On WWE RAW last night, Roman Reigns selected CM Punk as his opponent for WrestleMania 42, igniting a fierce conflict between the two. Their rivalry revisited their shared history, highlighting how Punk originally helped bring Reigns to WWE’s main roster. This decision set the stage for a highly charged showdown as Reigns openly admitted his longstanding dislike for Punk, firing up the anticipation around their upcoming match.
Background on CM Punk’s Comments About Roman Reigns
Reigns traced his conflict with Punk back to critical remarks Punk made about him during a 2014 podcast appearance. He said,
“I will never forget ten years ago or so, when you go on your best friend’s podcast running your mouth, making my life harder than it ever should have been.”
– Roman Reigns
This statement referred to Punk’s appearance on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast, where Punk suggested WWE was protecting Reigns as the company’s new flagship star. Punk recalled an incident involving a 3-on-1 match against Reigns’ stable, The Shield:
“They’ve pushed and protected all three guys. And they’re like ‘you’re going over.’ And I was like ‘okay, if that’s what you want.’ And then they grabbed me and they stressed ‘but you gotta make Roman look really, really strong.’ And I was like ‘no, I was just going to fucking shit on ‘em and beat ‘em. I was just going to tear through them and fucking Superman the shit out of them and GTS all three of them at the same time.’ I was like ‘yeah, I get it, okay.’”
– CM Punk
Punk’s comments fueled longtime fan complaints about WWE favoring Reigns early in his career over other wrestlers. While Reigns was positioned as a rising star from The Shield, many in the audience expressed frustration with WWE’s heavy promotion of him, which culminated in substantial boos at the 2015 Royal Rumble.
Roman Reigns Opens Up on His Feelings Toward CM Punk
Reigns acknowledged that his feelings of animosity toward Punk had been simmering for years. In a conversation with Complex Sports, he explained,
“If you’ve watched wrestling for the last 10 – 15 years and it’s in your blood, then you probably have some kind of feelings about that guy. I know I do. Just by doing one of these things, he made my job a lot harder five, ten years ago.”
– Roman Reigns
He further admitted,
“I don’t like the guy, I don’t know many people who do … but I’m willing to put business first and make really good content if that’s the case.”
– Roman Reigns
This candid exchange during their promo surprised fans and indicated WWE’s intent to incorporate real-life tensions into the storyline, adding layers to their WrestleMania main event buildup. Punk’s remarks about WWE’s protective stance toward Reigns might only be one part of a more complex feud being developed.
CM Punk’s Reluctance About Roman Reigns Joining The Shield
At the start of their on-screen confrontation, Punk claimed it was his decision to bring Reigns
“into the company along with the rest of The Shield.”
However, behind the scenes, Punk did not originally want Reigns as part of the group.
Chris Hero, formerly known as Kassius Ohno, later clarified that Punk had pitched a trio including himself, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose instead. Hero explained,
“A little thing that annoys me about this is that people heard the podcast with [CM] Punk, and then they put that information out there, and it just kind of took a life of its own. When Punk pitched the trio of myself, [Dean] Ambrose and [Seth] Rollins, there was no ‘Shield’ concept. It was just, ‘Hey, let’s pair these three guys with me.’ Right? So, technically, I was never supposed to be a member of The Shield because The Shield didn’t exist when this was pitched.”
– Chris Hero
Despite this, Reigns made his main roster debut alongside Rollins and Ambrose as The Shield, a formidable group that acted as Punk’s enforcers during his 434-day WWE Championship reign. After the faction split, Reigns transformed his character into the dominant Tribal Chief and later surpassed Punk’s record with a 1,316-day run as Undisputed WWE Champion.
Implications of Their Storied Past for WrestleMania 42
Their history—marked by personal tension, backstage disputes, and differing perspectives on WWE’s creative decisions—adds significant weight to their WrestleMania confrontation. The blended reality and storyline elements suggest WWE is crafting a feud rich in emotional complexity. The buildup promises to engage longtime fans aware of their shared past while attracting newer viewers drawn to the intense character dynamics.
As the event approaches, this escalating rivalry between Roman Reigns and CM Punk stands to be one of the most compelling matches of the year, potentially reshaping narratives around both superstars and influencing the WWE landscape moving forward.
Roman Reigns on CM Punk
“I don’t like the guy, I don’t know many people who do … but I’m willing to put business first and make really good content if that’s the case."
EPISODE: https://t.co/sE0LyWrdTO pic.twitter.com/pREzDEyLnG
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 29, 2020
