4 announcements that shook the WWE Universe in 2018

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At least one-third of a show is usually spent with wrestlers working upon their character and storylines on the mic, while some even have to do so to make some important announcements.

Every year we hear some announcements which shock both the WWE locker room and the WWE Universe. 2018 was no different as a few big announcements were made which either made the WWE Universe celebrate or surprised them to a whole new degree.

Some of the biggest announcements of 2018 included the first ever Women's Royal Rumble match, the first ever all-women pay-per-view event, the return of the King of Cruiserweights Rey Mysterio, and the return of Shawn Michaels to in-ring competition.

However, some announcements were so shocking that no one really saw them coming until we heard them from the men and women themselves. Let's take a look at 4 such announcements which shook the WWE Universe in 2018 and will have a lasting impact on the years to come.

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#4 Aleister Black's attacker is announced

Aleister Black got into an interesting rivalry involving his NXT Championship against two former members of DIY Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.

Things got much hotter when NXT General Manager William Regal turned Black and Ciampa's singles bout for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 into the first-ever triple threat match for the title involving all three men.

After the show, Black was found unconscious by referees and Regal himself in the parking lot outside the arena after being attacked by an unseen and unknown assailant.

A kayfabe injury was reported which helped Black recover from a legitimate groin injury that he'd picked up at NXT Live event in Las Vegas. While the matter died down soon, Black returned after almost two months and got on the hunt to find out who his attacker was.

Shockingly, it was revealed that Johnny Gargano was the man who attacked him, even though Gargano was playing a face character at the time. A match between Black and Gargano was scheduled for NXT TakeOver: WarGames, in which Black was victorious.

#3 Daniel Bryan returns to wrestling

After more than two years of being unable to compete due to a life-threatening and career-ending injury, most fans and even Daniel Bryan himself had given up on hopes of competing in the ring once again.

The former World Heavyweight Champion and WWE Champion served as SmackDown's General Manager for some time and even hinted at turning heel by favoring the team of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn a few times.

However, his dream of returning to the ring became a reality in early 2018 as he was medically cleared to compete once again to much surprise and the announcement of the same filled the hearts of the WWE Universe with joy.

Daniel Bryan is no ordinary wrestler, and the underdog remained one of the crowd favorites before his retirement.

The announcement of his return to wrestling remains one of the highlights of WWE in 2018 and he has gone on to turn heel and become the WWE Champion once again within the first year of his return.

#2 Becky Lynch announces her replacement for Survivor Series

Becky Lynch led one of the best attacks of one brand's locker room to another in an iconic moment that highlighted her career. She first took down Ronda Rousey, and then led the women's division of SmackDown Live against RAW.

However, during the attack, she received a punch from Nia Jax which busted her open and broke her nose. Due to that, she was injured just before Survivor Series which was not a good sign for the WWE.

After finding out that she would not be cleared to compete against Ronda Rousey in the Women's Champion vs Champion match at Survivor Series, Lynch made her way to the ring with a swollen eye, broken nose, and a severe concussion.

She cut one of the most ferocious promos of the year where she called Ronda Rousey the luckiest woman on the planet because she wouldn't have to face the SmackDown Live Women’s Champion at Survivor Series.

While most women tremble after hearing Ronda Rousey's name, Becky proved once again that she is indeed The Man, and announced that she would not be cleared to compete against the Baddest Women on the Planet even though she badly wanted to.

She instead picked Charlotte as her replacement to fight Rousey, closing out the segment perfectly.

#1 Roman Reigns relinquishes the Universal Championship

Roman Reigns competed for the Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar for almost the entire year.

Finally, after winning the title, fans were looking for Reigns or someone similar to hold the title for a while and show up weekly to defend it, unlike Brock Lesnar.

However, on October 22, Reigns relinquished the title in an emotional message to the WWE Universe where he revealed that he had battled with leukemia earlier in his life and the same disease had come to haunt him again.

Previously, there was no mention anywhere by the Superstar or the company that Reigns had suffered from leukemia in his early days, and the announcement broke the hearts of almost all Roman Reigns fans.

The announcement even shook the most bitter haters of The Big Dog as the entire WWE Universe united to show respect to the former member of The Shield.

This was definitely the biggest announcement that shook the WWE Universe in 2018 and will remain one of the most heart-melting moments in the company's history.

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Which announcement shocked you the most in 2018? Share your thoughts in the comments below.