Fantasy Booking Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk WrestleMania 41 Feud Amid WWE Rumors

The idea of Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania 41 has been gaining steam in recent weeks, if not months.

Fans see it, no doubt. Paul Heyman is back and right in the middle of those two, plotting and scheming while Reigns navigates the Bloodline saga and Punk deals with the likes of Seth Rollins.

One can do some simple reading between the lines to see that WWE is working hard to keep all of its options open. One of the benefits of the long-form storytelling and character work that defines the Triple H era is that the seeds planted now can have instant payoffs—or even years down the line.

Flexibility seems to be the theme, too, with Fightful Select (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News) reporting that a Punk-Reigns feud is a "drastically different direction than what had been planned," but that part of the problem is the question mark around The Rock's status for 'Mania.

So how does one book Reigns and Punk headlining a night of WrestleMania?

There are an almost overwhelming number of moving parts and possibilities. But at its most basic? Punk helped Reigns at Survivor Series via Heyman, who now owes the Best in the World a favor. Reigns was very clearly uncomfortable with not knowing what was going on, yet here we are.

Maybe the "favor" is the Original Tribal Chief being required to help Punk during a future match with Rollins. Or maybe it's to help him win Gunther's world title. In fact, WWE might want a world title on this feud, so Reigns throwing interference to put a title around Punk's waist would still make Gunther look strong in a loss—before he turns around and says he wants to take what he helped Punk win.

That's all pretty compelling stuff and would give fans a needed breather from Bloodline storylines in the main event scene.

But it doesn't have to end Bloodline stuff for good, either.

Maybe Reigns and Punk headlining a 'Mania is the perfect opportunity to have Solo Sikoa's faction self-combust and he gets a headline match with Jacob Fatu.

WWE could go simpler, too, having Sikoa's faction take on The Usos and Sami Zayn on a big stage. It would feel like filler perhaps, but a big turn or storytelling implication that sets up the next "season" of programming after 'Mania could make it work.

While WWE probably shouldn't rely on this too much annually, Reigns could also pull double duty at 'Mania. One night, he's in a Bloodline tag match, the next, he's in the match with Punk.

There is the Rock fact to ponder. Reigns-Rock might be more appealing (ok, it definitely is), but Rock and Cody Rhodes having a match is a story the company needs to wrap up, too.

Granted, this eats up a lot of other interesting opportunities. It potentially leaves Rhodes searching for something to do (although a feud with a heel Randy Orton would be amazing). It boxes out Rollins from a major program and perhaps main event yet again. And it also might leave the returning John Cena in a weird spot, considering his retirement tour is about to unfold.

Still, it's hard to blame WWE for opening the door and keeping it ajar—a match like Punk vs. Reigns doesn't make itself available, pretty much ever. Strike while both guys are still in their prime and healthy, right?

WWE can take its methodical time with the feud, too. Like with Rollins, at least from the perspective of fans, there's a little real-world tension to Reigns vs. Punk. The two go way, way back, and Punk happened to mention him a few times on a certain infamous podcast episode after he had left WWE.

Play into that, what Reigns has become since Punk left and where they're at now—never mind both are Paul Heyman guys—and well, there aren't many better reality-blending feuds out there as options.

For wrestling fans, this is a good problem to have. WWE picking from the best of a handful of amazing possible matches, no matter how predictable, is a good thing. That they have real-world tension built into them already and layered storytelling so that they don't feel random is even better.

If nothing else, WWE deserves a tip of the hat for planning ahead and giving itself options. It sure beats the tar out of last year when Rhodes won the rumble, then inexplicably decided to hand his main event to a part-timer—before otherworldly fan backlash.

Should this be the route, Reigns somehow being involved in Punk winning Gunther's title, then going after him would make for a really fun ride. It's merely a side quest of sorts before he gets back to Bloodline business and Punk goes and deals with other matters, sure.

The fact a "sidequest" like this could main event 'Mania, though, really speaks to the talent of the Superstars involved and just how great pro wrestling fans have it right now.