5 Best Feuds For Roman Reigns Leading Up to WWE WrestleMania 41

5 Best Feuds For Roman Reigns Leading Up to WWE WrestleMania 410 of 5

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At SummerSlam, Roman Reigns made his long-awaited return to WWE to confront Solo Sikoa and start his bid for revenge.

The Samoan star has been on a four-month hiatus since he lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes in the main event of night two of WrestleMania 40. In his absence, The American Nightmare has become the top babyface in the company and Sikoa has claimed his spot as the new Tribal Chief.

This paved the way for a surprise return befitting a star of his caliber at The Biggest Party of the Summer and the next chapter in The Bloodline story. Straight away, we’re already curious about what this means for the upcoming episode of SmackDown and when Reigns will attempt to regain his spot at the top of the brand.

His quest for vengeance and inevitable redemption arc will undoubtedly be one of the most prominent stories for the rest of 2024. As such, these are five for the second generation leading up to WrestleMania 41.

Cody Rhodes1 of 5

Obviously, a WrestleMania rematch with Cody Rhodes makes the most sense ahead of Bash in Berlin.

At SummerSlam, Reigns attacked Solo Sikoa to help the 39-year-old retain his title, but there is no love lost between the two. You could cut the tension with a knife as they stared at each other to close the show and one would have to imagine the original Tribal Chief will come looking for a rematch soon.

If he wants to cut Sikoa’s mutiny short and regain the Undisputed WWE Championship, helping his bitter rival defeat him was a necessary move. After all, the world title win would’ve cemented his predecessor’s claim to power.

Reigns must take his place at The Head of the Table to force his cousin to fall in line and follow him again. That burden immediately puts him at odds with the man who ended his historic reign and cast his family into turmoil.

Solo Sikoa2 of 5

Solo Sikoa has stepped up as the de facto leader of the new Bloodline, and he has made it clear that he won’t give up the mantle without a fight.

Although he needs the Undisputed WWE Championship to silence any remaining naysayers, Reigns is an immediate threat to his right to rule as he sees fit. Conversely, the 31-year-old stands in the way of the original Tribal Chief’s trek to regain everything he lost and punish those who stood against him.

As such, the generational superstar will inevitably have to face his former enforcer and re-exert his dominance. The latest iteration of The Bloodline is also an aberration of his making, so it’s ultimately up to him to end it.

Jacob Fatu3 of 5

When Jacob Fatu officially joined WWE as Sikoa’s enforcer at the end of the June 21 episode of SmackDown, many fans salivated over the prospect of this matchup.

During his dominant run with MLW, hardcore fans fantasized about what an encounter with one of the biggest stars of this era would look like. Now, this dream match could be a reality.

Yes, a confrontation with the self-appointed Tribal Chief is likely the first order of business, but Reigns vs. Fatu is the showdown many of us really want to see. There is more history between the former undisputed champion and Sikoa, and there is undoubtedly a better story to work with.

Still, it doesn’t take an expert to see that these two would have the better in-ring performance. If WWE is as invested in the Samoan Werewolf as it seems, this feud is a top priority.

The Rock 4 of 5

Speaking of potential dream matches, there is no bigger feud for Reigns heading into WrestleMania 41 than a highly anticipated program with The Rock.

WWE fans have been campaigning for this match for at least four years and speculated on when it could occur. This year’s edition of The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment initially seemed like the ideal destination for this battle of the top stars of their eras.

However, the company had already dedicated so much time to Rhodes’ drive to finish the story, and the outcry was swift. Still, this could be a blessing in disguise because now the two arguably have a more compelling storyline to build upon.

During their alliance earliest this year, you could already see subtle hints of friction between Reigns and The Final Boss. The Rock effectively took the spotlight from The Tribal Chief, and there’s enough residual tension to parlay it into an excellent build next spring.

CM Punk 5 of 5

This one may seem like it’s out of left field compared to the other four entries on this list, but a feud with CM Punk is too good to pass up.

Most longtime fans assumed that The Second City Saint would never return to WWE following his controversial exit in 2014. Nevertheless, The Straight Edge Superstar is back.

The polarizing star will always be linked to Reigns due to some of his comments about him and the company’s attempt to micromanage him from Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast. “Make Roman look strong” became one of the lasting quotes from the infamous interview and one of many dominoes that turned many fans against the Samoan star early on.

The Tribal Chief has also taken his fair share of shots at Punk, particularly during his return to wrestling in 2021. In fact, the notorious jab from his interview with Ariel Helwani became the reference for a WWE t-shirt.

His relationship with Paul Heyman also adds an onscreen connection between the two for viewers who aren’t as familiar with their rumored beef. This rivalry doesn’t take precedence over the four feuds we’ve listed, but it’s a matchup many fans have waited 10 years to see.