Brock Lesnar added to WWE Championship match at Day 1 as Roman Reigns tests positive for Covid-19

Lesnar will now be part of a mouth-watering WWE Title bout (Picture: WWE)

Brock Lesnar will now compete for the WWE Championship at Day 1 as Roman Reigns has tested positive for Covid-19 and been forced to miss tonight’s show.

The former world champion – who was set to face the Tribal Chief for the Universal Title in one of the evening’s top bouts – will now face an entirely different challenge as his opponent has been pulled from programming.

WWE has addressed the news and wished Reigns – who missed time last year due to the pandemic – well in his recovery.

In a statement, they said: ‘Earlier today, Roman Reigns tested positive for COVID-19.

‘As we’ve seen with many superstar athletes, this result has left Reigns unable to compete in the originally scheduled defense of his WWE Universal Championship against Lesnar. WWE wishes him well in his recovery.’

They also confirmed alternative plans for Lesnar himself, who will now join the WWE Title match, which is now a Fatal 5 Way featuring the champion Big E defending against the Beast, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley.

They added: ‘WWE today announced that Brock Lesnar will challenge for the WWE Championship tonight at Day 1 against Big E, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens and Bobby Lashley in what will now be a Fatal 5-Way Championship match.

‘The first man to score a pinfall against any of the other four men will win the WWE Championship, in what’s expected to be one of the most exciting main events in WWE history.’

Meanwhile, Roman himself addressed the news on Twitter and vowed to be back ‘as soon as possible’.

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He wrote on Twitter: ‘I yearn to perform tonight at #WWEDay1 to defend my Universal Championship. However, unfortunately, earlier today I tested positive for COVID-19.

‘Due to the proper protocols I am unable to compete as originally scheduled. I look forward to returning to action as soon as possible. (sic)’

Elsewhere on the show, Becky Lynch puts her Raw Women’s Title on the line against Liv Morgan, The Usos and RK-Bro defend their brand’s tag team championships against The New Day and The Street Profits respectively, and Edge will face The Miz in a huge grudge match.

*WWE Day 1 airs tonight at 1am on the WWE Network.

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