CM Punk has made a few notable comments about Roman Reigns over the years, and they’ve resurfaced again now that their feud is a big talking point in early 2026.

Quick Scoop: What Punk Said About Reigns

Here’s the essence of what CM Punk has said about Roman Reigns at different times, which fans are now tying into their current storyline:

  1. “Pretty guy” / Presentation-focused comments
    Punk has previously described Roman Reigns as “the pretty guy” in WWE, implying that Reigns was the company’s chosen and heavily presented star, emphasizing his look and marketability.

The subtext fans read into this is that Punk saw Reigns as someone the company wanted to manufacture as the top guy, rather than letting the crowd decide organically.

  1. Criticism of Reigns’ push and protection
    Punk has suggested on podcasts and interviews that WWE “overprotected” Roman Reigns, pointing out how strongly Reigns was booked and how much the company invested in making him the face of the promotion.

This included the idea that Roman’s push was so strong it sometimes backfired, turning sections of the audience against him because it felt forced.

  1. Comments that made Roman’s job “harder”
    Coverage of their long-running tension notes that Roman Reigns believes Punk’s public comments about him and his push made Roman’s own job harder with fans, contributing to early backlash against him.

Reigns has reportedly held a grudge over this, feeling Punk helped paint him as an overpushed corporate pick instead of a wrestler fans could just enjoy.

  1. Respect for Reigns’ current work
    It hasn’t all been negative: Punk has also at one point called Roman Reigns “the best part of WWE these days,” acknowledging how strong Reigns’ Tribal Chief run and overall presentation had become.

Fans often view this as Punk begrudgingly giving Reigns his flowers, even if the older criticisms still hang over their dynamic.

How This Feeds Into 2026 Drama

  • Their real-life comments and past tension are now fueling the current Royal Rumble/WrestleMania 42 storyline, where Reigns has openly said he “always hated” Punk and chose him as his opponent.
  • Punk’s old digs about Reigns being protected and “the pretty guy” make the on-screen rivalry feel more personal, which is why forum threads and trending discussions are asking “what did CM Punk say about Roman Reigns” right now.

In short: Punk has called Reigns WWE’s “pretty guy,” criticized how overprotected and heavily pushed he was, but has also admitted Reigns became one of the best parts of WWE, all of which now feeds the current feud and fan buzz.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.