After an intense conclusion to Raw, WWE has released off-air footage with a promo from Roman Reigns.
Reigns and CM Punk came face-to-face yet again ahead of their highly anticipated bout at WrestleMania 42. Following the end of the broadcast, Reigns grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd. He called Punk a “hypocrite” for pretending to keep it real with the fans and proceeded to insist his genuine love for them, unlike his opponent.
“Your Tribal Chief never lied to you. I’ve always kept it real,” Reigns said. “And there ain’t nothing real about that one there. I told you, he’ll say everything he can, but all you gotta do is jab him the right way and he’s a hypocrite.
“At WrestleMania, I remind him and the rest of the world who runs this company. At WrestleMania, in the main event, CM Punk will acknowledge me and he will apologize to my family. San Antonio, you’ve been wonderful. We love you. Look at this, all the way up, huh. This is what happens when the Tribal Chief comes to town. God bless you. Get home safe, your Tribal Chief loves you.”
The friction between the two men has only increased ahead of their showdown at WrestleMania 42. However, it seems there were some creative changes made to their planned confrontation on Raw last night. Reports suggest that after Punk’s disrespectful comments about Sika Anoa’i, Reigns was originally supposed to retaliate with a “darker response” referencing Larry — Punk’s dog who passed away in December 2025. That ultimately did not happen with Reigns instead mocking Punk’s age.
After winning the 2026 Royal Rumble, Reigns chose to challenge Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42. The two-night event is being held in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19.
CM Punk and Roman Reigns’ encounter on WWE Raw, as tense as it was, was reportedly not the original ending that was planned.
According to BodySlam+, the show-closing segment of Monday’s Raw was initially planned for a different creative direction. It was supposed to end with Reigns bringing up Punk’s dog, Larry, who passed away in December 2025, in a “darker response” than WWE ultimately ended up going with. This would be in retaliation to Punk’s comment about Reigns’ late father Sika Anoa’i a few weeks earlier.
After what transpired with Punk mentioning Reigns’ family, social media was flooded with people anticipating a rebuttal about Larry. It seems it was heavily considered for last night. But instead of the planned route, the Raw face-off saw Reigns mock Punk for being old. The confrontation ended with Punk punching Reigns in the face as security rushed out to separate the two men.
There’s been no word as to why WWE changed directions for the segment. Punk and Reigns are facing off for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42 this April. It’s expected to be the main event of night two on Sunday, April 19, though no official announcement has been made yet.
A fundraiser to honor CM Punk and AJ Lee’s late dog Larry has raised more than $50,000 to help support animal shelter PAWS Chicago.
From January 8 through February 7, Punk, PAWS Chicago, and pizza restaurant Piece Chicago partnered together to sell a pizza named “The Larry.” There were 730 pizzas sold in total, raising $51,100 for PAWS. The pizza was sold at $35 each, but each pie counted for a $70 donation with Piece donating $10 and six other donors matching that with their own $10 donations.
“Punk shared The Larry across his platform with passion, raising critical funds and further amplifying PAWS Chicago’s lifesaving work, which saves nearly 5,000 homeless dogs and cats every year. Thanks to CM Punk’s commitment, Piece sold 730 of Larry’s pizza, resulting in an incredible $51,100 raised for PAWS,” Piece Chicago announced.
“Thank you, CM Punk. You’ve helped give so many deserving pets the chance to live and bring joy to the lives they touch. You are our champion. Thanks to our amazing group of matching donors: Alison & Sean Fogarty, Laura Desmond, Leonard Goodman, Joe Mansueto, and Kristin K-Mac MacGregor.”
The Pizza, crafted by Punk, was a New Haven-style pie featuring red sauce, mozzarella, smoked Italian sausage, cupped pepperoni, and grated pecorino cheese.
Larry passed away in December 2025 after having been rescued by Punk and Lee from PAWS Chicago more than a decade earlier. The organization is the largest no-kill shelter in the Midwest.
