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Roman Reigns Wins 2026 Men's Royal Rumble, Featured on Monday Night RAW

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Roman Reigns Triumphs at Royal Rumble, Confrontation with CM Punk Teased for RAW

Roman Reigns secured victory in the 2026 Men's Royal Rumble match, held in Saudi Arabia, earning a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42. Following this momentous win, Reigns was scheduled to appear on the March 2 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW. While his appearance was initially anticipated as a segment addressing his victory, later reports indicated a significant confrontation involving Reigns and CM Punk was planned to close the show, amidst other scheduled matches and segments.

2026 Men's Royal Rumble: Reigns Victorious in Riyadh

Roman Reigns emerged victorious in the 2026 Men's Royal Rumble match, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reigns eliminated Gunther as the final competitor, utilizing a spear before throwing him over the top rope to secure the win. This marks his second Royal Rumble triumph, his first being in 2015.

Details from the match included:

  • Oba Femi entered as the first participant, eliminated five competitors, and remained in the match for 39 minutes before being eliminated by Brock Lesnar.
  • Bron Breakker, slated as the second entrant, was attacked by a masked individual prior to entering the ring, leading to his quick elimination by Femi.
  • Royce Keys, formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs in All Elite Wrestling, made his debut during the match.
  • LA Knight returned to competition after an absence since December. He eliminated Bronson Reed and Austin Theory before being eliminated by Cody Rhodes.
  • Cody Rhodes was eliminated by Drew McIntyre, who interfered from outside the ring by delivering a Claymore kick.

Reigns' participation marked his first WWE appearance since the Survivor Series in November. While one report stated he was a surprise entrant, another indicated he had been announced as an entrant weeks prior to the event and was widely considered a favorite. Other contenders in the match included Gunther, Breakker, Femi, and Jacob Fatu.

WrestleMania 42: A Championship Choice Awaits

As a result of his Royal Rumble win, Roman Reigns secured a world championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42, which is scheduled for April 18-19. Reigns has the option to challenge for either the Undisputed WWE Championship, currently held by Drew McIntyre, or the World Heavyweight Championship, currently held by CM Punk. The specific championship Reigns will challenge for remains unannounced. Reigns is scheduled to headline WrestleMania for a record 11th time.

Cody Rhodes was also considered a strong contender for the Royal Rumble, seeking to become the second wrestler to win three career Royal Rumble matches, following a recent WWE title loss to Drew McIntyre.

Monday Night RAW: Reigns vs. Punk Confrontation Set to Close Show

Roman Reigns was confirmed to close the March 2 episode of Monday Night RAW, following his Royal Rumble victory. Cory Hays of Bodyslam.net initially reported that Reigns would be featured in the final segment, with WWE having previously announced he would address his Royal Rumble win, suggesting a closing promo.

A more recent update from Fightful Select indicated a potential alteration to the closing segment, with a confrontation between Roman Reigns and CM Punk now planned instead.

This reported change suggested a focus on major WrestleMania 42 implications for the show's conclusion. The reported segment involving Reigns and Punk would occur after Punk's successful Elimination Chamber title defense against Finn Bálor, amidst existing tensions between the two wrestlers.

Other segments and matches confirmed or reported for the March 2 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW included:

  • WWE Women’s World Title Philadelphia Street Fight: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Singles Match: Penta vs. Bronson Reed
  • Singles Match: Je’Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano
  • Match: GUNTHER vs. Dragon Lee (reported by one source)
  • Segment: Liv Morgan celebrates her Women’s Royal Rumble win and addresses her choice of Stephanie Vaquer for WrestleMania 42.
  • Segment: Adam Pearce discusses Seth Rollins’ return (reported by one source).
  • Segment: The Vision reportedly opening the show.

Reigns's confirmed presence to conclude the show officially marks the beginning of the "Road to WrestleMania."