When CM Punk made his comeback to WWE, several top superstars criticized his contentious history. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre expressed distrust towards Punk, believing he would repeat past errors. Another prominent WWE figure who disfavors CM Punk is former WWE Champion Roman Reigns.
Though they’ve never clashed online, tension exists between Reigns and Punk, with Reigns previously making unfavorable remarks about Punk. This rivalry is now driving the storyline for the World Heavyweight Championship headlining WrestleMania 42.
Roman Reigns Wasn’t Included in CM Punk’s Original Vision for The Shield
Roman Reigns joined the main roster as part of The Shield, debuting at Survivor Series in 2012 alongside Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. The trio intervened in a WWE Championship match involving CM Punk, Ryback, and John Cena, helping Punk retain his title; it was later revealed Punk had hired them. Interestingly, The Shield concept originated from Punk, although he had envisioned Chris Hero (not Reigns) as a member—WWE ultimately declined that idea. Punk shared this insight on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast, an episode that likely intensified the discord between him and Reigns.
Key points:
- CM Punk departed WWE in 2014 after disagreements.
- Punk defeated Reigns in their only singles match before 2014.
- The two have not faced off in singles competition since.
Roman Reigns Claims CM Punk Made His Job Tougher
Around 2013, Punk feuded with The Shield, including a 3-on-1 handicap match at TLC. On his podcast, Punk revealed WWE insisted Reigns appear strong, even as Punk dominated the match. He was frustrated by constant reminders to protect Reigns’ stature. Fans responded by creating memes boosting Reigns’ image. Reigns later admitted this made his role in the company more challenging, possibly fueling his resentment towards Punk. Despite this, Reigns has said he would collaborate with Punk again, something that materialized in 2024.
Highlights:
- The animosity between Punk and Reigns stemmed from differing reasons.
- Punk’s comments after leaving WWE antagonized Reigns and fans.
- Reigns became a fan favorite but retained some bitterness toward Punk.
CM Punk and Roman Reigns United at Survivor Series 2024
At Survivor Series: WarGames 2024, WWE paired CM Punk and Roman Reigns on the same team, resulting in a highly anticipated alliance. Despite previous tensions—including disagreements over match order entry—they managed to coexist. Notably, Punk saved Reigns from Bronson Reed’s Tsunami move. This collaboration, encouraged by Paul Heyman and influenced by Punk’s commitment to Heyman, proved successful. Punk acknowledged in an interview he’s motivated by money, not friendships.
Match takeaways:
- Punk and Reigns joined forces to face Solo Chicor’s Bloodline and Bronson Reed.
- The match concluded with no major conflicts despite underlying tensions.
- Their interactions at Survivor Series generated massive fan engagement.
Roman Reigns to Challenge CM Punk at WrestleMania 42 Out of Hatred
In 2026, after winning the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Roman Reigns chose to challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42. Reigns accused Punk of making his career harder through statements on his best friend’s podcast years ago. While acknowledging Punk’s contributions, Reigns emphasized he chose him not because of respect, but because he genuinely despises him.
Reigns stated:
“I did the best I could… But I’ll never forget about 10 years ago when you let your mouth slip on my best friend’s podcast and made my life harder.”
He also admitted,
“I chose you because I hate you. I’ve always hated you.”
This promo exploited real-life animosity to hype an authentic and fiery WrestleMania main event, suggesting that this intense rivalry may be far from over inside the ring.
Fan Take:
This escalating feud between CM Punk and Roman Reigns is a landmark storyline that blurs reality and entertainment, adding emotional depth to WWE’s programming. For fans, it promises high-stakes drama and compelling in-ring storytelling that could redefine the landscape of WWE’s main event scene for years to come.
