Roman Reigns - CM Punk's promo battle; Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu; update on Royce Keys & more: WWE Rumor Roundup (March 18, 2026)
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
Let’s look at the latest WWE rumors circulating on social media ahead of WrestleMania 42!
Speculation and rumors are among the favorite pastimes of WWE fans worldwide. Fans from all over the world enjoy discussing and debating various aspects of the world of pro wrestling. The rumor mill is running in full effect ahead of WrestleMania 42, which, as usual, will feature top names.
In today’s edition of the roundup, we cover the latest rumors and news circulating among fans on social media, including Roman Reigns – CM Punk’s promo battle, Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu, update on Royce Keys, and more
Roman Reigns – CM Punk’s promo battle
According to Bodyslam, instead of taking aim at CM Punk’s age during the recent edition of Raw, Roman Reigns was reportedly set to fire back at Punk’s comments about his late father with a much more cutting and personal remark, one referencing Larry, Punk’s deceased dog.
The aforementioned segment between the two on the March 16 episode of WWE Raw saw Roman Reigns gain the upper hand on the mic, provoking CM Punk to the point where he snapped and dropped Reigns with a right hand.
Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu & Night of Champions
Dave Meltzer clarified on Wrestling Observer Radio that although WWE SmackDown is featuring a match between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu, it is primarily being used to build toward a bigger showdown between them at WrestleMania 42.
After Drew interfered in Fatu’s match against Trick Williams last week, General Manager Nick Aldis announced the match between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu for the upcoming episode of SmackDown.
According to Post Wrestling, the Night of Champions PLE is tentatively planned for June 27 in Saudi Arabia, provided that ongoing regional conflicts don’t interfere.
Je’Von Evans inclusion at WrestleMania & update on Royce Keys
According to Self Made Pro, Je’Von Evans is likely included in the multi-man match planned for Penta’s Intercontinental championship at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
This report comes after WrestleVotes reported that a multi-match is planned for the Intercontinental title at Mania, the title which is currently held by Penta.
According to Fightful Select, WWE was reportedly “insistent” on bringing Royce Keys directly to the main roster rather than having him start in NXT. Keys has not made any appearance on either Raw or SmackDown since making his debut at the Royal Rumble.
The report also highlighted that he isn’t alone in this treatment, with talents like Penta and Rey Fenix having received the same treatment. Additionally, apart from appearing on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast and being scanned for WWE 2K, Keys has been traveling to weekly shows and working dark matches.
What were the original plans for the segment between Roman Reigns & CM Punk?
Per Bodyslam, instead of taking aim at CM Punk’s age during the recent edition of Raw, Roman Reigns was reportedly set to fire back at Punk’s comments about his late father with a much more cutting and personal remark, one referencing Larry, Punk’s deceased dog.
Is Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu still planned for WrestleMania?
Yes, per Dave Meltzer, the match on SmackDown this week is primarily being used to build toward a bigger showdown between them at WrestleMania 42.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.