The four-time world champion, real name Joe Anoa’i, explained he was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just 22 years old and he had been in remission. However, he said its return is now forcing him to step away from the ring effective immediately.
The 33-year-old, who is a former American football player, told the crowd at Monday Night Raw: “My real name is Joe and I have been living with leukaemia for 11 years.
“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.
“I’ll take every prayer you can send my way but I’m not looking for sympathy, I’m not looking for you to feel bad for me, I have faith.
“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 of my life.
“I didn’t have job, I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have a home and I had the baby on the way. And football was done with me. But you want to know who gave me a chance?
“The team which gave me a chance was the WWE.”
Emotional fans took to Twitter to support the wrestling star, who won WWE World Heavyweight Championship three times and the Universal Championship once.
Source- Evening standard