The COVID-19 pandemic was not easy for anyone, but as WWE was forced to move its events to the quiet isolation of the WWE Performance Center, Reigns, left immunocompromised from his two fights with leukemia, was cornered into some difficult decisions. His choice to pull out of his WrestleMania 36 match against Goldberg was controversial, and while Braun Strowman replaced him to win the WWE Universal Championship, Reigns stepped away from the ring once more amidst COVID-related concerns for his family and health, as disclosed on a 2020 episode of “After The Bell.” Reigns’ WrestleMania 36 absence was certainly felt, but the benefits Reigns eventually reaped from his absence were historic. His SummerSlam 2020 return and debut as “The Tribal Chief” catapulted him into stardom.

Leukemia continues to influence Reigns’ decisions today. Reigns was seen wrestling with a mask when a match against “The Demon” Finn Balor at Extreme Rules 2021 forced him into the crowd, and it has been reported that Reigns’ set of veneers were obtained following tooth decay from chemotherapy. Reigns’ leukemia status came into question following a comment from Pat McAfee during Reigns’ WrestleMania 41 match against Rollins and CM Punk, where Reigns clarified that, while he is in remission, he is on oral chemotherapy treatment. The side effects of such treatment can still be disastrous on the body, and in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Reigns outlined his intentions to look towards less-physical forms of entertainment in the near future.

Reigns has bested nearly everyone on the WWE roster. Yet, some of his most admirable victories come from his real-life struggles with leukemia. Remission is a long-term condition, but a temporary one. Reigns’ condition may flare up at any time in the future. Should it resurface, however, Reigns has proved, twice now, that he is up for the fight.