Nia Jax has come out in support of Roman Reigns after CM Punk vowed to “bury” him next to his late father at WrestleMania 42.
“I think small men bark loud,” said Jax on the Beyond The Bell podcast. “And so, in that moment right there, he was probably feeling a little confident. And it’s funny cuz you see him walk away right after he says that line.”
Punk continued to get under Reigns’ skin as the two got personal on Monday’s Raw. After Reigns threatened to retire Punk, the World Heavyweight Champion
fired back with a quip that hit below the belt.
After pointing out earlier that the Usos are no longer by his side, Punk promised to end Reigns’ loneliness, saying, “You went from gettin’ beat at WrestleMania, now I’m gonna bury you. And then you won’t be all alone anymore because I’m gonna bury you next to your father.”
Reigns’ father, WWE Hall of Famer Sika Anoaʻi, passed away in 2024. The line left the Tribal Chief stunned as Punk immediately left the ring, bumping Reigns’ shoulder as he walked off.
Jax, who is related to Reigns and the Bloodline through The Rock’s side of the family, said she wasn’t bothered by what Punk said. She cited her family’s decades-long dominance, saying, “I know what my family is physically capable of.”
The reigning Women’s Tag Team Champion also said Punk is free to say what he wants, but it won’t change the result at WrestleMania.
“He can speak all he wants. But when it comes down to it, the person who’s going to be reigning over Phil will be none other than the OTC,” Jax said while referring to Punk by his real first name.
Did Punk Go Too Far?
Many questioned whether Punk went too far by bringing up Reigns’ deceased father, especially after stating that Reigns was alone and that his past success came from having others around him.
Speaking on the Busted Open podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray said the line didn’t match the rest of the promo, adding, “I still don’t understand, other than for shock value, why Punk would say it.”
The motivation behind Punk’s character appeared to be a way to get inside Reigns’ head. It clearly worked because Reigns looked shaken at the end of the segment.
During his run as the Tribal Chief, few have ever blatantly disrespected Reigns in this way. The moment suggests Punk won’t handle Reigns with kid gloves at Mania and is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
That mindset also reveals Punk’s desperation and how he sees his challenger. Facing a six-time world champion in Reigns, Punk may resort to desperate measures to retain the title when they clash in April in Las Vegas.
Additionally, it begins to cast Punk as the heel, at least for this match. The angle gives fans a clear side to choose and further builds Reigns as a babyface, with a ruthless obstacle to overcome as he proves he can succeed on his own.
