Roman Reigns' Best WWE Matches, According To Cagematch

From the moment The Shield debuted on WWE television, it was obvious that Roman Reigns had the look and presence of a main event star. While Reigns struggled to connect with fans as a singles babyface wrestler post-Shield, he eventually found the perfect gimmick when he turned heel and became The Tribal Chief.

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Roman Reigns might've been unpopular for a few years, but no one could ever deny his in-ring ability. Over the years, Roman has delivered numerous classics - as a heel, as a face and as a member of The Shield. But what exactly are Reigns' best matches according to Cagematch users/reviewers? Let's find out together!

Note: The following Cagematch ratings are updated as of October 1, 2025.

10. Roman Reigns Vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2022)

Cagematch Rating: 8.69

Stipulation	WWE Undisputed Universal Championship Last Man Standing Match
Time	23:00
Winner	Roman Reigns

When Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar met in a Last Man Standing Match at SummerSlam 2022, expectations weren't high. Reigns vs Lesnar had already happened countless times and most of their encounters had been mediocre - including the main event of that year's WrestleMania. Perhaps that's why the match worked.

Brock Lesnar coming out in a tractor set the tone for what turned out to be a wild and exciting Last Man Standing bout. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at each other, with Lesnar even destroying the ring with the help of his tractor! Reigns barely survived Lesnar's challenge with the help of The Bloodline, allowing his historic Universal Title run to continue.

9. Reigns Vs. Lesnar Vs. Strowman Vs. Joe (SummerSlam 2017)

Cagematch Rating: 8.75

Stipulation	WWE Universal Championship Fatal 4 Way Match
Time	20:51
Winner	Brock Lesnar

Speaking of chaos. That's also the best way to describe the Universal Title matchup between Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe in the main event of SummerSlam 2017. The nonstop action made this 21-minute match fly by, with each man looking great throughout the bout.

Brock Lesnar getting stretchered out relatively early on allowed the three challengers to shine, and Strowman in particular - who was on fire at the time - came out of SummerSlam looking like a million dollars. In the end, The Beast managed to retain his belt by pinning The Big Dog after an F5.

8. Roman Reigns Vs. Daniel Bryan (SmackDown, April 30, 2021)

Cagematch Rating: 8.75

Stipulation	WWE Universal Championship Title Vs. Career Match
Time	27:18
Winner	Roman Reigns

We don't often see a high-stakes Title vs Career match on a regular episode of SmackDown, so when it happens it immediately feels huge. Daniel Bryan, always the beloved underdog throughout his WWE career, challenged Roman Reigns - just a few months into his heel run as The Tribal Chief - for the Universal Championship.

The match delivered on every level, with Bryan delivering one last performance in WWE and reminding fans why he's one of the best ever. Reigns' cold and calculating performance was incredible as well, and this victory gave him a lot of heat. This is Roman Reigns' best match on free television, unquestionably.

7. Team Raw Vs. Team SmackDown (Survivor Series 2016)

Cagematch Rating: 8.78

Participants	Team Raw: Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Braun Strowman; Team SmackDown: AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton & Shane McMahon
Stipulation	10-Man Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match
Time	52:55
Winners	Team SmackDown

The Raw vs SmackDown concept never really clicked the way WWE hoped it would. Having said that, the return of the brand split in 2016 was a big deal and the concept suddenly felt fresh again. The company capitalized while the iron was hot delivering a fantastic between the top stars of each brand at that year's Survivor Series.

As one of the biggest names on Raw, The Big Dog naturally found himself on the team. Reigns played his role perfectly, being the last wrestler eliminated on the red brand's team in what was a tremendous final sequence. Reigns did everything he could, but he just couldn't beat the new-and-improved Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton), who picked up the win for Team SmackDown.

6. Roman Reigns Vs. CM Punk Vs. Seth Rollins (WrestleMania 41)

Cagematch Rating: 8.81

Stipulation	Triple Threat Match
Time	32:55
Winner	Seth Rollins

Roman Reigns faced Seth Rollins and CM Punk in a triple threat match in the main event of WrestleMania 41 Saturday. Paul Heyman being "forced" to manage CM Punk - the favor Punk wanted in return for joining The Bloodline's team at Survivor Series 2024 - added a lot of drama to this match.

