The chaotic final moments of the July 14 episode of WWE RAW were punctuated by a familiar sound, leading to a shocking return that completely altered the road to SummerSlam. Roman Reigns is back, and he did so by saving his cousin Jey Uso and the new #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, CM Punk, from a savage beatdown.
Reigns returned with a new shirt and a new moniker, “OTC1,” sparking immediate conversation among fans. When one viewer questioned the logic of the name on social media, the insider account WrestleVotes provided a definitive answer. The idea for the “Original Tribal Chief #1” branding did not come from the creative team. In response to the fan, the outlet stated, “Joe Anoa’i’s idea.” This reveal came after WrestleVotes had previously reported that Reigns would be returning with the new identity.
The dramatic return was necessitated by the events following a grueling Gauntlet Match. CM Punk managed to secure a victory over a dominant Bron Breakker, earning a championship match against Gunther at SummerSlam. Refusing to accept the loss, Breakker and his ally Bronson Reed launched a vicious post-match assault on Punk. Jey Uso attempted to make the save but was quickly overwhelmed by the duo.
With Punk and Uso down, Reigns’ music hit, and he stormed the ring to even the odds. He dispatched Reed with a Superman Punch before leveling the formidable Breakker with a Spear. After cleaning house, Reigns helped his cousin to his feet, and the show closed with the tense image of Reigns, Uso, and a wary CM Punk standing tall in the ring as a visibly shaken Paul Heyman looked on from ringside.
This return injects a major star back into a main event picture left unstable by a recent injury to Seth Rollins. Reigns’ mission appears to be one of retribution, with Heyman and his new associates squarely in his sights. Following the show, Reigns took to social media, hinting at collecting on debts, confirming his focus is on reclaiming his spot at the top of the company.