Roman Reigns Hails Brock Lesnar as His Greatest WWE Opponent of All Time

Roman Reigns credits Brock Lesnar for changing his WWE career when they first stepped inside the ring nearly 10 years ago at WrestleMania 31.

Roman Reigns Hails Brock Lesnar as His Greatest WWE Opponent of All Time

Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman (via WWE)

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Every era in WWE history has had a defining superstar, the clear face of the company for that time. The Golden Age of the 1980s belonged to Hulk Hogan, while the early 1990s New Generation Era was led by Bret Hart. The Attitude Era was ruled by Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the PG Era saw John Cena carry the torch. In the modern era, that role has undoubtedly been filled by Roman Reigns.

For the past five years, ‘The Tribal Chief’ has been both one of the most polarizing and most beloved figures in WWE, carrying the company on his shoulders, most notably with his 1316-day title reign. Yet, Reigns credits one particular superstar for influencing this run, and even revealed that this same wrestler is his favorite opponent of all time. That man is none other than Brock Lesnar.

In a recent rapid-fire interview on ESPN’s First Take, the former Undisputed Champion didn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite opponent, naming ‘The Beast Incarnate’ as the one who stands above the rest.

Brock Lesnar. My whole career changed once I got in the ring with him.

Roman Reigns via ESPN’s First Take

For those unfamiliar, Reigns and Lesnar’s rivalry began at WrestleMania 31 in March 2015, when they clashed for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That match is best remembered for Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank contract mid-bout, turning it into one of the most shocking moments in company history.

Since then, Reigns and Lesnar have crossed paths on several grand stages. They met again at WrestleMania 34 and later at WrestleMania 38, each time battling for the company’s top prize. Their encounters at SummerSlam have also been memorable, including the epic 2017 Fatal 4-Way match, also featuring Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe, which is still regarded as one of the company’s best multi-man bouts.

Their most recent clash came three years ago at the same PLE, where Reigns defeated Lesnar in a brutal Last Man Standing match. Adding another layer to their rivalry is Paul Heyman, who has played a pivotal role in both men’s careers, managing Lesnar for years before later aligning himself with Reigns as his ‘Wiseman.’

Most recently, Lesnar made his long-awaited return to WWE after nearly two years, closing out Night 2 of SummerSlam with a statement-making F5 to John Cena. His extended hiatus stemmed from being officially named in the ongoing Janel Grant assault lawsuit, which kept him sidelined until WWE’s legal team recently cleared him to return. With Lesnar back in the mix, it will be interesting to see if he and Reigns cross paths inside the ring once again.

Roman Reigns has high hopes for WWE’s future amidst historic PLE deal signed with ESPN

WWE has reached a major milestone, signing a five-year, $1.6 billion deal with ESPN that will see all Premium Live Events stream exclusively on the network starting in 2026. This marks the end of the company’s current run on Peacock, with the transition to ESPN set for next year. The blockbuster media rights agreement will bring WWE’s full PLE schedule to ESPN platforms, including the network’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service launching later this month. 

Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman (via WWE)

While the live event schedule is confirmed, the future of WWE’s extensive library has not yet been disclosed. Roman Reigns believes the move is a clear sign of continued growth. ‘The OTC’, a main event fixture likely to headline many future ESPN-era PLEs, joined ESPN to discuss the move and praise the leadership behind it.

It’s almost like the news cycle in itself. It’s always something new for us. It seems to always be bigger and better. I think Nick Khan has done a great job. Paul Levesque has done a great job of leading us, and the proof is in the pudding. We just keep leveling up, and this is no different.

Roman Reigns via ESPN’s First Take

Reigns also reflected on what the deal means for fans, calling the partnership with ESPN a natural fit that will help expand the company’s reach and storytelling power.

I think it’s a chance to continue to grow. I mean, anytime you can team up with a platform like ESPN, I mean, you guys are the, you know, sports media leaders. Nobody does it better than you guys. So to help us tell these stories, to help us reach and have as much attention, it’s an obvious partnership. So, it’s huge for our fanbase. Anytime we can grow, you know, our art form, our form of sports and entertainment, it’s always going to benefit our fans.

Roman Reigns via ESPN’s First Take

With WWE now joining forces with the sports media giant, the deal marks a new chapter for the company, one that Reigns believes will only elevate the product and its audience.

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