WWE have shocked fans in handing top star Roman Reigns a 30-day suspension for violating the company wellness policy just two days after he lost his World Heavyweight Championship at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event.
Reigns, real name Joe Anoaʻi, has been placed at the top of the card since the dissolution of his tag-team The Shield in 2014 and is not a popular figure among internet fans, who believe he has been forced on audiences by the WWE creative team.
On last night's episode of RAW he was booked in a much-anticipated main event triple-threat match for next month's Battleground pay-per-view against Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will compete in the match on July 24th. If he were to return that night it would be his seventh consecutive PPV main event.
He commented on the suspension via twitter, which coincided with an official statement on the WWE's website.
I apologize to my family, friends and fans for my mistake in violating WWE’s wellness policy. No excuses. I own it.
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) June 21, 2016
His suspension shows how seriously the sports entertainment juggernaut take the wellness of their talent: the policy was implemented following the tragic death of former champion Eddie Geuerrero.
