Roman Reigns walked out of WrestleMania 42 as World Heavyweight Champion after defeating CM Punk but that outcome wasnt always the plan. While Reigns ultimately defeated CM Punk in a brutal Night Two main event, a new update reveals WWE had internally discussed going in a completely different direction for the finish. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter on April 24, 2026, there was an idea pitched that would have seen Punk leave WrestleMania with the title instead only to drop it back shortly after at the Backlash Premium Live Event. That potential shift would have dramatically changed the outcome of the biggest match on the card. Instead of Reigns reclaiming the top spot immediately after winning the Royal Rumble, Punk would continue reign before WWE circled back to the same end result. In reality, the match played out very differently. Reigns survived a violent back-and-forth war, with both men leaving the ring bloodied after multiple GTS attempts, spears, and heavy ringside spots involving steel steps and the announce table. The finish saw Reigns connect with back-to-back spears to finally put Punk down and secure the championship. That kind of booking would have created a very different narrative coming out of WrestleMania, with Punk getting the victory on the biggest stage before transitioning the title back to Reigns at Backlash. Instead, WWE went with a decisive win for Reigns, immediately re-establishing him at the top of the title picture after two years without holding a world championship. With this new detail out, its clear the final decision wasnt the only path WWE considered and the alternative could have completely changed how WrestleMania 42 is remembered. Do you think WWE should have pulled the trigger on CM Punk winning at WrestleMania before dropping the title later, or was Roman Reigns winning outright the right call? Let us know your thoughts. G Add as a preferred source on Google
