Roman Reigns has opened up about the emotional difficulty of losing his record-breaking Undisputed WWE Universal Championship reign to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, admitting that even years later, the moment remains hard to fully process.
Reigns’ reign, which stretched an extraordinary 1,316 days, stands as one of the longest world title runs in WWE history. The Tribal Chief’s dominance defined an era of WWE programming, with Reigns holding the title across multiple WrestleManias before Rhodes finally completed his multi-year pursuit by defeating him at WrestleMania 40.
Speaking on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Reigns reflected on how surreal it felt to see that chapter of his career come to a close, according to Ringside News. The outlet reported that Reigns admitted there were moments when he simply could not believe the reign was actually ending, underscoring just how deeply intertwined his identity had become with the championship over more than three and a half years at the top of WWE’s card.
What the Loss Meant for Cody Rhodes
Rhodes’ victory over Reigns at WrestleMania 40 capped off a storyline that had run since his WWE return, built around his pursuit of finishing a story his family had not been able to complete. Defeating Reigns at the height of his championship reign gave Rhodes a signature career-defining win and positioned him as the new face of WWE’s championship picture.
For Reigns, the loss marked the end of an era rather than the end of his presence at the top level of WWE. The length and significance of the reign, now firmly established as part of WWE record books, continues to shape how both men are positioned in ongoing storylines involving the Bloodline and WWE’s championship scene.
Reigns’ comments offer a rare glimpse into how a performer processes the conclusion of such a lengthy and historically significant title run, even as he continues to be positioned as a top attraction within WWE programming following the loss.
