Roman Reigns returned to WWE RAW in a high-profile main event segment on July 7, 2025, where he interrupted a post-match assault on Jey Uso and CM Punk by Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. Alongside his surprise return, Reigns debuted a redesigned shirt featuring the moniker “OTC1,” a variation of his previous “Original Tribal Chief” branding. This change sparked an immediate debate among fans, many of whom questioned the logic behind the new acronym.
The introduction of the “OTC1” label triggered a wave of social media responses, with critics highlighting the redundancy of the phrase. One fan bluntly stated,
“OTC1 makes no sense. Original and #1 mean the SAME F*CKING THING!! WHO DESIGNED THIS? I feel like this is the part where I say GRAMMAR SLAM or something. But seriously, it actually makes no sense and it angers me more than it perhaps should.”
This comment reflects widespread confusion over the new design and its intended meaning.
Insider Confirms Roman Reigns Personally Proposed the New Design
Clarifying the origin of the “OTC1” concept, wrestling insider TC WrestleVotes disclosed that the updated branding came directly from Roman Reigns himself. The account stated succinctly, “Joe Anoa’i’s idea.” This acknowledgment assigns creative control to Reigns and distinguishes the change as a personal choice rather than a corporate mandate or marketing experiment.
Alongside this update, TC WrestleVotes commented on the progress of Travis Scott, who has been involved in training for wrestling. The insider noted that Scott was
“said to not be a quick learner for the business,”
casting doubt on his current wrestling readiness and suggesting challenges in his transition.
Significant Events Highlight WWE RAW’s July 7th Episode
The July 7th 2025 episode of WWE RAW registered an impressive 2.6 million global viewers and 5.1 million total hours watched, showing a rise from the June 23 broadcast. This placed the show sixth worldwide and fourth in the United States for viewership rankings that week, with top ten finishes across eight countries.
Key moments included Goldberg’s farewell match against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, a main event clash featuring Seth Rollins versus PENTA, and a surprise closing appearance by LA Knight. These segments contributed to the episode’s strong ratings and global interest.
Goldberg Reflects on Retirement Amid Uncertainty About Future Matches
Goldberg’s retirement bout drew significant attention, marking what was billed as his final in-ring appearance. During WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Goldberg faced Gunther in a competitive title match. Despite the announcement of retirement, Goldberg revealed ambivalence about permanently stepping away while speaking to The Ariel Helwani Show.
He said,
“I can’t say that. In principle, yeah, I’m done, but I worked my ass off for five months. I don’t think I’ve dedicated that much of my life towards one goal, one night. I would be remiss in saying it didn’t feel as though it was a waste because I only went out there for 14 minutes and that was it. I’m 58 years old. My body is kind of torn to shreds. Hopefully, I was able to cover a lot of it up. I had my retirement match. I have 91 people fly in from all around the world that were personal guests. I don’t know if I want to kick start that again and say, ‘Guess what, I didn’t retire. I want to go one more time.’ You don’t plan stuff like that. In the world of professional wrestling, I guess you’re not retired until you’re dead. In principle, yeah, I’m retired.”
—Goldberg, WWE Wrestler
Later in the interview, Goldberg addressed speculation about staying involved with WWE. He asserted,
“I don’t think I’m lingering anywhere around the WWE anytime in the future, by any stretch of the imagination. Wrestling world, you’re never retired until you’re dead. I ain’t dead yet. It was reinvigorating. It was a lot of fun. It taught me that I could do things that I never thought that I could do.”
—Goldberg, WWE Wrestler
Bron Breakker’s Viral Spear Revisited by Carlito
One of the most memorable moments of the year involved Bron Breakker’s high-impact spear delivered to Carlito on the April 7th episode of WWE RAW. Breakker charged down the entrance ramp, hitting Carlito with explosive force, generating viral attention across social media platforms.
Reflecting on the moment in an interview with D-Von Dudley, Carlito shared,
“Uh, it is, it is scary to look at up close. I think it depends on how he feels about you. You know what I mean? The impact, um, this one, yeah, this one was, was, uh, was, was pretty intense. I just remember him running at me. I’m, you know, I’m ready, and then all of a sudden he takes off in the air. I was like, wait a minute. What’s going on here? Luckily I didn’t have to do much on my part. That was here. Just getting hit and going with it, and I played dead too.”
—Carlito, WWE Wrestler
Wrestling Landscape Shifts with Injuries and New Appearances
While Roman Reigns’ new moniker dominated headlines, the wrestling world also noted updates about various athletes and events. Seth Rollins suffered an injury, with backstage responses ranging from concern to rumors about its real severity, but Rollins was expected to appear on RAW later. Additionally, Tony Khan was reportedly “shaken up” after an injury involving an AEW wrestler, contributing to a tense backstage atmosphere.
In Orlando, Florida, WWE announced new matches, including a notable EVOLVE title bout for their WWE NXT brand, while the post-AEW All In: Texas episode of AEW Dynamite teased another featured segment, indicating ongoing shifts in pro wrestling programming and talent appearances.
Implications of Roman Reigns’ Rebranding and WWE’s Evolving Narrative
The unveiling of Roman Reigns’ “OTC1” branding reflects both his personal involvement in shaping his image and the challenges WWE faces in balancing fan expectations with creative decisions. Despite mixed reactions, this move reinforces Reigns’ influence as a central figure in WWE storylines.
With consistent high ratings for WWE RAW and significant moments like Goldberg’s retirement match and Breakker’s viral highlights, WWE continues to command attention amid a competitive wrestling environment. Future programming will likely address fan feedback on branding choices, athlete health, and the ongoing crossover appeal of wrestling personalities.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Roman Reigns’ illness?
A. After he came back, WWE released a documentary about one of their top stars. It revealed for the first time that Reigns had been dealing with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a type of blood cancer that can be treated but not cured, for more than ten years.
