Roman Reigns and CM Punk put on a main event for the ages at WrestleMania 42, but it wasn’t without controversy.
As Punk was outside the ring, hanging upside down on the top rope, Reigns blasted him in the face with the steel ring steps in full view of referee Rod Zapata.
“I’m surprised the ref didn’t throw that out,” said Wade Barrett on commentary, before quickly adding that in the main event of WrestleMania, nobody wants a disqualification.
By the letter
of the law, though, that’s exactly what should have happened.
“Yes it sure is a DQ,” former WWE referee Mike Chioda wrote on X when asked why Reigns wasn’t disqualified. Chioda, who spent more than 30 years with the company, also questioned why Zapata didn’t address it beforehand. “Don’t know why the referee didn’t protect himself while goin’ over it in rehearsals,” he added.
The night before, WrestleMania Saturday saw official Jessika Carr step in after Becky Lynch removed a turnbuckle cover during her match with AJ Lee. Intentionally exposing the steel buckle and using it as a weapon, like the steel steps, would result in a disqualification.
The contrast in officiating at WWE’s biggest event highlighted not only inconsistency among referees and their presentation, but also how loosely WWE applies rules from match to match.
Some argued Reigns was within his rights to use the steps since the spot took place outside the ring. However, at SummerSlam 1989, a similar situation unfolded when The Ultimate Warrior struck Rick Rude with the Intercontinental Championship belt during their title match.
When Jesse Ventura questioned why Warrior wasn’t disqualified, his colleague, Tony Schiavone, suggested it was because they were outside the ring. That prompted a memorable response from “The Body.”
“What are you gonna tell me, Schiavone? You can shoot somebody outside the ring as long as they’re outside the ring?” quipped Ventura.
While fan reactions echo Ventura’s from nearly 40 years ago, Barrett’s explanation that no one wants a DQ finish in the main event of WrestleMania will have to do. Still, greater attention to match detail in rehearsals, as Chioda noted, could help avoid such confusion and maintain a referee’s credibility.
The spot was also debated on Busted Open, with WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray arguing the referee should have stopped Reigns. He added that while the official was distracted clearing the steps, Reigns could have used the opening to strike Punk with another object.
Despite the controversy, Bully Ray reiterated the praise he had shared on social media, saying, “That was a fuckin’ WrestleMania main event.”
