Roman Reigns and CM Punk didn’t wait for WrestleMania 42 to make things personal.
On the March 2 episode of Monday Night Raw — following Dominik Mysterio’s Intercontinental Title loss — Reigns stood in the ring soaking in “OTC!” chants when Punk interrupted. What followed was less a promo exchange and more a verbal spear through years of history.
Roman Reigns Pushes Back on CM Punk’s Shield Origin Story
CM Punk referenced Indianapolis as the city where he “brought The Shield out” to the main roster, leaning into his long-standing claim that he pitched the group’s debut. Reigns quickly corrected him.
“You brought the other two members, not me,” Reigns fired back.
The line drew from real-life lore. Punk has often said he suggested a three-man unit, while WWE management ultimately selected Reigns for the final spot. On Raw, Reigns made it clear he wasn’t handpicked by Punk — and didn’t need to be.
The exchange didn’t stop there. Reigns accused Punk of having “thin skin” over a recent tweet, while the WWE World Heavyweight Champion claimed he already had Roman exactly where he wanted him. Roman Reigns admitted he hated Punk, stating he didn’t choose this WrestleMania showdown out of respect, but out of pure animosity.
He went further, vowing that once he wins at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Punk will “acknowledge” him. Reigns even threatened to send Punk on a “John Cena-like retirement tour” before shipping him to NXT.
CM Punk countered by questioning who “we” was, noting that Reigns no longer has The Shield or a Wiseman by his side. He claimed this is his show and insisted Reigns only stands in the main event because of him.
By the end, the tension felt less scripted and more seismic. The Shield may be history, but the receipts are still being collected.
WrestleMania 42 just got one more layer — and this one cuts deep.
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