Roman Reigns has confirmed he pulled out of WWE’s WrestleMania 36 tapings last week, adding it was a decision which he made not only for himself but for his family as well.
Last Thursday, it was reported that Roman Reigns had removed himself from WrestleMania 36 tapings at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando as he was not comfortable competing due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
This meant his Universal Championship match with Goldberg on the show will no longer take place, and a new challenger for the Universal title will have to step forward.
Still, despite the news being covered everywhere, WWE is still advertising Goldberg vs Reigns for the Universal title at WrestleMania.
Now, The Big Dog himself has confirmed the reports that he pulled out of WWE’s WrestleMania tapings last week on his Instagram account, adding it was a decision which he made not only for himself but for his family as well.
He said, via Pro Wrestling Sheet: “You already know what’s going on. It’s all over the news – the dirtsheets, whatever you want to call em – that I pulled out of WrestleMania. And it’s funny because for years now, years, people are like, ‘Don’t show up to WrestleMania! We don’t want you in it!’ Ya know what I mean?
“There’s a nice handful of dudes and haters that didn’t want me there. But the moment I make a choice for me and my family, I’m a “coward.” I’m a “sissy.” A lot of different things that I am now. But you don’t know the whole story.
“All you know is what you think. “Oh, well his health” and this and that, but … you don’t know what else is going on in my life. You don’t know if I have newborns. You don’t know if I have family in my household, older family.
“So yeah, like the old saying, man … go and flip that cover open and read a few pages, get into a few chapters before you really start running your mouth. And just take this time to better yourself, be present and make the most out of this.
“Because if we can’t grow in a time like this … I don’t think we have a chance, man. This is the most downtime I’ve ever seen in my life. So I just challenge everybody, and I’m taking the steps right there with you. I’m not perfect. I’m a hater too sometimes, you know what I mean?
“But I try to always put it in perspective of why I want something, or why I might be jealous of something, and then I put it in my grind.”
Reigns also added: “For all my fans, I’m sorry I didn’t get to compete this year and put on a show and entertain … but sometimes things are more important and I had to make a choice for me and my family.
“No matter what, you already know the deal, man. I made the town, you know what I mean? I made it to Orlando. And I had to make a decision for me. But it doesn’t take anything away from what I’ve done and what I’m going to do. I still love this game. I still love pro wrestling, sports entertainment. I love being in the ring.
“It’s a little weird being in the ring with nobody watching, nobody in the arena, but, man … I’m ready to get back to work. And I’m just taking these times, this little bit of time we have, to build up the outside … and come as close as possible to perfecting the inside.”
WWE is expected to announce The Big Dog’s replacement in the Universal Championship match vs Goldberg at WrestleMania on this week’s Friday Night SmackDown, and most reports have stated his replacement will be Braun Strowman.