Roman Reigns and CM Punk Set to Face Off on Smackdown Ahead of WrestleMania 41
Roman Reigns returned to WWE this past Monday on Raw and attacked Seth Rollins and CM Punk during their steel cage match, ruling it a no-contest. This came after the three had a huge altercation at the Royal Rumble, which saw Rollins curb-stomp Reigns onto steel steps, putting him out of action. Reigns originally interfered in the cage match to attack Rollins and get revenge on him, though after seeing his Wiseman, Paul Heyman, consult Punk, Roman decided to target him as well. Reigns is set to return to Smackdown this Friday, and now Punk has stated that he’ll be there as well, and the two will face off in the leadup to WrestleMania 41.
It’s all but confirmed that Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk will face off in a triple threat at WrestleMania 41, and fans will be looking for that confirmation on Smackdown. Punk and Reigns are linked mostly through on-screen manager Paul Heyman, as nearly a decade before Heyman became Roman’s Wiseman, he was the advocate for CM Punk. However, there is some real-life and backstage heat between the two that could lead back to The Shield days. In 2012, Punk was the creative mastermind behind The Shield and originally did not believe that Reigns would fit in the faction alongside Rollins and Dean Ambrose. The Shield was created to be Punk’s henchmen, though the WWE quickly scrapped and changed those plans and set the faction off in their direction.
Before CM Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, Roman Reigns stated on numerous occasions that he was not a fan and that the two likely wouldn’t get along if Punk was to ever come back. It’s also been made very public by Seth Rollins that he is also not a fan of Punk. Before Punk left AEW and came back to WWE, Rollins was very against it in interviews and explained how Punk betrayed WWE by leaving in 2014. Given the on-screen and real-life personal feud that these three have, WrestleMania 41 could see one of the best matches of all time. With Punk planning on invading Roman’s return segment on Smackdown, it could also be one of the best promos of all time.
Both Roman Reigns and CM Punk are often regarded as two of the best mic workers in the history of wrestling, with many even believing that Punk is the greatest. Their inevitable segment on Friday Night Smackdown will likely revolve around Paul Heyman and whose side The Wiseman will be on heading into WrestleMania 41. It’s also worth noting that when Punk reluctantly teamed with Reigns at Survivor Series 2024, it was only because Heyman made him a promise. Now, this promise will likely play a huge role in the Road to WrestleMania 41, and we could even see The Wiseman betray his Tribal Chief.
