be that fight champion … and I'm going to have to give up the World Championship," Reigns told a shocked crowd in Providence, RI

The former football player, who had a brief stint with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, further revealed that he had been diagnosed for the first time in 2008, at age 22, although he quickly went into remission. He has been fighting the disease since.

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Reigns, who played college football at Georgia Tech, has participated in the last four major events at WrestleMania, the annual extravaganza of pay-per-view. At this announcement, the WWE World Champion announced his intention to return to the ring when he will be in good health.

"I want to clarify one thing: it is by no means a retirement speech. After finishing badping leukemia [expletive] again, I'm going home, "said Reigns.

WWE issued a statement shortly after the announcement of Reigns.

Tonight Monday night, Roman Reigns (aka Joe Anoa & # 39; i) announced that he was giving up the WWE Universal Championship and was absent from the WWE to fight leukemia, in remission since the end of 2008, "the company said. "Reigns is publicly attacking leukemia to raise awareness and fundraise for research to advance treatments for the disease."

Reigns was a defensive lineman with the Eskimos in Edmonton in 2008. He played three games in the CFL with the team, registering nine tackles and a forced fumble.

The Eskimos tweeted their support for their former player Monday night after announcing that he was retiring from the ring.

"We wish Joe Anoa'i (aka @WWERomanReigns) the best in his fight against leukemia," tweeted the team. "Stay strong O #OnceAnEskimoAlwaysAnEskimo"

-With the files of Phil Heidenreich of Global News and the Associated Press