Punk and Lee are both set to compete in their hometown of Chicago when WWE Elimination Chamber takes place at the United Center on February 28. Punk vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship and Becky Lynch vs. Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship have been confirmed for the PLE.
In an Instagram post today, AJ Lee shared a tribute to her late dog Larry.
Larry — who was adopted by Lee and her husband CM Punk more than a decade ago — passed away in December after living what Punk called a “long amazing life.” The gruff-looking dog became a cult favorite with Lee and Punk’s fans during his life as they posted pictures of Larry to social media and referenced him in their careers.
A fundraiser in honor of Larry is currently ongoing to benefit PAWS Chicago, where Larry was adopted from. Lee thanked everyone who has contributed and reflected on what Larry meant to her, sharing how he helped her get through tough moments. While half of her heart is gone following Larry’s passing, Lee encouraged everyone looking for a best friend that will make their day brighter to rescue a dog instead of buying one.
Thank you all who donated to animal rescue org @pawschicago in Larry’s memory.
Over a decade ago our Larry Talbot was surrendered there for doing the most. Multiple fosters gave up on him, one stating on record ‘I cannot allow this chaos in my home any longer’.A professional trainer called him ‘a lost cause’. He survived abuse and abandonment and was just misunderstood. We knew he was perfect for us. He snuggled on his terms, like a prickly cat. He stole entire pizzas and donuts off countertops and swallowed them whole like a snake. One time a little abuela saw him on the street, clutched her chest, and yelled ‘El Chupacabra!’ He helped get me out of the deepest depressive cycles and was the center of my happiest days. He went from discarded underdog to having his face plastered across billboards, the United Center, ASPCA campaigns, Rolling Stone, and had more action figures, merchandise, and fan art than most pro athletes. In his golden years, he grew the long beard of a wise wizard and became velcro, permanently attached to my lap. It was the greatest honor to become his emotional support after he spent so long being mine. I just know he’s now with my other furry angels Mugsy and Nacho, causing absolute f-ing mayhem.
I am not okay, half my heart is gone. I get really quiet and private during the hard stuff but I wanted to come on here and say, if you need a best friend who will make every day brighter, who will save your life right back, please adopt don’t shop. Rescue dogs are a special kind of magic.
After retiring from WWE in 2015, Lee made her return to the company last September. She’s taking a trepidatious approach to her wrestling schedule but has worked two matches so far. A singles bout against Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch could be in her future with the two having feuded since Lee’s return.
PAWS Chicago, Piece Pizzeria and CM Punk have partnered on a fundraising campaign this month in honor of Punk and AJ Lee’s dog, Larry.
Punk revealed last month that Larry had passed away nearly 11 years after Punk and Lee had rescued him in 2015 through PAWS, a no-kill shelter located in Punk’s hometown.
For all of January, a donation of $70 will be made to PAWS Chicago for every $35 specialty pie purchased. $10 of the $70 donation will come from proceeds of the sale, while the other $60 will be via matching donations from PAWS donors Bill Jacobs, Sean & Alison Fogarty, Laura Desmond, Leonard Goodman, Kristin MacGregor, and Joe Mansueto.
The specialty pizza available was crafted by Punk in honor of Larry. A description of the pizza reads:
“CM Punk crafted the January pizza in memory of his beloved PAWS dog Larry. ‘The Larry’ is a New Haven–style thin-crust pizza topped with tangy red sauce, mozzarella, Hot Doug’s signature smoked Italian sausage, Ezzo’s Cup & Char pepperoni, and finished with grated aged Pecorino for the perfect balance of chewy, crispy, smoky, and savory. Rescued from PAWS Chicago in 2015, this pizza celebrates the joy and unconditional love Larry brought into the world, while creating second chances for dogs and cats still waiting.”
