SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
UPDATED MONDAY EVENING…
WWE issued the following press release to the media tonight including PWTorch.com regarding Roman Reigns…
STAMFORD, Conn., October 22, 2018 – Tonight on Monday Night Raw, Roman Reigns (aka Joe Anoa’i) announced that he is relinquishing the WWE Universal Championship and taking a leave of absence from WWE as he once again fights leukemia, which had been in remission since late 2008. Reigns is taking his battle with leukemia public in an effort to raise awareness and funds for research in order to advance cures for the disease.
AFTERNOON STORY…
Roman Reigns has showed up backstage for Monday Night Raw today in Providence, R.I. after missing all three of his advertised appearances over the weekend at WWE live events. Beginning Friday night in Bangor, Maine, where he was scheduled to wrestle Braun Strowman in a Universal Title defense in original advertising when tickets went on sale and then in a six-man tag match (The Shield vs. Braun & Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre), he no showed and no explanations was offered to fans. In fact, Braun didn’t wrestle, either, because Roman no-showed, meaning Braun ended up just doing a run-in after a scaled back two-on-two main event tag match.
REIGNS ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW THIS PODCAST PLUG…
Check out the latest Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast interview with author of the book “TrumpMania,” documenting the long history between Vince McMahon and President Trump, including why they have such a kinship. There’s some interesting stories and it’s especially topical with the current Crown Jewel situation with Saudi Arabia and Linda McMahon being in Trump’s cabinet.
LISTEN ON STITCHER HERE.
SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE.
With Reigns at Raw this afternoon, seemingly in good health and not injured, it appears he was just given the weekend off, according to wrestles on tour this weekend.
Traditionally, many wrestling companies have acknowledged major stars not appearing as advertised. In the pre-internet age, they often would blame travel difficulties. Paul Heyman in ECW would offer fans refunds, but told them they could wait until intermission, which was a goodwill gesture to fans and a chance for fans to feel it was their choice to pay for something they didn’t get.
WWE has a pattern of announcing specific matches when tickets go on sale for Raw and Smackdown TV events, but following through a low percentage of the time with the match actually happening. Although fans tend not to seem to care since they usually see most of the stars advertised in different match-ups instead, it’s still a situation where fans are “taught” not to believe what WWE advertises, which in the long-run can cut against their goodwill with fans and diminishes the importance of advertising a match at the launch of ticket sales and in local advertising that is unlikely to actually take place.
NOW CHECK OUT THIS REPORT: Afternoon Update: Rousey’s next potential gig, unconventional Charlotte-Becky angle this weekend, wrestlers on social media in heated political climate, Miz TV guest announced, Jarrett on NWA Anniversary show, Reigns no-show
Roman you and your family are in my prayers I can’t believe this get better very soon we love you