Roman Reigns made a dramatic return to WWE on Monday Night Raw, stepping in to protect CM Punk from an attack by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed following a gauntlet match. The episode, which unfolded at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, was packed with action and emotional moments, as the audience’s enthusiasm reached a fever pitch when Reigns returned.
Punk pinned Breakker to earn a title shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, which will take place at SummerSlam next month. However, the moment was not without tension, as Reed launched an attack on Punk immediately after the bell rang, targeting him with a series of moves. Jey Uso attempted to intervene, but he was met with a spear from Breakker, which further escalated the conflict.
As the chaos unfolded, Reigns’ music hit, and he stormed down to the ring, dispatching Reed and Breakker with an impressive display of strength and authority. The crowd’s roar was almost deafening as they witnessed the return of the ‘Original Tribal Chief.’ His previous defeat at WrestleMania 41 had been a turning point, but this return seemed to reinvigorate his position in the storyline.
Punk, though visibly upset, did not greet Reigns warmly, suggesting lingering tensions from their past encounters. The rivalry between Punk and Reigns remains a key storyline, with Punk’s title shot against Gunther at SummerSlam serving as a significant development in the WWE narrative. Meanwhile, the return of Reigns has shifted the focus to his potential conflicts with Heyman, Reed, and Breakker in the weeks to come.
Rollins, who was notably absent during the show, had previously injured his leg during an earlier match. Heyman’s assurances that Rollins’ health was not a concern due to his impending contract cash-in at SummerSlam added a layer of intrigue to the storyline. As the WWE continues to build towards its major event, the dynamics between its top stars are poised for further development.