Over the years, Roman Reigns has faced many top WWE stars, including legends like John Cena, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Goldberg, and Bray Wyatt. However, he has singled out Brock Lesnar, a multi-time WWE World Champion, as his favorite opponent. Their rivalry has spanned many matches, receiving mixed reactions from fans.
Brock Lesnar made a surprising return to WWE at SummerSlam 2025, attacking John Cena after the WWE Championship match and positioning himself as a key challenger for Cena during his retirement tour. Following Lesnar’s comeback, several WWE personalities, including Paul Heyman, Triple H, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, and Roman Reigns, have spoken about him. During an interview on ESPN’s First Take, Reigns named Lesnar as his top rival.
When asked about his career highlights, Roman Reigns emphasized his record-setting 1,316-day reign as WWE Universal Champion. During this time, he faced Brock Lesnar multiple times, including unifying the WWE and Universal Championships and clashing at major events like Crown Jewel 2021 and SummerSlam 2022.
Their memorable encounters began at WrestleMania 31, where Lesnar was the dominant champion. However, the crowd’s rejection of Reigns’ babyface push led to Seth Rollins cashing in Money in the Bank and stealing the show. The rivalry continued with multiple high-profile matches, including WrestleMania 34 and WWE’s Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, featuring various title defenses and stipulations.
Reigns finally defeated Lesnar at SummerSlam 2018 to win the Universal Championship. Their feud reached new heights in 2021, with Paul Heyman managing Reigns as a powerful heel, while Lesnar assumed a babyface role. This reignited rivalry produced some of their best storytelling and matches, culminating in an intense Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam 2022.
Beyond Lesnar, Roman Reigns has had significant rivalries with other notable WWE stars, such as Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, and Braun Strowman. These feuds showcased Reigns’ in-ring skills and storytelling abilities, creating memorable moments and matches. Other opponents like Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, John Cena, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso have also contributed to his rich legacy.
Though Reigns has built impressive rivalries, Brock Lesnar remains a standout adversary, arguably his greatest rival despite some uneven moments in their contests.
Fan Take: This news highlights the enduring significance of the Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar rivalry in WWE history, reminding fans of the dramatic storytelling and intense battles that define the sport. Their dynamic continues to shape WWE, setting a high bar for future rivalries and championship clashes.