WWE star Roman Reigns says his leukemia is in remission and he’ll be returning to the ring.
Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoai, was only 22 when he was first diagnosed with leukemia.
The former WWE Universal Champion relinquished the belt in October after disclosing that the disease had returned and that he was taking a hiatus to fight it.
READ MORE: WWE star Roman Reigns reveals he’s battling leukemia
“The good news is, I’m in remission, y’all,” he told the crowd during an emotional speech at a WWE Raw event in Atlanta on Friday. “So with that being said — the Big Dog is back.”
The former football player thanked fans for their support and admitted that he struggled with his decision to announce his cancer diagnosis.
“I’m not going to lie — before my announcement in October I was terrified. I was scared. I was insecure. And I didn’t really know if I wanted to share that secret with the world,” he told the cheering crowd.
“That overwhelming support that you gave me, it gave me strength, it gave me new life. It gave me a new opportunity and it gave me a new purpose,” he added.
“There is no other job like this,” he said. “There’s no other fanbase like you guys.”
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Reigns thanked his family for their support in a video posted to his Instagram account.
The 33-year-old wrestler told Good Morning America that the struggle this time around was less difficult thanks to his fans.
He said it was amazing to be back in the ring and “this journey is not complete until I get to step foot back into that ring and I get to address my fans.”
Many WWE stars and fans celebrated Reigns’ announcement.
—With files from the Associated Press
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