“That Line Didn’t Belong”: WWE Legend Questions CM Punk’s Controversial Roman Reigns Promo
The road to WrestleMania 42 is officially heating up, but not everyone is loving what they’re hearing from CM Punk.
With Punk set to challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at the biggest show of the year, both men kicked off their rivalry on Monday Night RAW with an intense face-to-face confrontation. The segment delivered plenty of heat, but one particular line from The Best in the World has wrestling purists scratching their heads.
During the exchange, Punk told The OTC he would “bury him next to his late father” – a reference to the legendary Sika Anoaʻi. And according to one WWE Hall of Famer, that moment landed with a thud.
Bully Ray Breaks Down What Went Wrong
On Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray didn’t hold back when dissecting Punk’s promo. While he acknowledged the segment worked overall, he pointed to that final jab as a major misfire.
“That last line felt very forced,” Bully Ray said. “Maybe I’ll take back the word forced – it felt like it didn’t belong. It didn’t match the rest of the verbiage in the promo. ‘I’m going to bury you next to your father’ – are we really supposed to believe CM Punk is going to kill Roman Reigns?”
It’s a fair point. Punk has built his career on promos that feel authentic and grounded in reality. Dropping in a line that sounds straight out of a gangster movie might have broken the immersion for some viewers.
Building Toward The Showdown
Despite the criticism, the segment did what it needed to do – it got people talking. Fans have been engaged with the build-up, though WWE still has work to do if they want to maximize ticket sales for what’s shaping up to be a massive night in New Orleans.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Punk vs. Reigns is a dream match years in the making, and both competitors know how to deliver when the lights are brightest.
Meanwhile, On SmackDown…
Elsewhere in the WWE Universe, Randy Orton has officially punched his ticket to WrestleMania 42. The Viper will challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship, but there’s one catch – he doesn’t yet know who he’ll be facing.
That answer comes this Friday on SmackDown, when Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre settle their differences in the ring to determine who leaves as the champion. Either opponent presents a fascinating challenge for Orton, and the WWE Universe won’t want to miss what happens next.
With WrestleMania fast approaching, the pieces are falling into place. And love it or hate it, Punk and Reigns are just getting started.
