Roman Reigns has been a dominant force in WWE for nearly four years, but his presence has been noticeably missing since November. With WrestleMania 42 right around the corner, fans have been buzzing about when Reigns will return—and who he’ll face on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Now, with the latest reports from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, we finally have some insight into WWE’s evolving plans for The Tribal Chief.
Roman Reigns Expected to Return at Royal Rumble 2026
Roman Reigns is expected to make his return at the 2026 Royal Rumble, which takes place on January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This would mark his first WWE appearance in over two months, following his last match at Survivor Series: WarGames, where he, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and The Usos lost to Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, and The Vision.
Reigns’ return is highly anticipated, especially as WWE enters its most important season of the year.
Out of the Title Picture—for Now
While many fans had been expecting WWE to build toward Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes III at WrestleMania 42, the current plan has reportedly changed.
Cody Rhodes lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre on SmackDown last week, and with that major title shift, WWE is said to be pulling Reigns out of the title picture—at least for this WrestleMania season.
This opens the door to a fresh, non-title feud that still positions Reigns in a marquee match, likely a co-main event.
Potential WrestleMania 42 Opponents for Roman Reigns
So if Reigns isn’t going after championship gold at WrestleMania 42, who could he face? Several names are floating around backstage and online, with a few standing out as strong contenders.
1. Seth Rollins
- Why it makes sense: Rollins and Reigns have a long, complicated history dating back to The Shield. Last year at WrestleMania 41, Paul Heyman shockingly turned on both Reigns and Punk, helping Rollins win their Triple Threat Match.
- Current status: Rollins has been out with an injury since October, but a return in time for WrestleMania is still possible.
- Potential twist: With Rollins no longer aligned with The Vision, WWE would need a fresh angle to reignite this feud—but the storyline potential is still rich.
2. Brock Lesnar
- Why it makes sense: Lesnar and Reigns are both featured in WrestleMania 42 trailers, and their names still carry massive box office weight.
- Downside: They’ve already had multiple WrestleMania matches in the past, and going back to this rivalry again may not excite fans unless there’s a completely new twist.
3. Bron Breakker
- Why it makes sense: Breakker is one of WWE’s rising stars and has already clashed with top-tier talent like CM Punk.
- Current focus: He’s more likely to be involved in the World Heavyweight Championship picture for now, but a future Reigns vs. Breakker match feels inevitable.
4. Paul Heyman’s Involvement
Reigns’ issues with Paul Heyman after WrestleMania 41 could play a major role in his direction for 2026. Heyman’s betrayal could fuel a personal storyline, whether it involves Rollins, Punk, or a surprise return.
5. Wildcard: CM Punk
Though unlikely this year due to Punk being in the title scene on Raw, the Punk-Reigns-Heyman triangle has unresolved tension that could be explored in the future—especially if Punk drops the title.
What’s at Stake for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42?
Reigns is in an unusual spot. After years of being the top guy, holding the Undisputed WWE Championship for over 1,300 days, he’s now entering WrestleMania 42 without gold around his waist and no confirmed main-event slot—yet.
But that doesn’t mean his role is any less important.
WWE appears to be pivoting Reigns into a more character-driven, personal rivalry, rather than just another title chase. That could freshen things up and allow Reigns to evolve beyond just being The Tribal Chief chasing dominance.
