The headline match for this year’s WWE WrestleMania 42, set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, was finalized on tonight’s episode of Raw. At last weekend’s WWE Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns emerged victorious in the men’s Royal Rumble match, earning a title shot at WrestleMania. Following his win, Reigns had to decide whether to face World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk or undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
During Raw, Reigns announced his choice: he will challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 42. In the show’s closing segment, Reigns turned to the audience for input, with fans overwhelmingly favoring Punk. When Punk eventually appeared, instead of immediately confronting Reigns, he reflected on a recent attack Reigns carried out on him at last week’s Raw and addressed Finn Balor, who had expressed interest in a future title opportunity.
The two then exchanged heated words, with Reigns recalling Punk’s appearance on his “Best Friend Podcast” years ago and admitting how his own WWE journey has become more challenging than it should have been. Ultimately, Reigns stated:
“I made my choice. I could have chosen you because you’re the biggest star right now. You’re on Netflix and on the best show. But no, I chose you because I hate you. I’ve always hated you. And WrestleMania will be the best day of my life because in the main event, you’ll finally recognize me.”
For context, last year during WrestleMania 41, both Reigns and Punk won a three-way match that night, with Seth Rollins ultimately taking the spotlight when Paul Heyman urged both men to join forces with him. On the second night, John Cena claimed the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes.
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Fan Take: This announcement is huge for WWE fans as it sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown between two of the industry’s most electrifying figures. Reigns choosing Punk promises a gritty, intense battle that could redefine WrestleMania’s legacy and elevate the sport to new heights.
