On the latest WWE RAW, Roman Reigns was visibly furious after a heated confrontation with CM Punk, as the two WrestleMania 42 adversaries faced off once again in the center of the ring. Punk ended the segment with a powerful mic drop, delivering a chilling vow to “bury” Reigns alongside his late father, leaving the arena in stunned silence and setting a new, intensely personal tone for their ongoing feud. This development marks a significant escalation in the Roman Reigns CM Punk feud.
How Reigns Might Respond to Punk’s Provocations
With CM Punk’s scathing remarks pushing the rivalry to a deeper, more personal level, Roman Reigns is expected to strike back when they meet again. The growing hostility offers multiple ways for Reigns to exploit Punk’s history and personality, aiming to turn the psychological battle to his advantage.
Reigniting The Shield Legacy Against Punk
One tactic for Reigns could involve reminding Punk that although he conceptualized The Shield, the faction—featuring Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose—ultimately overshadowed Punk’s own success. Reigns might argue that despite Punk’s role in the faction’s creation, it was the trio that rose to greater prominence and acclaim, thereby challenging Punk’s sense of legacy and accomplishment.
Highlighting WrestleMania Achievements
Another angle Reigns could use relates to WrestleMania’s main event position. While Punk famously aspired to close the show and achieved this milestone last year in a triple threat against Rollins and Reigns, Reigns himself has headlined WrestleMania a record ten times. He could assert that Punk’s opportunity to fulfill this dream was only possible because of his own dominance and presence at the event, potentially undermining Punk’s claim to the spotlight.
Bringing Up Punk’s Controversial WWE Departure
Roman Reigns might also revisit Punk’s contentious exit from WWE in 2014, a decision that ended Punk’s initial run amid frustration and personal issues, including receiving his termination papers on his wedding day. Mentioning this episode could be used as a means to mock or destabilize Punk by highlighting the negative circumstances surrounding his departure from the company over a decade ago.
Targeting Punk’s Family Connections
Given that Punk escalated the feud by referencing Reigns’ father, Reigns may return fire by drawing personal attention toward Punk’s wife, AJ Lee. He could bring up her exit from WWE in 2015 and even suggest that his influence helped reintegrate her and Punk into the current wrestling scene, framing himself as a key figure in their professional returns. This personal jab might further intensify the animosity between the two.
Introducing Punk’s Late Dog Larry into the Feud
In a move that would deeply impact Punk, Reigns could mention Larry, Punk’s beloved dog who passed away late last year and was widely mourned among fans and wrestlers alike. Since Punk touched on Reigns’ late father, invoking the memory of Larry could be a calculated and sensitive retaliation, likely to evoke a strong emotional response and heighten the drama of their conflict.
“The Second City Saint made his way to the back after leaving the entire arena stunned.” ? WWE RAW commentary
What the Rivalry Means for WWE’s Future Storylines
The increasing personal nature of the Roman Reigns CM Punk feud suggests the buildup to their WrestleMania 42 showdown will be filled with sharp verbal confrontations and emotional moments. This layered rivalry not only reinvigorates both superstars’ characters but also promises to captivate audiences with its intensity and unpredictability. As they continue to exchange blows on and off the ring, fans can expect the stakes to rise, making it one of the most compelling WWE storylines in recent memory.
"I'm gonna bury you next to your father."
– @CMPunk to @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/4dRaRy9nh8
— WWE (@WWE) March 3, 2026
