Roman Reigns seemed poised for greatness in 2025. Instead, a year that began with a bang ends with a whimper.
On Monday, WWE’s YouTube channel released Reigns’ 2025 year-in-review
— a playlist highlighting his biggest moments. It began with promise: after defeating Solo Sikoa at Raw’s Netflix debut, Reigns was officially crowned the undisputed Tribal Chief by his cousin, The Rock.“The Roman Empire is back,” Michael Cole proclaimed as Reigns raised his finger to the sky. It was a triumphant image —
but also a misleading one. That victory would be Reigns’ last for quite some time, and one of the few he would have all year.
For the year, Reigns wrestled a total of seven matches, one better than his total for 2024. His record in those matches was 3-4. While his stats were down, the chants of “OTC” proved that Reigns’ bond with the fans was unshakable — even when creative lags behind.
In what was only his third singles match in 16 months, Reigns beat Bronson Reed at August’s Clash In Paris in a match brought on after Reed stole Reigns’ sneakers. While the angle helped advance Reed, it reduced a God-tier athlete in Reigns to brawling over footwear rather than fighting for titles.
It was also the last time Reigns would win in 2025.
Crumbling Empire
Reigns took a brief hiatus after beating Sikoa, and during his absence, he was named the cover star of WWE 2K25 — an honor typically reserved for superstars on the verge of a breakout year. Instead, his momentum stalled.
In February, Reigns was unceremoniously eliminated from the men’s Royal Rumble by CM Punk, alongside Seth Rollins. The moment set the stage for a WrestleMania triple threat, where Rollins emerged victorious after a shocking betrayal from Paul Heyman, Reigns’ longtime confidant.
Furious, Reigns sought revenge on Raw two nights later. Instead, he was cut down by Bron Breakker — cementing Rollins’ rise and giving birth to The Vision, while Reigns’ empire continued to crumble.
Reed later evened the score with a win over Reigns at Crown Jewel in October. A month later, Reigns found himself on the losing side of WarGames at Survivor Series. After the match, a tense face-off with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes signaled the end of their uneasy alliance — and teased a future trilogy that now looms larger than ever.
A Year of Moments
The staredown with Rhodes summed up Reigns’ 2025: moments without momentum.
Reigns made more returns than trips to the winner’s circle. He ambushed Rollins during a steel cage match with Punk in February, then resurfaced in July — three months after WrestleMania — to confront The Vision. After a kayfabe injury at Clash In Paris, he returned to set up a Crown Jewel rematch with Reed — but lost. He then disappeared again, resurfacing just 12 days before Survivor Series.
Along the way, Reigns delivered memorable segments — granting Punk his “privilege” to main-event WrestleMania, coaching Jey Uso in his pursuit of the world title, and brawling wildly with Reed on Raw. The moments landed, but the stakes did not.
During his 1,316-day reign as Undisputed Champion, Reigns’ limited schedule worked because everything revolved around him. WWE used his absences to build challengers, fuel Bloodline tension, and heighten anticipation for his return, with Paul Heyman keeping Reigns omnipresent on television.
In 2025, Reigns had no title, no advocate, and no gravitational pull. He was written off television after attacks, then reinserted just in time for the next premium live event. His returns made for entertaining segments — but nothing like the sustained drama and anticipation that once made Reigns the center of WWE’s universe.
2026: Better, Worse, or the Same?
It’s difficult to predict what lies ahead for Roman Reigns. A Vanity Fair profile published last April revealed his WWE contract runs through WrestleMania 42.
“After I finish the contract that I’m in, we probably got another year or two max,” Reigns said. “Then it’s time to take on a less physical form of entertainment.”
Reigns has long been rumored as the next WWE star to follow The Rock, Batista, and John Cena into Hollywood. He is set to appear in Street Fighter alongside Cody Rhodes in October 2026.
In the ring, however, the picture is murkier. While Survivor Series hinted that Reigns vs. Rhodes III could be imminent, his interactions with Jey Uso suggest another family conflict might be brewing. And yet, Jey’s recent reunion with his brother Jimmy — and their pursuit of tag team gold — could point to yet another Bloodline reunion.
With WrestleMania season approaching, Reigns will almost certainly play a major role in WWE’s biggest event of the year. Beyond that, expectations should be tempered. Based on his shrinking schedule, fans should expect fewer than 10 matches in 2026 but plenty of excitement — however fleeting — when Reigns does appear.
