Roman Reigns will return after a 30 day suspension just in time for ‘Battleground.’ (Instagram)
WWE performer Roman Reigns has been suspended for 30 days after violating the company’s wellness policy. This has major repercussions on the future of the brand, and the question that immediately arises is when exactly did the WWE know? Was this drug violation the reason Reigns lost his title at Money in the Bank?
Nothing is official yet, but The Inquisitor reports that several higher-ups at the company, including Vince McMahon, were indeed aware of Reigns’ violation prior to Money in the Bank 2016. Reportedly McMahon himself made the decision to have Reigns lose his title at the pay-per-view as a direct result of the failed drug test.
However, The Inquisitor also reports that the writing team at WWE was not let in on this.
But if Reigns’ drug violation was known prior to Monday, then why would the company book him for a triple threat match at Battleground in July? Well, it appears that this match may actually be unaffected by Reigns’s suspension.
Cageside Seats reports that the WWE will still have Reigns perform in Battleground after all. His suspension ends on July 21st, mere days before the pay-per-view event, so that match could become a triumphant return for Reigns. Many are wondering, though, if McMahon will want to reward Reigns with the title after his actions.
Shortly after the suspension was announced yesterday, Reigns took to Twitter to apologize to his fans.
I apologize to my family, friends and fans for my mistake in violating WWE’s wellness policy. No excuses. I own it.