Barring any surprising changes in the next month, Roman Reigns will enter SummerSlam 2026 as the World Heavyweight Champion.
SummerSlam 2026 will be held at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on the weekend of August 1–2. Reigns, who wrestles on a part-time schedule, always competes at WWE’s second-largest pay-per-view.
But I am saying Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t ringside news) Following Night of Champions, Bryan Alvarez hinted that Reigns would rekindle his rivalry with former Shield ally Seth Rollins at SummerSlam.
Alvarez also believes that King of the Ring winner Oba Femi will dethrone new WWE Champion Sami Zayn at SummerSlam.
Alvarez said, “My prediction when the show ends is that Oba Femi will defeat Sami Zayn at SummerSlam to win the title, and Seth Rollins will wrestle Roman Reigns, because I can’t think of any other reason why Seth Rollins should have defeated Braun Breaker in this cage match.”
Alvarez’s associate Dave Meltzer also expects Rollins vs. Reigns for SummerSlam. Meltzer said that this match had been planned by WWE “for a long time” (via Ringside News):
Meltzer said, “Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were planned for that show for a long time.” “So, you know, once they went to Gunther, because originally it was going to be Roman Reigns and Gunther, yes, when Seth Rollins won my assumption was that he was wrestling Roman Reigns.”
Rollins and Reigns last faced each other on the opening day of WrestleMania last year in a triple threat match with CM Punk. With the help of Paul Heyman, Rollins won the match by pinning Reigns.
Roman Reigns is in his first World Heavyweight Championship reign
(Photo by Rich Frieda/WWE via Getty Images)
who rules? will reach 70 days as World Heavyweight Champion on Monday, claiming the title for the first time with a victory over CM Punk in the main event of WrestleMania 42.
Since the title was introduced in 2023, only three Superstars have won it at least twice: Rollins, CM Punk, and Gunther. If it is Rollins vs. Reigns at SummerSlam, Rollins will have a chance to become the first three-time champion with the title belt.
