Who Is Roman Reigns’ Father? CM Punk’s WWE Raw Comment Explained

Sika Anoa’i Is Roman Reigns’ Father

First things first: Roman Reigns — real name Joe Anoa’i — is the son of Sika Anoaʻi.

Sika was one half of The Wild Samoans alongside his brother Afa. Long before The Usos and The Bloodline era, The Wild Samoans were the team that helped establish the Anoa’i name in major promotions, wrestling in the NWA and WWF from the 1970s through the early 1990s.

In a tragic bit of symmetry, Sika and Afa passed away just two months apart in 2024, both due to heart-related issues.

“Bury” Has a Double Meaning in Wrestling

If you’re newer to wrestling terminology, “bury” carries insider meaning.

To “bury” someone isn’t literal — it means to intentionally damage a wrestler’s momentum or credibility. It’s the opposite of a push. A buried talent loses status in the eyes of fans.

Punk’s line also subtly references history.

When The Shield debuted in 2012, Punk was one of WWE’s top stars. Roman Reigns was the handpicked project of Vince McMahon. There have long been stories that Punk wasn’t thrilled about Reigns being positioned as the future face of the company.

That’s what makes the line interesting — and slightly hollow.

Punk has never truly been in a position to “bury” Reigns. Not in 2012. And certainly not in 2026.

Did CM Punk Go Too Far?

This is where it becomes subjective.

There’s always risk when family — especially deceased family members — enters a storyline. Wrestling history shows that those lines can quickly feel like cheap heat.

In 2006, before his match with Rey Mysterio at No Way Out, Randy Orton referenced Eddie Guerrero in a way many felt crossed a line. Even years later, veterans like Jim Ross have described it as being in poor taste.

Politics, religion, and family — especially death — are rarely necessary to generate real heat. Punk and Reigns don’t need it. Their tension already feels authentic.

That said, if Reigns approved the line beforehand, it becomes a strategic storytelling device rather than a reckless jab. Used sparingly, it can reinforce the psychological angle being played — Punk trying to get under Reigns’ skin and inside his head.

What’s undeniable is this: that’s a heel line.

Both Punk and Reigns are operating in that tweener space, shifting depending on crowd reaction. But even in pro-Punk arenas, comments like that are hard to deliver repeatedly without tilting fully into villain territory.

Roman Reigns is next scheduled to appear on the March 16 episode of WWE Raw in San Antonio.

After a line like that, a simple rebuttal won’t be enough. I'll be watching closely to see where this goes next.