Trick Williams has wasted no time making his presence felt on the WWE main roster, and now the rising star has made his ultimate ambition crystal clear. During a recent appearance on the Ebro, Laura, and Rosenberg podcast, Williams named Roman Reigns as his dream opponent, pointing to the Original Tribal Chief as the measuring stick for everything he wants to accomplish in professional wrestling.
Williams’ path to this moment has been defined by a willingness to pursue the best competition available at every stage of his career. He walked on to the University of South Carolina football team, chased an NFL opportunity as an undrafted free agent and has brought that same relentless mentality into the wrestling business. Naming Reigns as his ideal opponent is entirely consistent with that philosophy.
A career built on facing the best
Williams made his presence known immediately after his call up from WWE NXT at the end of 2025. His debut on SmackDown was marked by an audacious move that put the entire roster on notice when he interrupted Randy Orton, one of the most decorated performers in the history of the industry.
Speaking to 107.7 The Bone about standing opposite the Viper, Williams was direct in his admiration for Orton’s legendary status while also making clear that reverence would never translate into hesitation. The moment captured exactly what Williams is about: seeking out the highest level of competition and backing himself to belong there.
Since that debut, Williams has continued to build his reputation with high profile appearances alongside performers including Randy Orton, Sami Zayn and Damian Priest, including a standout performance in a fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He is also set to compete in the Elimination Chamber match in Chicago, where he will face five other competitors for a title shot opportunity at WrestleMania.
Why Roman Reigns represents the ultimate challenge
Williams’ admiration for Reigns is grounded in the specifics of what the Original Tribal Chief accomplished during his historic run at the top of WWE. Reigns held the top championship for 1,316 consecutive days, a dominant reign that reshaped the company’s storytelling and redefined what it means to be the face of professional wrestling. For Williams, that level of sustained excellence is exactly the standard he is measuring himself against.
Reigns is confirmed for WrestleMania 42, scheduled for April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He will challenge CM Punk for the WWE World Heavyweight Title in what will mark his sixth consecutive WrestleMania main event appearance, a remarkable streak that underscores why Williams identified him as the pinnacle of the business.
The Reigns and Punk rivalry intensify.
The road to WrestleMania 42 has taken on a sharply personal edge in recent weeks. CM Punk escalated his feud with Reigns on Monday Night Raw with deeply personal remarks aimed at the champion, raising the emotional stakes of their upcoming championship match considerably. The intensity of that rivalry only adds to the spectacle surrounding the event and reinforces why a match against Reigns carries the kind of significance Williams is clearly chasing.
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Trick Williams for now is focused on his own path through the WrestleMania season, but his declaration that he wants to eventually share the ring with the Original Tribal Chief signals exactly what kind of career he is building. The hunger, the confidence and the willingness to name the best performer in the business as his ultimate goal suggests that Williams is thinking well beyond his first few months on the main roster.
