Roman Reigns has made it clear—he’s still the top guy in WWE, and he’s not shy about calling out the rest of the roster for not stepping up in his absence. As the Tribal Chief, Reigns has worked a part-time schedule in recent years, but that hasn’t stopped him from remaining at the centre of WWE’s most dominant storyline.
Now, with another Royal Rumble victory under his belt and a ticket punched to WrestleMania 42, Roman is once again the man to beat.
Roman Reigns: “Get Over, Kids!”
While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show ahead of the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Roman Reigns didn’t hold back when talking about the state of the WWE roster. With his lighter schedule, fans and critics have often pointed out that Roman “takes up all the airtime.” But Roman flipped the narrative:
“These young talent, they say we hog all the TV time… I leave an opening, I give them plenty of space to create whatever type of superstardom they want—get over, kids!”
Reigns believes that since his rise as the Tribal Chief and the rise of The Bloodline, the rest of the roster hasn’t evolved creatively. He pointed out that his absence should have been an opportunity for others to fill the gap—and many haven’t taken it.
“I’m a generous Tribal Chief. I give the people plenty of time.”
The Impact of Reigns’ Light Schedule
Since transforming into the Tribal Chief, Reigns has worked a reduced schedule, mainly appearing on Premium Live Events and the occasional SmackDown. This allowed:
- Other titles like the Intercontinental, United States, and World Heavyweight Championships to get more spotlight.
- Stars like Gunther, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes to step up.
However, Roman’s creative criticism hints that star power isn’t being built at the level it could be—even with the space he’s left behind.
Roman Reigns Talks About Slowing Down
Roman also opened up about needing to “pump the brakes” after carrying WWE through the pandemic era and beyond. With five children and a demanding travel schedule, stepping back was a conscious decision.
“I’m only 40. I can still go. But I needed to slow it down for a bit after the run I had.”
This statement makes it clear: Roman isn’t done. Far from it. He’s simply managing his schedule better to stay at the top for longer.
Roman Reigns Wins the 2026 Royal Rumble
Just a day after the interview, Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble match for the second time in his career. The victory guarantees him a championship match at WrestleMania 42, proving once again that The Tribal Chief is far from finished.
Now the question becomes—who will he face?
- Will it be a rematch against Cody Rhodes?
- A title clash with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins?
- Or a long-awaited showdown with a rising star?
Whatever the path, WrestleMania 42 is once again Roman’s battlefield.
