Top WWE Star Was Devastated After Cancer Ruined His NFL Dreams: “Mentally and Emotionally, Affects Everything”

The WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns is currently at the top of his game. Being in professional wrestling runs in the blood of Roman Reigns. He is a part of the illustrious Samoan Anoa’i wrestling family. Roman Reigns followed the footsteps of his Samoan dynasty, which included WWE legends such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Sika Anoa’i, Rikishi, Umaga, and his cousins, The Usos (Jimmy & Jey).

However, Roman Reigns, aka Joe Anoa’i, growing up, had another field of interest apart from wrestling. And that was gridiron football. While growing up in Pensacola, Florida, Reigns quickly developed an affinity for the sport.

Before becoming The Tribal Chief in WWE, he dreamt of becoming an NFL athlete. However, Roman’s dream was tragically crushed when he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Why was Roman Reigns’ devastation that impactful?

Roman Reigns, during the last episode of the WWE Evil series produced by Peacock TV, explained how he was devastated when his NFL dream shattered. Reigns claimed that he signed with the Division 1 Georgia Tech football team. So he wanted to make his own path in his life during his college days. During the 2007 NFL draft, Minnesota Vikings signed Reigns as a free agent.

Reigns mentioned, “While I sign with the Vikings, I went up there for rookie camp. Went through all my physicals. And by the time I was done with my practice. That first practice, all the test results from my bloodwork came back. That’s when I was introduced to leukemia.”

“My mind was bummed; my heart was broken. I was scared for my life. When you have something that you can’t control, it affects you all the way around, mentally and emotionally, affects everything. It wasn’t easy,” Roman added.

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Not only did Roman dreamt of becoming a football player, but he wanted to be a part of the Minnesota Vikings for life. However, when the cancer news broke out, the first thing he did was move back to his family in Florida.

When did The Tribal Chief know it was the end of his football career?

During the Minnesota team physical, Joe Anoa’i was diagnosed with leukemia and was consequently released within a month of the joining side. Reigns describes this moment as the scariest time of his life. When his lifelong dream was shattered, it affected him altogether.

It was because Roman felt he could not control his physical condition. When Reigns saw significant changes in his leukemia condition, he knew it was time to call quit his pro football career.

“The first thing was to get home and get back to the Pensacola, Florida, get around my loved ones, my mom. Once we got around a year and a half or so, when we really started to see significant movement in my bloodwork. That’s when I started feeling like, ‘Okay, I might be able to live a normal life.’ As far as chasing dreams and being an athlete, that was completely up and there,” WWE World Champion added.

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Later, Reigns joined his cousins, The Usos, in the WWE in 2010. Since then, he has captured multiple championships in his name. Roman Reigns has established himself as one of the most dominant athletes in the sports.

The Tribal Chief slew The Beast Brock Lesnar at The Most Stupendous WrestleMania 38. Roman is currently the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, and he has held the World Championship for over 500 days.

Just like cancer, The Tribal Chief has smashed his opponents to become the greatest of all time.