RELATED: CM Punk: Rating Every WWE PPV Match

The chemistry between the three men was undeniable, and the Cagematch rating shows just how much fans enjoyed it. Seth Rollins walked away victorious after Heyman low-blowed both Punk and Reigns, becoming Rollins' new manager in the process.

5. Roman Reigns Vs. Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 31)

Cagematch Rating: 8.81

Stipulation	WWE World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat Match (Seth Rollins Cashed In MITB Halfway Through The Match)
Time	16:43
Winner	Seth Rollins

Roman's first WrestleMania main event happened in 2015, following an unpopular Royal Rumble win. Not a lot of people were looking forward to Reigns versus Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, but the fact is they exceeded all expectations and put on a tremendous hoss fight.

What was expected to be a one-sided match turned into a brutal slugfest, with The Big Dog refusing to stay down. Just when it looked like Reigns was about to leave 'Suplex City' as the new WWE Champion, Seth Rollins shocked the world by cashing in Money in the Bank, pinning Reigns to steal the title.

4. Roman Reigns Vs. Edge Vs. Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania 37)

Cagematch Rating: 8.88

Stipulation	WWE Universal Championship Triple Threat Match
Time	22:40
Winner	Roman Reigns

Months into his heel run, already with big wins over the likes of Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre or Kevin Owens, Reigns defended his Universal Title against both Edge and Daniel Bryan in the main event of WrestleMania 37. Reigns was successful in his first major test as The Tribal Chief, pinning both challengers at the same time to retain the strap.

The story was strong, as Edge wanted to reclaim the world title he'd never lost when he was forced to retire exactly a decade earlier. Daniel Bryan being added to the bout elevated it in terms of match quality, and the result was one of the greatest WrestleMania main events in many, many years.

3. The Shield Vs. Team Hell No & Ryback (TLC 2012)

Cagematch Rating: 9.20

Stipulation	Six Man Tag Team TLC Match
Time	22:44
Winners	The Shield

The Shield debuted at Survivor Series 2012, helping CM Punk retain the WWE Championship over John Cena and Ryback in the main event. The newcomers attacked more top stars on television over the next few weeks, including then-WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No. This led to their first match on the main roster - a six-man tag team TLC match against Ryback, Kane & Daniel Bryan at TLC.

Expectations were high, as fans wondered if The Shield could deliver on a big stage from bell to bell. The answer was a resounding yes. The match was violent, creative and showcased The Shield at their best; isolating their opponents to remain in control, which is what allowed them to score the victory in the end. Looking back, the trio couldn't have asked for a better debut.

2. The Shield Vs. The Wyatt Family (Elimination Chamber 2014)

Cagematch Rating: 9.21

Stipulation	Six Man Tag Team Match
Time	22:42
Winners	The Wyatt Family

It didn't take long for The Shield to become one of the best acts in WWE after their debut. Less than a year later, though, another group debuted and made a big impact - The Wyatt Family. The Shield vs The Wyatts was a showdown that many fans wanted to see at the time, so the match felt like a big deal as soon as it was announced for Elimination Chamber 2014.

The chaotic pace, exciting sequences and dramatic nearfalls had the fans on the edge of their seats. Speaking of the fans, the Minneapolis crowd was electric and made the match even better. Overall, this is easily one of the greatest six-man tag team matches of all time, with two hot trios at their peak stealing the show.

1. Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 40)

Cagematch Rating: 9.23

Stipulation	WWE Undisputed Universal Championship Bloodline Rules Match
Time	33:25
Winner	Cody Rhodes

The main event of WrestleMania 40 saw Roman Reigns defend the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes under Bloodline Rules. With The American Nightmare desperate to "finish his story" and end The Tribal Chief's historic 1316-day run as Universal Champion, the stakes couldn't have been any higher.

The stipulation asked for chaos, and that's exactly what we got. The drama built with every interference and cameo, with Seth Rollins, John Cena and The Undertaker coming out at different points to even the odds. After 33 minutes of pure wildness, Rhodes finally captured his first WWE Championship. This was a rare example of an overbooked main event being absolutely fantastic.

Thanks for reading.

What's Your Favorite Roman Reigns Match?

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  Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 40)
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  The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family (Elimination Chamber 2014)
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  The Shield vs. Team Hell No & Ryback (TLC 2012)
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  Roman Reigns vs. Edge vs. Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania 37)

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