Roman Reigns tried to steal the limelight with a tweet after Elimination Chamber. CM Punk made sure the response happened on camera.
After Punk retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Bálor in a brutal main event at Elimination Chamber on February 28, 2026, Reigns took to Twitter instead of appearing in Chicago. The Royal Rumble winner dismissed Punk’s performance, claiming he wasn’t sure “who looked more tired — the crowd or the champion,” and warned him to enjoy his “final month of relevancy.”
Later that night on the official Elimination Chamber post-show, Punk was asked directly about Reigns’ comments. He didn’t hesitate. He began by calling out Reigns for choosing Twitter over confrontation: “Oh man, he’s got time to tweet, but he doesn’t have time to come to Chicago.” Punk then pivoted to the live crowd reaction in his hometown, using attendance as proof of his drawing power and commitment as a champion.
“Listen, Roman Reigns, you’re not number one either. 19,346 people showed up in Chicago because I’m a fighting champion, and I will travel to Las Vegas.”
Reigns’ tweet implied Punk looked exhausted after the war with Bálor. Instead of denying it, Punk leaned into the physical toll of being an active champion.
“Yeah, I’m gonna be tired and beat up, and I’m gonna be bandaged, but that keeps me sharp, on the edge, and where I need to be. For me, the action is the juice.”
From there, Punk changed the narrative, suggesting that Reigns’ limited appearances might backfire when WrestleMania 42 arrives. Finally, Punk made it clear he has a GTS for Reigns and the rest of the Bloodline as well.
“You can sit at home — we’ll call you Rusty Reigns when you show up in Las Vegas. I’ve got a GTS for you and every one of your stupid family members.”
The exchange instantly turned what was already a marquee WrestleMania main event into a personal war of words. Reigns fired from a distance. Punk responded with a microphone in hand, standing tall after Elimination Chamber in front of nearly 20,000 fans. With Las Vegas on the horizon, this rivalry just shifted into another gear.
Who has the edge heading into WrestleMania 42 — the active, battle-tested champion or the calculating Royal Rumble winner waiting in the shadows? Let us know your take.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.