CM Punk’s World Heavyweight Championship reign has officially crossed a major milestone, and the timing couldn’t be more interesting. As The Best in the World moves past 100 days as champion, the road ahead looks brutal, and it leads straight to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42.
Punk’s biggest test yet is already locked in. At WrestleMania 42, he’s set to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against the 2026 Royal Rumble winner, Roman Reigns, in what’s shaping up to be the most talked-about main event of the year. But before The Showcase of the Immortals arrives, Punk may not even make it to Las Vegas unscathed.
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Reports suggest CM Punk could also put the title on the line at Elimination Chamber, which makes perfect sense given the PLE is scheduled for Chicago, Punk’s home turf. Fans watching RAW believe Finn Bálor is the likely challenger, setting up a high-stakes rematch after their recent clash on the red brand in January, which took place in Bálor’s home country of Ireland.
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Whether Punk survives both The Prince and The Tribal Chief is still an open question. For now, though, his supporters have every reason to celebrate. Punk officially surpassed 100 days as World Heavyweight Champion, a reign that began on November 1, 2025, when he defeated Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event 41 to capture the vacant title. Two nights later on RAW, Punk made it clear he wasn’t planning on being a part-time champion. Calling himself a fighting champion, he invited anyone in the locker room to step up and many did.
So far, Punk has turned back challenges from some serious names. Bron Breakker pushed him to the limit and had fans wondering if a title change was inevitable. But on the first anniversary of RAW on Netflix in January, Punk managed to retain against The Dog. He’s also successfully defended the gold against Finn Bálor and AJ Styles, proving his reign hasn’t been built on easy wins.
The tension between Punk and Reigns has only added fuel to the fire. Punk recently pointed out that he’s been “holding the fort” while Reigns was away on vacation. The Tribal Chief fired back, reminding everyone that Punk himself was gone for a decade and is now clearly making up for lost time. The exchange has helped turn Reigns vs. Punk into the most anticipated WWE match of 2026.
Now, the big question looms. Will WrestleMania 42 mark the beginning of Roman Reigns’ first world title reign since his legendary 1,316-day run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion? Or will it simply become another defining chapter in CM Punk’s comeback story, a landmark defense that echoes his historic 434-day WWE Championship reign from years past?
One way or another, Punk’s 100-day milestone feels less like a finish line and more like the calm before the storm. The real test of his reign is still to come.
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