Roman Reigns: 2024 year in review and what’s next for the Tribal Chief in 2025

In 2024, Roman Reigns made history with record-breaking performances, despite wrestling only six matches. As he heads into 2025, fans eagerly anticipate him reclaiming his place at the head of the table amid personal challenges and other pursuits.

When 2024 began, Roman Reigns was the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and unquestioned leader of his tribe. As the year ended, he no longer held WWE’s top prize or his Ula Fala, the sacred Samoan necklace symbolizing his authority within the Bloodline. Still, Reigns broke records and became WWE’s most popular star while away on a four-month sabbatical.

In 2024, Roman Reigns officially became Mr. WrestleMania. Last April, he headlined both nights of WrestleMania XL, making it the most successful event in WWE history. In doing so, Reigns surpassed Hulk Hogan for the most main event appearances in WrestleMania history, bringing his total to nine. In November, he headlined the Survivor Series, helping to set what Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque said was an all-time North American gate record for WWE.

But maybe the most surprising statistic is the record Reigns set for himself. In 2024, Reigns wrestled in only six matches, the fewest of his career in a single year. Equally as surprising, he had just one singles match, which was against Cody Rhodes at Night 2 of WrestleMania, where he lost the Undisputed Championship.

Aside from his match with Rhodes, Reigns mostly fought in multi-man matches, mainly team competition. At the Royal Rumble, he successfully defended the Undisputed Title in a Fatal 4-Way Match. In the main event of Night 1 at WrestleMania, he and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins. After making a spectacular return at SummerSlam, Reigns teamed with Rhodes at Bad Blood in October, beating Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.

Reigns’ only loss in a team match came at Crown Jewel, as he and the Usos were defeated by Sikoa and his Bloodline, with Reigns taking the pin. At the Survivor Series, again in team warfare, he avenged the loss, beating Sikoa inside WarGames. For the year, Reigns finished with a 4-2 record.

As the New Year begins, Reigns will likely aim to reclaim his spot at the head of the table. But the big question is: will fans see more or less of the Tribal Chief in the year ahead?

Reigns begins his 2025 campaign on Jan. 6 at Raw’s Netflix debut, where he’ll face Sikoa in Tribal Combat for the Ula Fala and the title of Tribal Chief. Reigns is featured on the 2025 Royal Rumble poster, hinting at his participation in the event. He’s also expected to compete on at least one night of the two-night WrestleMania. With SummerSlam also scheduled for two nights in 2025, Reigns is likely to appear on at least one night.

At the very least, fans can expect to see Reigns in action four times in the coming year. That number could rise if he performs in Saudi Arabia, where he has appeared at 10 of WWE’s 12 premium live events since 2018. Should he make more appearances at live events, as he did in 2023, or at other premium events, such as Bad Blood, Reigns could push his total match count for 2025 into double digits.

Of course, this assumes that other factors don’t pull Reigns from the ring. Last year, while he was away, Reigns filmed a role in the upcoming Keanu Reeves film Good Fortune. Based on the feedback from his co-stars, Hollywood could come calling at any moment. Additionally, Reigns’ health will continue to play a crucial role in his future decisions.

When discussing Reigns’ status as a part-timer, one must remember the personal challenges he faces. During a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings in 2007, Reigns was diagnosed with leukemia. After going into remission, Reigns faced another battle with the disease in 2018.

During WrestleMania weekend last April, concerns about his health became a topic of conversation. However, Reigns put any worries to bed, revealing how he continues to battle leukemia. “I’m still on oral chemotherapy,” said Reigns. “It’s a medication that I’m going to have to remain on my entire life, most likely. So yeah, that’s just a part of my personal battle.”

In the past, Reigns has talked about suffering from nausea and arthritis as part of the side effects of his medication. To what degree his daily struggle plays in his scheduling is unknown. But as he expressed at Night 1’s WrestleMania press conference, as long as he’s healthy, he’s good to go.

“Thank God, I’m still able to perform. I think anybody in my position would say health is wealth, and as long as I can continue to perform, then you already know that’s at bay,” said Reigns.

As every calendar reveals, not every day is a holiday, and 2025 is no exception. But like rare celebrations such as Christmas and New Year, Roman Reigns’ in-ring appearances are equally special. Each time the Tribal Chief steps into the ring, it’s a moment to rejoice and appreciate the best of pro wrestling. Regardless of how often he competes in the coming year, every match will be a reason to cheer, with ones raised high for the GOAT of all GOATs.