WWE's Roman Reigns: CM Punk "Was Not As Good Or As Over" As The Rock, John Cena

Roman Reigns has said CM Punk "was not as good or as over" as The Rock and John Cena.

The Universal Champion was asked about WWE booking part-time stars in main event spots by BT Sport's Ariel Helwani, something CM Punk has vocally opposed in the past, and Reigns took a shot at The Straight Edge Superstar with his answer.

"I can see it from both perspectives. A rising tide raises all the boats, right? Everybody benefits. So I do think there's that strange threshold, but those statements are coming from bitter people who possibly thought that they were better than they really were. When it comes down to it, CM Punk was not as good or as over as John Cena and he wasn't as good or as over or moved the needle, like The Rock [did]. It just was what it was," Reigns said.

"From a full-time performer [perspective], I understand the frustration and wanting more but like I said before, you gotta take it. I am a full-time performer, but I've done everything that needs to be done to stay in this position, to be in this position, to continue to make the opportunities for myself to be in the main event of a SummerSlam against John Cena.

"If anybody ever comes along to try to push me out of that scenario, I'm going to fight like hell to keep the ground that I've made. It's one of those debatable -- we can go back and forth and we can change our perspective if you're one of those types of people who can see it in a different set of eyes, but I really think if more eyeballs are being brought to our product and of course, it depends on who it is, but a guy like John Cena who is starring in multiple movies this summer so -- and when it comes down to it, [John] earned the right, he's at that portion of his career where he is a part-time performer, I'm not going to complain. I'm just going to capitalise on him being here and everything he brings with that. That's the whole gimmick to me is this is John Cena. Why wouldn't I want him to be in the ring? Why wouldn't I want him to come to me?" he continued.

"This is the biggest movie star in the summer right now why wouldn't I? He came to me. He came to Roman Reigns. He wants to be in the ring with me, so I'm not going to complain about that. But I think other people who think they should have more, be more, and aren't willing to actually do it, they're going to have a different explanation than what I just gave you."

Reigns' comments come on the eve of CM Punk's expected return to professional wrestling. The former WWE Champion hasn't competed inside the squared circle since 2014, but he looks set to return during tonight's edition of AEW Rampage from Chicago's United Center.

H/T to Fightful