OTC closes RAW by locking in his Royal Rumble decision
Summary
– Roman Reigns addressed his WrestleMania decision on the February 2 episode of RAW
– CM Punk confronted Reigns, sparking a heated exchange in Philadelphia
– Reigns confirmed he will face CM Punk at WrestleMania 42
The February 2 episode of WWE RAW in Philadelphia delivered major Royal Rumble fallout, capped off by a closing segment featuring Roman Reigns. Fresh off winning the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble, Reigns arrived with the power to choose his WrestleMania 42 opponent.
Philadelphia greeted Reigns with loud reactions as he reflected on his history in the city. He spoke about championship wins and losses in the arena and acknowledged the mixed reception he received after winning the Royal Rumble, even with help from The Rock.
Reigns made it clear he had a decision to make and wanted to gauge the crowd’s reaction. He asked whether he should pursue the top title on RAW or SmackDown, drawing chants that quickly shifted the conversation toward CM Punk rather than Drew McIntyre.
CM Punk soon interrupted, arriving with the championship around his waist. Punk initially addressed unfinished business from earlier in the night before turning his attention fully to Reigns, making it clear this was his show and not one to be interrupted lightly.
The exchange escalated as Punk tested the crowd with possible WrestleMania matchups. Fans rejected the idea of Reigns facing Drew McIntyre and strongly backed Reigns versus Punk, a reaction Punk used to question whether Reigns even needed fan approval.
Verbal shots followed from both sides. Reigns downplayed McIntyre while referencing Punk’s ongoing rivalry with him, while Punk fired back with jabs at Reigns’ dominance and his role within WWE. Both men leaned heavily into their history, personal animosity, and contrasting careers.
Punk accused Reigns of holding WWE hostage during his title reign and mocked his limited schedule. Reigns countered by questioning Punk’s decade away from the company and referenced past controversies that defined Punk’s exit.
The tension reached its peak when Reigns finally delivered his answer. He confirmed that he has chosen CM Punk as his WrestleMania 42 opponent, stating that the decision was driven by hatred and unfinished business.
The segment ended with the WrestleMania main event direction set, locking Roman Reigns and CM Punk on a collision course for the biggest stage of the year.
