Robert Roode returned to WWE after sitting at home in Canada for seven months. He couldn’t wait to come back, but the pandemic’s travel ban caused him to take an unexpected break from the profession he loves.
While speaking to TV Insider, Robert Roode opened up about his hiatus from WWE. This was all pandemic related. He wasn’t sick, or injured. He simply couldn’t cross the border.
This was a tough time for Robert Roode to sit at home and reflect, but it also gave him the passion to anticipate a return to the ring.
“I had a lot of free time on my hands. The travel ban made it difficult for me to get to work every week, [so] I’ve been a fan. I’ve been sitting at home on my couch watching WWE Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and catching some NXT here and there. It was a long layoff, around seven months. [There was] a lot of downtime to heal up physically and mentally and [a lot of] just wanting to get back to work. Thankfully, last week was my opportunity.”
“It was definitely different. I’ve been in this business for more than 20 years. This is the longest period of time I’ve been off and at home. When your lifestyle is like this for 15, 20 years, it’s a hard adjustment. In a way, it was enjoyable to not live out of a suitcase and get to spend time with family. [But] the circumstances [were] different this time with the pandemic and being forced to stay home. It wasn’t because of injury. The first couple of months, I definitely missed doing what I’m used to doing every week. This business is in my blood. It’s a passion. You miss the camaraderie, the schedule and life on the road, in a weird way. I’m happy to be back.”
Roode’s return to WWE RAW saw him lose a WWE Title match to Drew McIntyre. He still put in a great performance as he rose to the occasion.
We’ll have to see what’s next for Robert Roode. The WWE Draft could see him moved around the WWE Universe, but he’s still going to be very happy to be back.