Shocking WWE ‘TLC’ News: Shield Reunion On Hold, Reports Claim Roman Reigns Has Meningitis
WWE superstar Roman Reigns is out of tomorrow’s Tables, Ladders, and Chairs [TLC] PPV event. As reported by ABC News, Reigns apparently has a viral infection and will not compete. Reigns’ withdrawal from the TLC event means that the WWE network’s plans for a reunion of The Shield have been thrown into disarray. Reigns had been due to join Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose in a five-on-three handicap match against Braun Strowman, The Miz, Kane, Cesaro, and Sheamus in a headline tag match.
If Reigns’ withdrawal from TLC is a shock, there is even bigger news about who will replace him on the TLC card. As reported on the official WWE website, Reigns will be replaced by WWE Hall of Famer and Raw General Manager Kurt Angle. His appearance on the WWE TLC card will be Angle’s first competitive appearance in the WWE ring for 11 years. Roman Reigns is joined on the sidelines by Bray Wyatt, who was supposed to face Finn Balor in another match that the WWE had been hyping for weeks. According to CBS Sports, Bo Dallas, who has been off the screen for a few weeks, is the third wrestler affected by the mystery virus.
Whilst no official comment has been made as to the nature of the virus affecting Reigns, some outlets, including Sports Illustrated, are suggesting that he may have contracted viral meningitis.
Viral meningitis is inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be fatal in some cases but most people recover on their own in around 10 days. The virus also causes fever, nausea, neckaches, and vomiting.
Reigns’ forced withdrawal from TLC will be a huge blow to the Monday Night Raw creative team, who reportedly see The Shield reunion as an opportunity for Reigns to win over the WWE universe. Before The Shield split in 2014, Reigns and his Shield brothers were a popular attraction. When Vince McMahon split the tag-team, it was as part of his plan to push Reigns as the face of the WWE network.
Many wrestling fans thought that Reigns was being pushed too hard and too fast, and so began the journey to his becoming a sort of WWE anti-hero. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, many believe that The Shield reunion is the Raw creative team’s attempt to give the fans a reason to love Roman Reigns. Those plans have been thrown into disarray by Reigns’ withdrawal from the event.
The return of Kurt Angle to the ring may be thrilling for fans. Angle is a six-time world champion and one of the greatest performers of all time. However, Angle’s inclusion in the TLC PPV is not without risk. Angle is 48-years-old, and the former Olympic champion has battled neck injuries for years.
Reigns’ withdrawal from TLC puts The Shield reunion on hold, so it remains to be seen how the Raw creative team will work the reunion into future storylines.
[Featured Image by WWE]
