Roman Reigns Returns to WWE: A New Alliance Formed on Raw?

WWE promoted a Gauntlet Match to determine the No. 1 contender for the World Title. Bron Breakker ran through everyone -- including Penta, LA Knight, and Jey Uso -- until it came to CM Punk. With help from Bronson Reed, it looked like Punk was outnumbered. Jey Uso came to the ring to help even things up, which was enough for Punk to hit the GTS and get the win. As a result of his victory, he will now face Gunther at SummerSlam.

The winner, however, wasn't the big surprise of the evening.

When chaos erupted after the match, Reigns' music hit to a thunderous ovation. He stormed the ring and sent both Breakker and Reed reeling with spears and Superman punches. The heels cleared, leaving Reigns to help his cousin to his feet. Eventually, a confused Punk stood up too, closing the show with all three in the ring, seemingly on the same side. What did this mean? Is a new alliance being formed?

What Is the Plan For SummerSlam?

Speculation was that Reigns was set to return, although other reports had him coming back a bit later and closer to SummerSlam weekend. His early arrival has taken fans and insiders by surprise, leaving questions about what's next. The timing could have something to do with the unfortunate injury suffered by Seth Rollins at Saturday Night's Main Event, leaving the possibility open that Reigns will team with Jey Uso to take on Breakker and Reed.

It was clear from the fans' reaction that Reigns' return is a massive plus. With Rollins out, Reigns can be the face of Raw leading into the biggest show of the summer. Where WWE takes things with Uso, Punk, and Gunther will be intriguing. Where Paul Heyman -- Reigns' former Wiseman -- and the rest of Rollins' crew fits into the puzzle could be one of the major storylines for SummerSlam.