In a feature from ESPN, WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns spoke about his decision to remove himself from WrestleMania 36 during the start of the pandemic.
Reigns was set to challenge Bill Goldberg for the Universal Championship two years ago at WrestleMania but was changed after Reigns opted to go home and was replaced by Braun Strowman.
At the time, Reigns and his wife Galina were expecting twins.
Reigns told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi:
We didn’t have enough information [about COVID-19]. We didn’t have a proper protocol for protection. I think I made the very smart choice in stepping back and kind of game planning and figuring this thing out and seeing where it went.
In the article, it noted that Reigns said that the conversation with Vince McMahon about his choice “wasn’t a good one.”
The match between Goldberg and Strowman was filmed inside the WWE Performance Center as part of the two-night WrestleMania 36 presentation without fans in attendance.
The feature goes into detail regarding Reigns’ motivation to return later that year at SummerSlam and won the Universal Championship seven days later.
It has to be groundbreaking. It has to be history-making. I just want to be viewed as the most powerful superstar of all time, when it comes to WWE and sports entertainment. I just really wanted to convey this portrait of strength. Almost like a Mafia-style power. Not only is it respect, but they fear me.
Reigns will take on Brock Lesnar for the third time at WrestleMania this Sunday in a Title vs. Title match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
