Jim Ross has praised Roman Reigns following his victory at the 2026 Royal Rumble. The “Tribal Chief” secured his second Rumble win in Saudi Arabia, punching his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania 42. Ross, a longtime advocate for athletes with legitimate sports backgrounds, spoke highly of Reigns’ presentation and pedigree.
Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross explained why he liked the decision to have Reigns win the match. He noted that Reigns’ character had felt somewhat dormant recently, making the victory a timely reminder of his status.
“I liked it. I don’t want to sound like a you know, it all, but I had a sneaking feeling because his character’s TV persona seemed to be a little bit dormant,” Ross said. “So with that said, I thought that he was probably due; he’s still a big-time player and making a bunch of money, which is good for him.”
Ross also highlighted Reigns’ football background as a positive, reiterating his belief that college athletes often make for better professional wrestlers due to their discipline.
“I like that kid. I think he’s sharp. I of course, any of the rest are sons that go play college football move up a notch or two in my book. And he certainly has done that,” Ross stated. “He’s articulate, he’s smart, he keeps himself in great shape. So I think it was a good move.”
With Reigns now set to face CM Punk potentially on night two of WrestleMania, Ross expressed excitement for the matchup, praising both men as reliable “game day players.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Grilling JR with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