PAWS promoted the fundraising campaign on Instagram earlier this week. They shared the following story of Larry’s rescue:
“In 2014, Larry was surrendered to PAWS Chicago. He wasn’t an ‘everybody’ kind of dog, but he was the perfect dog for somebody. Phil Brooks, or CM Punk as you may know him, was that somebody. Phil adopted Larry in 2015. He was loved to the fullest, celebrated for exactly who he was, and amassed fans from all over the world — how many rescue dogs can you say have their own action figure! He reminded us every day that adoption changes lives, for pets and their people. ‘The Larry’ is a way to honor his memory while giving other dogs and cats the same opportunity to find a loving home by sending a $70 donation to PAWS for every $35 pizza sold. Our greatest thanks to Phil, @piecechicago , and the matching donors for making this possible ❤️ For more information, please visit pawschicago.org/piece-pizza”
Larry Hennig, the father of Curt Hennig and one of the biggest stars in the history of the AWA, passed away earlier today at the age of 82.
Hennig attended Robbindale High School in Minneapolis, the alma mater of Verne Gagne. He was the state heavyweight wrestling champion in high school, and Gagne recruited him into pro wrestling when Hennig had turned down college football and wrestling offers because he already had his first child and had to work to earn money to support a wife and family.
He wrestled in the Midwest most of his career, and eventually was brought into the AWA in 1960 as Gagne’s protege. He briefly held the AWA tag team titles with Duke Hoffman, but in 1963, he became a heel, “Pretty Boy” Larry Hennig, forming a tag team with “Handsome” Harley Race, which helped carry the territory for several years, working against all the top area babyfaces. Hennig & Race, taunted as The Dolly Sisters, had one of the biggest feuds in AWA history with Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher, which was really the feud that made Bruiser & Crusher tag team legends.
Hennig & Race were the top heel team in the AWA from 1963 to 1968, and held the tag team titles three times. They were considered among the top tag teams in the world during that period.
Hennig & Race teamed in other parts of the world, including Australia, which was the hottest wrestling market in the world, as IWA tag team champions.
After missing several months due to a knee injury from a match with Johnny Powers, an injury that would plague him the rest of his life, Hennig returned. Eventually Race returned home to Kansas City, where he became that circuit’s biggest star. Hennig formed a tag team with “Luscious” Lars Anderson, a former college wrestling star whose real name was Larry Heineimi. They were the No. 2 heel team in the AWA, first behind Mad Dog & Butcher Vachon, and then behind Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel. After Anderson left, Hennig formed a tag team with Dusty Rhodes, which broke up when Dick Murdoch came to the AWA and started teaming with Rhodes.
He had a singles run in WWWF, working against champions Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino, where he got the nickname Larry “The Axe” Hennig, dropping the “Pretty Boy” name. His winning move, a clothesline, was called the axe.
In 1974, he made a babyface turn, saving Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell from a beating from Stevens & Bockwinkel & Bobby Heenan. His explanation was that he had kids, and that he wouldn’t want to see people beating on his own kids.
He was babyface Larry “The Axe” Hennig for rest of his career, which ended in early 1986 due to neck and knee problems. His full-time wrestling days ended in 1978 and he concentrated on other businesses. He came back in 1982 to do some bouts in the AWA and work for a time as a tag team with his son in Oregon. He and his son worked as a regular tag team in the AWA in 1984 and 1985, often wrestling The Road Warriors.
At 6-foot-3 and close to 300 pounds and with his wrestling background, he was considered one of the tougher guys in the business.
During the mid-70s, he moved his family to Phoenix to try and start a pro wrestling company there. He also worked in real estate both during and after his wrestling career.
Hennig was a regular at the Cauliflower Alley Club and the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame ceremonies, where he had served as an M.C. He was a great storyteller, with his real life hatred of Verne Gagne often being the source of many of his stories. He took the death of his son Curt in 2003 very hard.
His grandson, Joe Hennig, works in WWE as Curtis Axel, with Axel being a tribute to his grandfather. Larry would regularly attend WWE shows in the Twin Cities.
He had another son, Jesse, who briefly wrestled, as well as a granddaughter, Joe’s sister Amy, who also wrestled.
