Roman Reigns Confirms He Pulled Out Of WWE WrestleMania 36 Match

Last week, it emerged that Roman Reigns had made the decision to pull out of his Universal Championship match against Goldberg at WrestleMania 36. SmackDown Tag Team Champion The Miz was ill while in Orlando, Florida which prompted The Big Dog to withdraw from The Showcase Of The Immortals for the good of his health.

Reigns confirmed yesterday on Instagram that he had pulled out of Mania. He also responded to some of the fan backlash he has received as he said people don't know the whole story and that everyone should make an effort to understand another person's situation before "running your mouth" online.

The former Universal Champion said: "You already know what's going on. It's all over the news, the dirt sheets, whatever you want to call them. That I pulled out of WrestleMania. And it's funny because for years now, years, people are like 'Don't show up to WrestleMania, we don't want you in it.' There's a nice handful of dudes and haters that didn't want me there but the moment I make a choice for me and my family, I'm a coward, I'm a sissy. A lot of different things that I am now. But you don't know the whole story. All you know is what you think. 

"'Oh well, his health,' and this and that but you don't know what else is going on in my life. You don't know if I have newborns. You don't know if I have family in my household, older family. So, like the old saying, go and flip that cover open and read a few pages, get into a few chapters before you really start running your mouth and just take this time to better yourself, be present and make the most out of this."

Reigns later added: "For all my fans, I'm sorry I didn't get to compete this year and put on a show and entertain but sometimes things are more important and I had to make a choice for me and my family. No matter what, you already know the deal. I made the town, you know what I mean? I made it to Orlando. And I had to make a decision for me, but it doesn't take anything away from what I've done and what I'm going to do. I still love this game. I still love pro wrestling, sports entertainment. I love being in the ring. It's a little weird being in the ring with nobody watching, nobody in the arena, but man, I'm ready to get back to work and I'm just taking these times, this little bit of time we have, to build up the outside and come as close as possible to perfecting the inside."

Despite Reigns confirming he has withdrawn from WrestleMania 36, WWE has continued to promote The Big Dog vs. Goldberg at The Show Of Shows.