Unless his fortunes change soon, WWE WrestleMania 41 will mark the first time since 2021 that Roman Reign will enter the iconic premium live event without championship gold.

The 39-year-old is currently out of action indefinitely due to an undisclosed injury that he sustained after CM Punk eliminated him from the men's Royal Rumble match. As Reigns confronted him, Seth Rollins blindsided him with a curb stomp and blasted him with another on the ring steps.

It's unclear if the OTC will return in time to compete in the men's Elimination Chamber match for another chance to earn a title shot at The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment. Of course, this will leave many fans to speculate about how he could factor into plans for the upcoming event.

With a clear storyline in view, let's rank five potential WrestleMania opponents for Reigns. Straight away, you'll notice that The Rock has dropped off of this list because his last appearances and recent reports suggest that he won't return for the festivities this year.

Yes, plans could change, and he would immediately jump to the top of everyone's wish list if he reemerges. For now, let's just rank the top five wrestlers that are currently in The Tribal Chief's orbit on WWE programming.

5. Jacob Fatu

Ever since Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa on the debut episode of Raw on Netflix, Jacob Fatu has emerged as the next up.

That shouldn't surprise many viewers because The Samoa Werewolf has stood out as the enforcer of the new Bloodline. It was only a matter of time before he would overshadow Sikoa because he's such a dynamic performer.

Fans of his time with MLW already knew his athleticism and in-ring work would propel him to the forefront. However, his newfound audience is quickly learning that his promos are also top-notch.

WWE is clearly invested in the 32-year-old, and for good reason. So, a showdown with Reigns is inevitable, but it's hard to believe it will happen as early as WrestleMania 41. In fact, the event is likely the destination for a matchup between Sikoa and Fatu.

4. Drew McIntyre

Considering their history, Drew McIntyre would make an excellent WrestleMania 41 opponent for Reigns or even Jey Uso.

The Scottish Warrior has obsessed over his loss to the Samoa star at Clash at the Castle in 2022. In the years since the devastating defeat in his home country, his ambition and lust for revenge have made him one of the most compelling antagonists in pro wrestling.

After his long-term feud with CM Punk, McIntyre started targeting members of the OG Bloodline on Raw and SmackDown. As such, he should ultimately go after the OTC and set up a rematch on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Nevertheless, the two already went head-to-head at the event in 2019, and WWE probably has a bigger match planned for Reigns this year. This matchup is a solid option, but it's not nearly as plausible as our next three entries.

3. Cody Rhodes

Although most fans have had their fill of this rivalry, Cody Rhodes has been a viable opponent since Reigns returned last year at SummerSlam.

The second-generation star has been determined to reclaim everything he lost following The American Nightmare's crowning moment at WrestleMania 40. Now that he has settled his conflict with Sikoa and secured the Ula Fala, he can set his sights on the Undisputed WWE Championship again.

The men's Royal Rumble match proved that his journey back to the top wouldn't be easy because he made many enemies during his historic title run. Still, a high-profile rematch against Rhodes is his primary goal.

It's too soon to revisit this rivalry at The Showcase of the Immortals, though. Even the most ardent fans probably don't want to see the two headline the event for three consecutive years.

Although this is a logical choice, we want to see Reigns do something different this year. To that end, he doesn't need to compete in a world title match after such a dominant four-year run.

2. Seth Rollins

It's truly mind-blowing that WWE never paid off Reigns and Seth Rollins' Universal Championship match from Royal Rumble in 2022.

The Visionary got under his skin and handed him his first pay-per-view loss since he reemerged as The Tribal Chief via disqualification. This was the perfect rationale for a rematch at WrestleMania 38, but the company dropped the storyline in favor of another encounter with Brock Lesnar.

Nonetheless, their onscreen chemistry ensures that this long-awaited rematch could still come to fruition on the biggest stage possible. Whenever this bitter rivalry seems cold, these two former stablemates interact, and draw viewers in again.

Their back and forth during the build to Rhodes vs. Reigns last year was still just as persuasive. Even more, Rollins' sacrifice at The Show of Shows should've convinced most detractors that the juice was worth the squeeze.

His subsequent refusal to help The OG Bloodline in the weeks ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames proved this is still the way to go, but their exchange in this year's men's Royal Rumble cemented it. WWE must capitalize on their storied tension in 2025.

After his longtime friend turned enemy took Reigns out at the event, reports suggest that a star-studded triple-threat match with our next entry could be in the works. Still, a one-on-one bout with Rollins is long overdue.

1. CM Punk

CM Punk vs. Reigns is the match many of us thought would never happen after the Chicago native's controversial WWE exit in 2014.

However, it's the most suitable replacement for The Tribal Chief's highly-anticipated dream match with The Rock. Any other year, The Final Boss would top this list, but it seems abundantly clear that he doesn't plan to compete at WrestleMania 41.

Unless something changes again in the next two months, a showdown with Punk is the biggest potential matchup available. This a story ten years in the making, and their interactions last year garnered millions of views on YouTube.

The aftermath of their eliminations at Royal Rumble indicated that this is still the trajectory for both superstars. In addition, Paul Heyman still owes The Second City Saint a favor that could come into play at any moment.

As stated earlier, a triple-threat match featuring Rollins, Punk, and Reigns is the most plausible outcome. After all, The Visionary and The Straight Edge Superstar seemed destined to collide at Lincoln Financial Field last year, and their tension has continued to boil over in 2025.