Roman Reigns stepped away from WWE during the COVID-19 pandemic and ahead of WrestleMania 36. He did not want to put himself or his family at risk before returning that summer, where he aligned with Paul Heyman and turned heel.
Heyman told Raj Prashad of Uproxx that Reigns considered himself retired while away from the company. He said,
“He considered himself retired. He wasn’t coming back. I was executive director of Monday Night Raw, and Roman was assigned to SmackDown. But every week I heard all the SmackDown writers and producers and personnel saying, ‘God, I just wish Roman would come back.’ And I would ask, has anybody talked to him? Yeah, he says he’s retired. He’s not coming back. No way. Thanks a lot. Done. Finished. Goodbye. So the fact that he came back for this run, for what we have accomplished, is nothing short of a miracle because as far as he was concerned, he was out.”
Roman Reigns, one of the most dominant and polarizing figures in WWE, made headlines when he decided to step away from the company during the COVID-19 pandemic and ahead of WrestleMania 36. Concerned about the health risks posed by the virus, Reigns prioritized the safety of himself and his family. Little did anyone know that his absence would lead to a remarkable transformation in his career.
During his time away from WWE, Reigns considered himself retired, according to Paul Heyman, his current on-screen advocate and real-life friend. Heyman, who served as the executive director of Monday Night Raw at the time, revealed in an interview with Uproxx that Reigns had no intention of returning to the ring. This revelation surprised many within the company who eagerly awaited his comeback.
Heyman explained that while he was working on Raw, Reigns was assigned to SmackDown. Every week, he would hear the SmackDown team express their desire for Reigns to return. Curious about the situation, Heyman asked if anyone had spoken to Reigns directly. To his surprise, they revealed that Reigns had declared himself retired and had no plans of making a comeback. This news seemed final, leaving everyone disappointed and assuming that Reigns’ wrestling career had come to an end.
However, in a turn of events that shocked the WWE Universe, Reigns returned to the company in August 2020. Not only did he make a comeback, but he also aligned himself with Paul Heyman, forming a formidable alliance that propelled him into a new phase of his career. Reigns embraced a villainous persona and became one of the most despised characters in WWE.
The decision to turn Reigns heel (a wrestling term for a villainous character) proved to be a game-changer. It allowed Reigns to showcase his versatility as a performer and gave him a fresh start. The WWE Universe, who had been divided in their opinions about Reigns for years, suddenly found themselves united in their dislike for him. This newfound character development breathed new life into Reigns’ career and elevated him to the top of the WWE hierarchy.
Reigns’ return marked a significant turning point in his career, and his accomplishments since then have been nothing short of extraordinary. He has dominated the competition, capturing the Universal Championship multiple times and establishing himself as the undisputed “Tribal Chief” of WWE. His reign as a heel has been met with critical acclaim, and he has become one of the most compelling characters in recent memory.
The fact that Reigns came back after considering himself retired is nothing short of a miracle, as Heyman stated. It demonstrates Reigns’ dedication to his craft and his willingness to adapt and evolve as a performer. His return has not only revitalized his own career but has also injected new energy into WWE programming.
As Roman Reigns continues to dominate the WWE landscape, fans eagerly anticipate what the future holds for the “Head of the Table.” Whether he remains a despised villain or undergoes another transformation, one thing is certain: Roman Reigns’ return from retirement has forever changed the wrestling landscape and solidified his legacy as one of the industry’s all-time greats.