Roman Reigns Finally Pulls the Trigger on CM Punk, Sets Up WrestleMania 42 War a Decade in the Making
WrestleMania season just took a dramatic turn, and it didn’t take long for Roman Reigns to make his intentions painfully clear. Fresh off his massive victory at the 2026 Royal Rumble, Reigns has officially chosen CM Punk as his opponent for WrestleMania 42, setting the stage for one of the most personal main events in modern WWE history.
The announcement came during the February 2 episode of Monday Night Raw in Philadelphia, and the reaction inside the arena said everything. This wasn’t just another WrestleMania challenge. This was the collision fans have waited more than ten years to see.
Roman Reigns earned his WrestleMania title shot by winning the Royal Rumble on January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last eliminating Gunther to punch his ticket to Las Vegas. It marked only the second Royal Rumble win of his career, but the contrast to his first was striking. In 2015, Reigns walked out to overwhelming backlash. In 2026, he was embraced like a conquering hero. The crowd knew this moment mattered—and so did Reigns.
Standing in the ring on Raw, Reigns teased multiple options. The mention of Drew McIntyre was met with boos. The second CM Punk’s name came up, the building exploded. Moments later, Punk made his way to the ring, refusing to let the decision happen without him present. What followed was raw, uncomfortable, and deeply personal.
Reigns didn’t dress it up or hide behind strategy. He made his reason crystal clear. He chose CM Punk because he hates him—and always has.
That single line sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe and instantly reframed the WrestleMania 42 main event. This wasn’t about opportunity, star power, or business. This was about unfinished business.
Reigns and Punk have not faced each other in a one-on-one match since a January 2014 episode of Raw, just weeks before Punk walked out of WWE. Since then, their rivalry has lived in the background through words, history, and brief intersections, including a triple threat with Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 41. But a true singles showdown on the biggest stage has never happened—until now.
During their tense face-to-face, Punk reminded everyone that he played a role in bringing The Shield into WWE in 2012, a move that helped launch Reigns into superstardom. Reigns fired back by claiming Punk’s eventual return to WWE only happened because he allowed it. Old wounds were ripped open, and neither man tried to take the high road.
This is what makes the match so compelling. Roman Reigns could have chosen an easier path. He could have picked a rival without years of bitterness attached. Instead, he leaned into the chaos. He chose the man who represents everything unresolved from the early days of his career.
With the World Heavyweight Championship on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Punk, who made his shocking return in 2023, is still fighting to hold onto the title as challengers like Finn Bálor circle. WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and Punk must survive until then for the match to remain intact. But if he does, WWE will deliver a main event built on real emotion, real history, and real resentment.
Behind the scenes, WrestleMania plans were once expected to revolve around another Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes showdown. Instead, WWE pivoted, recognizing the rare opportunity to finally cash in on a rivalry that never truly ended. Reigns versus Punk isn’t just a match—it’s a reckoning.
Fans are already divided. Some believe Reigns is destined to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship after two years away from the top prize. Others think Punk cementing his legacy by defeating Reigns on WWE’s biggest stage would be the ultimate statement. Either way, there’s no denying the electricity surrounding this matchup.
There will be no safety nets this time. No multi-man chaos. No distractions. Just Roman Reigns and CM Punk, alone in the ring, with a decade of tension hanging over every punch.
As WrestleMania 42 draws closer, the promos will get sharper, the lines between reality and storyline will blur even further, and the pressure will keep rising. One thing is already certain: when these two finally collide in Las Vegas, it won’t just be a title match. It will be a personal war that’s been waiting ten long years to explode.
