Roman Reigns Names Surprise Favorite WrestleMania Moment

The 11-time WrestleMania main eventer reflects on his most cherished match at the 'Show of Shows'.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:04am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action and multiple perspectives of a professional wrestling match, with figures and objects broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form.A cubist interpretation of the intense physicality and dramatic tension of a WrestleMania main event match.Las Vegas Today

In a recent interview, WWE superstar Roman Reigns revealed that his favorite WrestleMania moment was not one of his five world championship victories, but rather his loss to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 31. Reigns explained that despite the defeat, the match against Brock Lesnar allowed him to regain momentum and eventually capture the WWE World Heavyweight title later that year.

Why it matters

As one of the most dominant wrestlers of the modern era, Reigns' candid admission about his favorite WrestleMania moment being a loss provides an interesting perspective on how top superstars view their careers and legacies. This insight into Reigns' mindset could also foreshadow how he approaches his upcoming title match against CM Punk at WrestleMania 42.

The details

Reigns told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that his favorite WrestleMania moment was his match against Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31, even though he ultimately lost the title to Seth Rollins in a triple threat match. Reigns explained that the loss to Lesnar allowed him to regain momentum and eventually capture the world title later that year at Survivor Series.

  • Reigns' match against Lesnar took place at WrestleMania 31 in 2015.
  • Reigns won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship later that year at Survivor Series 2015.

The players

Roman Reigns

A 11-time WrestleMania main eventer and one of the most dominant WWE superstars of the modern era.

Seth Rollins

Reigns' former Shield teammate who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31.

Brock Lesnar

Former UFC champion and one of the most dominant WWE superstars of the past decade, who Reigns faced for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31.

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What they’re saying

“Despite declaring Oba Femi as the definitive answer, he didn't fail to name other rising stars on the roster. He spoke very highly of Carmelo Hayes.”

— Roman Reigns

What’s next

Reigns is set to face WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk in the main event of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.

The takeaway

Reigns' surprising admission about his favorite WrestleMania moment being a loss highlights his maturity and perspective as one of the top stars in WWE. Despite his unparalleled success, he recognizes that even defeats can be pivotal in shaping a wrestler's career and legacy.