Roman Reigns Is Taking Leave Of Absence From WWE
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Roman Reigns has been brutally attacked and written off WWE television. The closing segment of the August 4th episode of Monday Night Raw saw the former champion destroyed by the new faction led by World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
The on-screen assault is the storyline reason for Reigns' upcoming hiatus from the company. He is reportedly set to begin filming a major role in a Hollywood movie.
A Brutal Post-Main Event Ambush
The show's main event saw Seth Rollins defend his World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight, which ended in a disqualification after an attack from CM Punk. This led to a post-match brawl where Rollins' allies, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, helped him lay out both Punk and Knight. As the trio stood tall, Roman Reigns' music hit.
Reigns stormed the ring to even the odds, but the numbers game was too much. Rollins blindsided Reigns with a Stomp, which was followed by a devastating spear from Breakker. The assault culminated with Bronson Reed delivering three of his signature Tsunami splashes to the fallen Reigns as the show went off the air.
Time Off For Hollywood
This violent write-off serves a real-world purpose. It has been widely reported by outlets like Deadline that Roman Reigns (Joe Anoa'i) has been cast in a significant role as the iconic villain Akuma in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie.
The film's production schedule requires him to be away from the weekly demands of WWE television for an extended period. While no official return date has been announced, Reigns is currently advertised for the Survivor Series premium live event in November.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JANUARY 28: Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens wrestle during the WWE and Universal Championship match during the WWE Royal Rumble event at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio,...
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JANUARY 28: Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens wrestle during the WWE and Universal Championship match during the WWE Royal Rumble event at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. More
Alex BierensMore news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
A New "Tribal Chief"?
This recent heroic act from Roman Reigns signals a potential major character shift for the former "Tribal Chief." After a dominant, multi-year run as WWE's top villain, he suffered a humbling loss to his legendary rival, John Cena, at SummerSlam this past weekend. That loss, combined with his actions on Raw, suggests that Reigns may be transitioning into a new babyface role upon his eventual return from his filming commitments.
For now, however, Monday Night Raw belongs to Seth Rollins and his new, ruthless faction. Their "Ruse of the Century" at SummerSlam saw Rollins steal the World Heavyweight Title, and their destruction of Roman Reigns just two nights later is a clear and dominant statement that a new empire is in control.
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