Roman Reigns believes his focus during WWE's most turbulent period is what kept the company on course, and he is not modest about the role he played in steering it through.
Speaking with Nico Leonard ahead of WrestleMania 42, Reigns reflected on his half-decade run at the top through a period that included the sale to Endeavor, the formation of TKO, and the public fallout surrounding Vince McMahon's resignation amid a sexual assault lawsuit. For Reigns, the formula was simple: block out everything else and keep delivering.
"After the run, the half-decade that I went through, we turned the business upside down. We were in the most turbulent time of all time, transitioning into being bought by Endeavor, and forming TKO. Everything that was going on with our company in the media, but like any captain in rough seas, just steady at the wheel, doing my thing. No matter what, all this distraction and all this noise, no matter what happens, as long as I'm locked into my character and my story, and I go out there with the most compelling art form of pro wrestling and sports entertainment, none of this other bullshit matters. I was able to do that," Reigns said.
The period he is discussing comes amid the McMahon scandal, which dominated headlines well beyond the wrestling press, the Endeavor acquisition restructured the company's leadership, and the merger with UFC to form TKO represented the biggest shift in WWE's corporate identity in decades. Through it all, Reigns held the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and remained the central figure of the product for years, a reign that spanned 1,316 days.
Reigns has been operating on a lighter schedule since losing the title at WrestleMania 40, but he returns to the WrestleMania main event stage on Sunday night with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
Reigns challenges CM Punk for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the night two main event of WrestleMania 42 on Sunday, April 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
