The March 16 episode of WWE RAW ended with a major moment between CM Punk and Roman Reigns, but the final scene was not the original plan heading into the show.
The closing segment at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio featured a tense face-to-face exchange between the two WrestleMania opponents. Roman Reigns came to the ring to address CM Punk following weeks of growing tension. The situation quickly escalated once Punk joined him inside the ring.
CM Punk – Roman Reigns Segment on WWE RAW
During the exchange, Reigns took aim at Punk with personal remarks, including a jab at his age. That line pushed the segment into physical territory, as Punk responded without hesitation and struck Reigns with a punch that dropped him to the mat. The moment ended WWE RAW on a strong note, with Punk standing tall over The Tribal Chief.
The closing visual drew a loud reaction from the live crowd and added more intensity to their upcoming WrestleMania match. However, a new report suggests that WWE had originally planned a very different direction for the segment.
According to Bodyslam, the creative plan was changed before the show went live. The original script reportedly called for Roman Reigns to respond to CM Punk’s earlier comments about his father, Sika, with a much more controversial line involving Punk’s dog, Larry.
Instead of moving forward with that idea, WWE made a late adjustment and shifted the focus of the segment. The version that aired kept the tension centered on personal insults between the two stars, without crossing into more sensitive territory. This change allowed the segment to stay intense while avoiding unnecessary backlash.
The decision also gave CM Punk the final moment of the night, as he stood over Reigns after knocking him down. That visual may play a key role in how momentum is perceived heading into WrestleMania.
With the event approaching, the rivalry between Roman Reigns and CM Punk continues to build each week on WWE RAW. This latest development shows that WWE is still fine-tuning the presentation of the feud while keeping the focus on delivering a strong main event program.
Backstage News on CM Punk – Roman Reigns Segment on WWE RAW
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