After a three-month absence, Roman Reigns made his return to WWE programming on the July 14 episode of WWE RAW, directly intervening in the show’s main event aftermath. His appearance came moments after a five-man gauntlet match determined the next challenger for Gunther’s World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.
The match, which featured Bron Breakker, Penta, LA Knight, Jey Uso, and CM Punk, was won by CM Punk, who last pinned Breakker to secure his title opportunity. Following the bell, Breakker and his associate Bronson Reed launched a post-match attack on both Punk and Jey Uso.
As the assault continued, Reigns’ music played and he appeared, sporting new merchandise with the acronym “OTC1” (Original Tribal Chief), confirming recent reports of a new nickname. He dispatched Breakker with a spear and hit Reed with a Superman Punch, clearing the ring.
The show concluded with the image of Reigns, Punk, and Jey Uso standing together, forming an uneasy alliance against a common set of enemies. While Reigns’ immediate motivation appeared to be aiding his cousin, a clear tension between him and Punk was visible.
This development sets the stage for a likely confrontation between Reigns and Bron Breakker, while Paul Heyman, who was at ringside with Breakker, watched the new alliance form.