Debating What’s Next for Roman and Punk

As WWE continues to evolve, two names stand at the forefront of wrestling discussions: The following is the comparison of two wrestlers: Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Both of these superstars are giants in the industry, although in a different sense. Reigns as the current WWE champion is deeply embedded in a long monarchy of authority, whereas CM Punk, after a dramatic exit from AEW (All Elite Wrestling), has rejoined WWE with a lot of uncertainty regarding his position within the organization. The futures of these two highly polarizing wrestlers are essential to the WWE’s future, and the wrestling universe is split over what the future holds for both of them.

 This article looks at the future directions of Roman Reigns and CM Punk, the history of their careers, the future of the storylines, and how WWE will be able to deal with the unpredictability that comes with two of its biggest stars.

Roman Reigns: The Reign of the Tribal Chief:

Roman Reigns, the WWE’s current ‘Tribal Chief,’ hears the chants of being dominated in the wrestling entertainment industry. After coming back in 2020 as the heel, he not only has turned into a megastar but also holds the record for the longest reigning Universal Champion in WWE. His storyline based on him being the leader of the Anoa’i wrestling dynasty and “The Head of the Table” has been revolutionary for the WWE modern narrative.

In his reign, Reigns has overcome every contender who has ever stood in his way, whether they are new-generation contenders such as Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Edge, or young contenders such as Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. WWE has taken their time to develop Reigns as an unstoppable powerhouse and have made it seem like an inevitability that he dominates. Reigns’ storyline has been regarded by few as one of the best in modern-era professional wrestling due to the partnership with Paul Heyman and the interesting Bloodline family relations.

But as Roman Reigns approaches nearly four years as champion, questions are emerging: But how long will this dominance persist? And who will, in the end, unseat the tribal chief?

Roman Reigns Next Move

The Bloodline’s Implosion

The once invincible faction of Roman Reigns, The Bloodline, is showing signs of weakness despite the win over all competitors. The sign of the possible defeat was the betrayal of The Usos in the storyline set in 2023 when they attacked Reigns during their rivalry. Jey Uso, in particular, has been built as the most credible contender for the title from Reigns, where he has faced him in title matches at the most important pay-per-view events.

This could be a future where more disagreements take place in The Bloodline, where Roman Reigns’ family crumbles. WWE may well be setting up for one final confrontation from Reigns against another family member and maybe Jimmy Uso or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. There had been speculations of a match between Reigns and The Rock, and if this is to happen, it would be in WrestleMania. This ‘handover’ scene where The Rock bows down to Reigns and proclaims him as the real ‘Tribal Chief’ could well give Roman his rightful place in the annals of wrestling history while, at the same time, giving a satisfactory end to this story that has been going on for so long.

Who Can Dethrone the Tribal Chief?

The main issue WWE currently has, perhaps the biggest, is determining the right man to take on Roman Reigns. Reigns has sent out almost every viable contender, and whoever overthrows him needs to be marketed as the new top draw. Cody Rhodes, who came back to WWE in 2022 and has been active in the main events, seems to be one of the favorites for this award. Rhodes’ storyline of wanting to complete his father Dusty’s dream of winning the WWE Championship would be a great story if he were to defeat Reigns at a PPV, WrestleMania in particular.

Other possible contenders are Seth Rollins, Reigns’ former stablemate in the Shield, and the current World Heavyweight Champion. Rollins has a history with Reigns and has always been one of WWE’s main roster wrestlers. A renewal of the rivalry between the two could give WWE the much-needed big rivalry that has years of history to build on.

Roman reigns beyond wrestling

There will be a time when Reigns might take his feet away from the wrestling ring, be it a temporary or a permanent decision. With his growing presence in Hollywood—Reigns has already appeared in major films like Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw—he might just be planning on reducing his wrestling and looking for an acting career like his cousin Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Should this occur, WWE will have to look for a way in which to phase him out of this position but at the same time maintain a formidable main event roster.

CM Punk: An Unpopular Homecoming

CM Punk is possibly one of the most polarizing characters in the history of wrestling. His fast track rise in WWE in the initial period of the 2010s, especially the infamous “pipe bomb” promo, made the hardcore fans, who were disappointed with the WWE product, fall for him. Punk’s charisma, attitude, and wrestling skills were major reasons why fans were attracted to him, but his rift with WWE officials saw him part ways with the company in 2014.

The fan favorite wrestler Punk returned to wrestling after seven years in AEW in 2021, before his contract was terminated due to an on-screen fight in 2023. His coming back to WWE late 2023 was a shocking surprise to the wrestling world and brought back discussion of his status and what part he is going to play in WWE.

CM Punk‘s Future

The Redemption Storyline

The return of Punk to WWE is a goldmine in terms of story telling. His exit in 2014 created many unsolved issues, especially with WWE authority and some of the company’s key talents. This could be the reason why Punk developed bitterness towards the company, and saying that he was never given the recognition he deserved could be a buildup for his story arc of proving that he still deserves to be at the top of WWE.

This storyline could see Punk revert to his anti-establishment persona, whereby he fights against the current WWE authority, probably going after WWE executives like Triple H and Stephanie McMahon on the mic. This would be something that fans of Punk have come to expect in the fight that he has had with the company and wrestling, where the lines between fact and fiction are hazy.

Dream Matches and Feuds

We list down some of the dream matches that could be made possible now that CM Punk is back in WWE. The most obvious and one of the most eagerly awaited rivalries is the Punk and Seth Rollins. Rollins has said during interviews that he despises Punk and referred to him as a ‘cancer’. WWE could utilize this real-life hatred and form a new rivalry between the two as they have different wrestling styles and personalities.

Another possible bout can be CM Punk against Roman Reigns. As the current WWE superstar, Reigns is everything Punk fought against during his ‘pipe bomb’ promo stint. A massive angle would be Punk coming for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to take on Reigns because he has come to challenge for that title and take him out.

Rebuilding Trust with WWE

On the positive side, it is important to note that CM Punk’s return will be good publicity for WWE. Despite this, there is no denying the fact that he has had issues behind the scenes. Therefore, WWE will need to ensure that it doesn’t fall into the same internal battles that saw Punk exit AEW. Punk will have to win back the trust of the WWE roster and the offices to show that he is intent on making this run work. If he can do so, he could possibly have a great last stage in his wrestling career and might even get a place in the Hall of Fame.

The Possibility of Roman Reigns and CM Punk Ever Coming Face to Face

Ever since Roman Reigns joined WWE and CM Punk was signed by WWE, one can only imagine the two facing off in a match. There has always been tension between Punk and WWE authorities, and this self-professed ‘Straight Edge’ star is a perfect fit to go head-to-head with Reigns, the ‘Tribal Chief’ of WWE. Punk against Reigns is a match that fans would love to see happen, and at the same time, this bout can provide an opportunity for the WWE writers to tell a new story.

Try to picture a situation where Punk comes back to fight the system that Reigns created and enforces as the head of The Bloodline. The storyline of Reigns as the corporate man representing the companies, opposing Punk, who is an anti-corporate icon, would make the story very interesting and real.

Conclusion: Two Icons, but With Different Fate

When looking to the future of WWE, the two stars that have been defined as most influential are Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Reigns continues to dominate WWE programming and is the result of years of storytelling, while Punk’s return brings new levels of uncertainty to WWE shows. Whether these two paths cross remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: that the direction that the WWE will be taking in the future will depend on the next moves that these two legends will make.