The 2026 Royal Rumble event left many fans feeling disappointed, especially due to the men’s Royal Rumble match being dominated by part-time wrestlers. Rising stars like Bron Breaker and Oba Femi were ousted early, while the heavily favored Gunther failed to win, with Roman Reigns once again emerging victorious. However, the atmosphere shifted during the February 2nd episode of Monday Night RAW, where Roman Reigns delivered a powerful promo that seemed to reaffirm his status as the top talent in WWE, despite a lackluster Royal Rumble. This moment underlined that Triple H’s decision to have Reigns lead the company heading into WrestleMania 42 was a justified one.
Key points include:
- Roman Reigns was chosen to face CM Punk at WrestleMania 42.
- His promo on RAW showed a return to his best form in WWE.
- This pairing is considered the right main event choice for WrestleMania.
In the closing segment of the February 2nd RAW, Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns confronted World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk in a heated verbal showdown. Punk delivered a solid promo as usual, but Reigns stole the spotlight with an intense and emotionally charged response, leaving Punk silent at the end. Reigns came across focused, aggressive, and genuine, expressing his deep frustrations toward Punk.
Punk brought up Reigns’ past, claiming he helped bring Reigns to The Shield and accused him of imitating his style. Reigns reminded Punk that WWE approved Punk’s return in 2023 and referenced Punk’s notorious Colt Cabana podcast comments, which he said complicated his career. The history between them revealed real tension that accumulated during Punk’s time away from WWE. Though they recently teamed in the 2024 and 2025 Wargames, Reigns accused Punk of deception and brainwashing, declaring their relationship over. Reigns concluded the promo by admitting he chose Punk as his WrestleMania opponent because he despises him — a sharp acknowledgment of their rivalry. This segment firmly established Reigns as WWE’s top star and validated Triple H’s WrestleMania booking.
Fans, however, expressed frustration over Triple H’s choice to have Reigns win the Royal Rumble. The 2026 event suffered from questionable booking decisions, a subdued crowd, and a predictable conclusion with Reigns’ victory. Over the years, Reigns’ part-time status and lack of character development diminished his appeal as a heroic figure. Consequently, this Royal Rumble win felt undeserved to many.
Supporters of other wrestlers voiced a preference for new winners. Young talents such as Bron Breaker and Oba Femi, fan favorites like LA Knight and Jacob Fatu, or the emerging Gunther were seen as worthy alternative choices to energize WWE’s future.
Looking ahead, the rivalry between Roman Reigns and CM Punk is already generating significant buzz ahead of WrestleMania. WWE has ample time to deepen this intensely personal and heated feud, promising a highly anticipated showdown between two of its biggest stars. This will also mark CM Punk’s first true WrestleMania main event. Meanwhile, other notable matches, such as Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu for the WWE title, add strong support to the card. Though the Royal Rumble match itself was underwhelming, the compelling storytelling afterward, particularly on RAW, revived fan interest and justified Triple H’s decision to position Reigns against Punk over a planned Cody Rhodes rematch.
Whether Triple H’s choices will be fully vindicated remains to be seen. While the booking of Reigns as the Royal Rumble winner appears correct, the overall match and show left much to be desired among the fanbase.
Fan Take: This news matters to WWE fans because it highlights how pivotal storytelling and character work remain in keeping audiences engaged, even when live event results are met with skepticism. The intense feud between Roman Reigns and CM Punk could redefine the WrestleMania main event scene, offering fresh drama and elevating the sport’s appeal to newer and longtime viewers alike.
