On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated published a new feature on Roman Reigns dubbed, Heal Turn: After Beating Cancer, Roman Reigns Finds a New Purpose. The article features comments from Reigns, as well as John Cena, about the WWE Superstars' real-life battle with leukemia.
The story focuses on Reigns' going from stepping out of the spotlight in WWE to battle a terrifying, life-threatening disease, all the way to returning to the brightest of spotlights in a match at the record-setting WrestleMania 35 event at MetLife Stadium.
"After these past few months, I just wanted to be a part of the process," said Reigns of getting better in time to have a match at WrestleMania 35. "Leukemia feels like a death sentence. That's how I felt when I was first diagnosed 11 years ago. This time, knowing what I'd been through, I immediately felt frightened and alone."
Reigns continued, "I heard that word, leukemia, again. As a father, husband and provider, I was terrified."
After successfully returning to his yard, "The Big Dog" claimed it was the WWE Universe that deserves the credit for his ability to beat leukemia and return to doing what he loves for a living.
"It was all the prayers and blessings from across the world, even from people who have no idea who Roman Reigns is," said Reigns when asked who deserves the credit for him pulling through his battle with cancer. "That's what saved my life."
He added, "I want people to know it's the struggle that brings us all together. We're all fighting some battle. Someone is out there connecting with you during your fight, even if you don't realize it.
"If my story can somehow inspire someone to push another hour, or go through another treatment, then everything I went through was all worth it."
Cena also spoke with S.I.'s Justin Barrasso for the article. The fellow WWE veteran performer and future WWE Hall Of Famer spoke about admiring those who can repeatedly fight challenges and win, as well as Reigns' ability to now use his experience to help others.
"Anyone who fights a challenge such as that, and can win repeatedly, that's a person I admire," said Cena. "Now Roman can share his story to the world."
Cena added, "And he's beginning to use his voice to try to help other people in his condition."
Check out the complete "Heal Turn" feature on Roman Reigns from Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso at SI.com.
(Follow us on Twitter @RajahNews or myself, Matt Boone, @MattBoone1984 for more exclusive backstage wrestling news and rumors!)
When he took his leave of absence, Roman Reigns was the face of WWE, but he returned as something even greater https://t.co/0wJiv3x5GA
— SI Wrestling (@SI_wrestling) April 16, 2019
