Roman Reigns has made it clear he does not view CM Punk as a bigger star than John Cena or Dwayne Johnson. Their contentious relationship began before they teamed up during the Survivor Series last year, emerging during Reigns’ debut in The Shield at the Survivor Series in 2012. It was revealed then that Punk had enlisted The Shield to assist him in retaining the WWE Championship. However, despite Punk claiming that forming The Shield was his idea, it was Vince McMahon who suggested placing Reigns in a prominent role. This decision reportedly instigated resentment from fans, setting the stage for a turbulent feud between the two.
During his appearance on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast, Punk divulged that he initially desired Chris Hero to fulfill the role now known as Roman Reigns. However, his persistence and charisma led the WWE to push Reigns instead. Punk expressed, “Oh, they want their guy in, he’s the pretty guy, but that’s good because this guy can learn from working under me.” Despite the initial excitement, Punk’s dissatisfaction grew over time, especially when a feud ignited between him and The Shield. At TLC, a pivotal moment occurred when Punk was often requested to make Reigns appear stronger, further complicating their relationship. Punk remarked that during this time, he expressed frustration, suggesting that if WWE wanted to make The Shield look strong, they should let them defeat him, saying, “three guys can’t beat one guy. That’s f**king dumb.”
Following Punk’s candid podcast revelations, the audience’s perception shifted towards Reigns, leading to a wave of online trolling against him. Reigns later stated, “It made my job a lot harder.” On the Loaded Management podcast, Reigns did not hold back his disdain for Punk, declaring, “If you’ve watched wrestling for the last 10-15 years and love it and it’s in your blood, then you probably have some kind of feelings about that guy. I know I do. Just by doing one of these things, he made my job a lot harder.” He indicated that he did not like Punk and implied that few within the industry shared any fondness for him either.
In a thoughtful comparison, Reigns evaluated Punk’s WWE success against that of John Cena and Dwayne Johnson, asserting, “Punk was not as good or as over as John Cena. He didn’t move the needle like The Rock.” Despite these criticisms, Reigns affirmed his willingness to work alongside CM Punk for the sake of the business. He stated, “He’d probably have to be slapped around a few times in order to get his mind right, but if he’s willing and the fans and audience are going to like it and be into it, then most likely I’m going to be into it.”
In an unexpected twist, Punk later acknowledged Reigns in a more favorable light, labeling him the “best guy” WWE had to offer. During an interview with the Wrestling Perspective Podcast four years ago, he indicated that Reigns was experiencing a positive trajectory, stating that the “adversity and backlash” he encountered could aid WWE in properly utilizing his talents. Punk acknowledged, “When you talk about storylines, in-ring work and all that stuff, right now he’s the total package.”
The culmination of their complicated dynamic unfolded during the Survivor Series, where they put aside their differences to support each other, despite some arguments. In the course of the match, tensions flared when Reigns mistakenly blocked Punk, causing a brief quarrel. Nevertheless, Punk remained committed, still choosing to save Reigns from an attack by Bronson Reed. Punk later conveyed to Ariel Helwani during the MMA Hour that he was not in it to forge friendships but rather emphasized the importance of the business aspect of wrestling, underscoring the need for professionalism and collaboration despite personal feelings.
This feud’s ongoing narrative illustrates not just the rivalry between Roman Reigns and CM Punk but also serves as a lens into the wrestling industry’s complex landscape, where personal sentiments and business interests often collide. The continuing developments in their relationship hint at the potential for future confrontations and collaborations, leaving fans eager to see how this saga unfolds in the coming months.
