A couple of days ago at Madison Square Garden, we watched an incredible the latest Raw on Netflix in a steel cage match. With tensions still boiling over prior to the Royal Rumble, the two were scheduled to end their feud, but the problem is, along the way, they also infuriated The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
CM Punk eliminated both Rollins and Reigns in the 2025 Royal Rumble simultaneously. Once Punk was eliminated by Logan Paul, Rollins attacked both Punk and Reigns outside the ring. Which led us to this past Monday night in New York City. Reigns made a shocking return and has set up a major WWE betrayal.
Paul Heyman Just Set Up A Major WWE Betrayal
WWE Has Been Teasing A Possible Heyman Turn
Reigns was expected to return this week and he definitely made a statement. As Rollins and Punk have given each other everything they've got, Rollins seems to be ready to give up on trying to pin Punk and escape the cage. As he decides to do so, Reigns (who isn't shown on camera) pulls Rollins out of the cage and repeatedly attacks Rollins with multiple spears and Superman punches.
Roman Reigns Spoils CM Punk And Seth Rollins' Steel Cage Match On WWE Raw
Reigns got some payback on Rollins for those Curb Stomps at the 2025 Royal Rumble.
Initially, Reigns had no beef with Punk. He only attacked Punk after seeing his Wiseman, Paul Heyman trying to console Punk in the ring while Reigns was outside the ring attacking Rollins. Although Reigns laughed it off at first, he quickly returned to his old ways (or he's never changed) and made the decision to run to the ring to attack Punk.
This goes back to Survivor Series, when Heyman brought in Punk to be the final member of The OTC's team to face The Bloodline. Reigns was never comfortable with the decision to team with him from the beginning. Now, WWE is ultimately teasing Heyman needing to make a decision that could change the landscape of the company.
Heyman And CM Punk Have History (And Unfinished Business)
What About CM Punk's Favor That Heyman Owes Him?
Back in the summer of 2020, Heyman became Reigns' special counsel and advisor on an episode of SmackDown. They would obviously go on to have an all-time great run together, but before any of this happened, Heyman also managed Punk back in 2012. Although it was for a much shorter tenure, his time with Punk has resonated with everyone that was watching wrestling in the 2010s. Long before any of this, the two had a history that dates all the way back to Ohio Valley Wrestling.
Under Heyman's guidance, Punk had one of if not, the best WWE title reigns of his career that lasted for 434 days. Although they have history, their present-day relationship seems to have brought nostalgia back for fans. Since Heyman has a history with both Reigns and Punk, he will have to make a decision. Unfortunately, if anyone can Punk's one stipulation for teaming with Reigns at Survivor Series, he is still owed a favor from Heyman.
Why Paul Heyman Betraying Roman Reigns Makes Most Sense
Heyman Is Ready For A Change
After spending the past five years with Reigns, the two have accomplished everything a wrestler and manager could ask for. They elevated Reigns family , put together one of the most historic title reigns of all-time, and created the biggest storyline in professional wrestling. As WWE continues to tease us with a Heyman-Punk reunion, it makes the most sense to have him turn on Roman and reunite with Punk.
Reigns and Heyman have accomplished so much together that they don't really need each other anymore. When Heyman first ed Reigns, he became his voice on the microphone. As time ed, Reigns' mic skills improved significantly and he became his own voice. That is not to say that Punk needs someone to talk on the mic for him (he's likely one of the best), but sometimes you just outgrow each other. Besides, we know how much WWE loves resurrecting old favorites from the past for its older fans.
Now that Reigns no longer needed Punk either, when he saw Heyman comforting Punk instead of focusing on him, he made the attack on Punk. This deftly shows that Reigns has never changed; while Heyman on the other hand, has changed. He dealt with a lot of punishment from Solo Sikoa and his version of The Bloodline, while Reigns hid at home crying because he lost the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. After dominating for so long, Heyman is ready for a change.
Since leaving Punk's side in 2013, it has always felt like the two had missing business to accomplish. With Punk still in pursuit of a world title and the main event of WrestleMania, Heyman's favor could come in handy in his turn on Reigns. It would usher in another new era in professional wrestling for WWE.
