11 Things WWE Announced Then Wrestlers Said No

11. Roman Reigns Pulls Out Of ‘Mania 36

Here's a biggie. Why wait?

Roman Reigns challenged then-Universal Champ Goldberg for the title on the 28 February 2020 SmackDown. Throughout March, WWE set about the task of hyping the mega-match as one of the biggest showdowns in WrestleMania history. Then, suddenly, it all changed and Reigns was removed from the pay-per-view.

Braun Strowman was announced as Goldberg's new opponent on 3 April, and fans scratched their heads. That's when news leaked that Roman had taken himself out of the frame due to ongoing fears about the COVID-19 pandemic; Reigns deserves credit for turning down a huge payday, prioritising his health and keeping his family safe.

He said no to 'Mania 36, and probably doesn't regret it. WWE were left with no other option - they had to promote Braun as a serious threat to Bill's belt and pretend the match was just as big as Reigns vs. Goldberg. Fans knew the truth, but Roman pulling himself out wasn't WWE's call.