WWE Superstar Roman Reigns, whose WWE return has been highly anticipated, will not appear on SmackDown this week due to ongoing commitments outside wrestling. The Original Tribal Chief’s absence follows his injury at Clash in Paris last month and a subsequent filming schedule overseas.
Reigns was last seen being stretchered out after a severe post-match attack by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed at Clash in Paris. This storyline assault served to write him off television temporarily, allowing him to travel to Australia to film his role as Akuma in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. Unlike Reigns, fellow wrestler Cody Rhodes, who portrays Guile in the same movie, managed to return for Wrestlepalooza without delay.
According to reports from PWInsider, Roman Reigns is expected to finish his filming obligations very soon and will be ready to resume wrestling once the WWE creative team calls for his return. Despite this, sources indicate that he is not scheduled for any SmackDown appearances this Friday.
Filming Completion and Upcoming Absence from SmackDown
Fightful Select has confirmed that Roman Reigns will conclude filming for Street Fighter tomorrow and clarified that he will not feature on this week’s SmackDown episode. This delay continues the uncertainty regarding his immediate comeback, though he is widely expected to return before the upcoming Crown Jewel event.
“Roman Reigns is set to finish filming Street Fighter tomorrow, PWInsider has reported. We can confirm that. He’s not expected to be on Smackdown this week.”
— Fightful Select
While no official announcement has set a precise date for his return to WWE programming, Reigns is prominently displayed on the promotional poster for Crown Jewel, scheduled for October 11 in Australia. This suggests that WWE intends for him to be back in action by then, making his reappearance a significant moment for the WWE Universe.
Potential Opponents for Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel 2025
Roman Reigns’ storyline heading into Crown Jewel is expected to build upon his unresolved conflict with the faction known as The Vision. His victory over Bronson Reed in Paris was immediately overshadowed by the brutal post-match attack, setting up the possibility of a rematch between these two. With the event taking place in Reed’s home country of Australia, a confrontation between Reigns and Reed seems especially likely.
Additionally, fans should not dismiss the chance of Roman Reigns facing Bron Breakker, who delivered a heavy blow during the same assault on Reigns. This would mark a new kind of rivalry for the Original Tribal Chief and continue the intense narrative surrounding his character.
As the drama unfolds, followers of WWE programming can expect important developments leading up to Crown Jewel, making Roman Reigns’ eventual comeback a pivotal point in the company’s storylines.
🚨| WWE has officially announced that Roman Reigns is advertised for Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, on October 11.
ROMAN REIGNS RETURNING? 👀 pic.twitter.com/vtJ8yGTQtZ
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) September 22, 2025
