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Roman Reigns announced on this week's RAW that he will be stepping away from the WWE in order to focus on his fight against Leukaemia.
The 33-year-old has vowed to return to the WWE ring once he beats the illness and we all hope that he will fulfil this promise. However, even if Reigns ultimately opts against a return to the ring, the 'Big Dog' has already done enough to secure his status as one of the greatest wrestlers of the last decade.
Here are three reasons why his legacy with the WWE should be held in such high regard.
#3 Multiple WrestleMania Main Events
Much has been made about Roman Reigns being pushed by the WWE Universe, however, the WWE never buckled to the pressure to halt his ascent to the top of the company. This has meant that for the last four years, Reigns has slowly replaced John Cena as the face of the WWE.
In addition to headlining multiple pay-per-views, the 33-year-old's legacy has been secured by performing in huge WrestleMania matches against Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker and Triple H.
Whether the matches were good or not, fans always remember the big matches, and if you look over the past five years, Roman Reigns has been by far the WWE's main player. These big matches are something that will be referred to for years to come, and this is something that can never be taken away from Reigns' legacy.
#2 The Shield's Legacy
Unfortunately, this trio has been once again broken up by unfortunate circumstances, but their legacy as one of the greatest stables in WWE history has already been secured.
The group debuted back in 2012 and quickly ascended it's three young stars to be among the most popular wrestlers in the WWE.
The group's legacy was secured thanks to memorable storylines and big title wins at multiple PPV's. Roman Reigns eventually emerged as the biggest star after the group's initial break up, however much like with Triple H and DX, being part of a group has significantly enhanced his legacy.
#1 Lasting Fanbase
Roman Reigns was probably the most disliked wrestler among hardcore wrestling fans, however, he was also easily the most popular when you took into account all demographics. Reigns is incredibly popular among casual viewers and young fans, and just this year Forbes reported that 'The Big Dog' had surpassed John Cena as WWE's most marketable star.
Reign's clips on YouTube also draw a huge number of viewers, only matched by the occasional returns of Brock Lesnar and John Cena. Fan's were left devastated by his shocking news last night, however, Reign's should know how loved he is among the majority of wrestling fans, who now keenly await for his triumphant return to the WWE.
So what do you think about Roman Reign's lasting legacy as a WWE wrestler? Let us know in the comments below, and also tell us if you think that he will make a future return to the ring.
