Bloodline Drama Turns CM Punk vs Roman Reigns Feud White Hot Ahead of WrestleMania 42

CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42 was already the biggest match on the card for WWE's return to Las Vegas on April 18 and 19.  

There was already buzz surrounding it because of prior real-life issues between the two, which always make for more compelling television. 

Monday night on Raw, though, The Best in the World made it white hot, thanks to an injection of some Bloodline drama, by way of a confrontation with Jimmy and Jey Uso. 

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The Greatest Storyline Ever 

The Bloodline Saga has been an integral part of WWE television for six years, beginning with its inception in 2020. An overarching epic that saw the rise of The Tribal Chief incarnation of Reigns' on-screen persona, and made legitimate main event stars of The Usos, Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa, and anyone else within arm's reach, it led to a renaissance for WWE and the highest revenue in company history. 

In it, Reigns routinely manipulated everyone in his circle, including his cousins The Usos, to his benefit. They insulated him, protected him from threats to his Undisputed WWE Championship and spot as the Head of the Table. 

Both Jey and Jimmy tested The OTC at different points, no longer willing to take the physical, emotional, and mental abuse he dealt them in pursuit of the longest modern reign as champion. 

It is that tension, which still exists between them today, that Punk reignited Monday, and will look to exploit en route to a successful World Heavyweight Championship defense and the hottest WrestleMania main event possible. 

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How Could Bloodline Drama Be Used on the Road to WrestleMania? 

Ironically enough, it was Punk and Reigns' sworn enemy, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, who created the gameplan for defeating The Tribal Chief. 

At the 2022 Royal Rumble, he competed against Reigns while clad in the tactical gear they wore during their time together in The Shield. The decision awakened emotional trauma of that split and Rollins was able to use his op 

He did the same at WrestleMania 40, leading to the end of Reigns' historic three-year run as WWE champion.  

Punk is already in Reigns' head. He knows The OTC hates him, dating back to comments he made about the company's protection of him during an appearance on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast. 

Add the comment he made on the March 2 episode of Raw about burying Reigns with his late father, Wild Samoan Sika, and you have a wily veteran who has taken up residence in the typically unshakable challenger. 

When you factor in Punk now drudging up the Bloodline drama, refusing to apologize to Jimmy and Jey Uso for the comment about Sika by reminding them that Reigns still has never appropriately apologized for his treatment of them, and you have the rare Superstar who can match Reigns' manipulation and make him the victim instead of the aggressor. 

The fans are captivated by The Bloodline drama and are invested in the players. The utilization of it in this capacity makes sense and as a result, the main event of the biggest show of the year is instantaneously hotter than it would have been with Punk and Reigns simply declaring their hatred for each other for the next six weeks.