The 33-year-old told the stunned crowd at Monday Night Raw that he would be taking some time away from the ring and relinquish the Universal Championship.
Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa'i, said he first battled cancer when he was 22 and quickly put into remission.
But sadly the dad-of-three, who has main-evented the last three WrestleMania, recently discovered the disease has returned.
In an emotional speech, Reigns told the audience: "I feel like I owe everyone an apology.
"For months, maybe even a whole year, I've come out here as Roman Reigns and said I'd come out here every week, that I'd be a fighting champion, that I was going to be consistent, that I was going to be a workhorse – but that's all lies.
"It's a lie because the reality is, my real name is Joe and I've been living with leukaemia for 11 years and unfortunately it's back.
"And because the leukaemia is back I cannot fulfil my role. I can't be that fighting champion and I'm going to have to relinquish the Universal Championship."
The devastated crowd started shouting as they became visibly upset by the shock announcement.
He continued: "I'm not going to lie, I'll take every prayer you can send my way, but I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm not looking for you to feel bad for me because I have faith.
"When I was 22 years old I was diagnosed with this. And very quickly I was able to put it in remission.
"But I'm not going to lie, that was the hardest time of my life. I didn't have a job, I didn't have any money, I didn't have a home and I had a baby on the way and football was done with me.
"But do you want to know who gave me a chance? The team that gave me a chance was the WWE."
Reigns assured the crowd that it was by no means a "retirement speech" and that he would be back once "I'm done whipping leukaemia's ass".
He added: "I will beat this, and I will be back and you will see me very, very soon. Once again thank you so much, god bless you and I love you."
Reigns is a WWE Grand Slam champion and former Royal Rumble winner – and before that he was a professional gridiron football player.
Earlier this year, The Shield member opened up to SunSport about being booed, beating Undertaker and being the full-time main man.
He said: “As long as fans are showing up and as long as they’re making noise, I’ve done my job.
“I’ve done what I’m supposed to do and that’s draw people into the building.”
Back in August, he overtook 16-time world champ John Cena in merchandise sales.
Both men are usually on the receiving end of heavy booing whenever they appear in front of a live WWE crowd.
However that has not stopped fans from purchasing their numerous T-shirts and other attire available.
Tributes have since poured in for the Universal champ from WWE superstars past and present.
And pal Seth Rollins was seen bursting into tears live on Raw as he heard the news.
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