(Update on Saturday at 6:47 p.m. ET: The scheduled main event between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar will no longer be taking place due to Reigns testing positive for COVID-19. However, Lesnar remains on the show and will be part of the five-person WWE title match which features champion Big E, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Seth Rollins.)
Pro wrestling fans were salivating when Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar locked horns at October's Crown Jewel for the Universal championship.
In a back-and-forth slugfest, the match came down to Reigns and Lesnar on the mat and former advocate for the latter and the special counsel to the Samoan didn't know which guy to help. Torn between both, Heyman slid the belt inside the middle of the ring. After a tug of war that resulted in Lesnar being moments away from regaining the belt, Reigns' cousins and members of The Bloodline, The Usos, attacked "The Beast" and helped their cousin retain the title. The following night on SmackDown, Lesnar attacked Reigns, The Usos, WWE personal. His actions forced WWE official Adam Pearce to suspend Lesnar indefinitely. Lesnar went beserk and delivered a beating to Pearce, which resulted in a $1 million fine. The punishment didn't last long as Lesnar returned on the Dec. 3 edition of SmackDown and set his sights on a rematch with Reigns.
Before Sami Zayn faced Reigns on the same show, Lesnar convinced Zayn to take the match that evening. WWE official Sonya Deville declared Lesnar would face the winner at Day 1. Lesnar pummeled Zayn before the bout started. Reigns strolled down, picked up the scraps to retain the gold, and now will meet Lesnar on New Year's Day in the main event of Day 1. But there's an added twist.
On the Dec. 17 edition of SmackDown, Reigns made his return to the show after being gone the previous week. That show featured Lesnar and Heyman being chummy like when they were together in the past. Reigns questioned Heyman's loyalty to him and believed he orchestrated Lesnar's return and moonlighted on Lesnar's behalf. Heyman told Reigns it was done to protect him from Lesnar. Reigns didn't want to hear any of it and fired Heyman and delivered a Superman Punch. He was about to beat Heyman with a chair before Lesnar's music hit, took care of The Usos, and hit a massive F5 on Reigns to close the show.
Reigns and Lesnar are no strangers to one another. They have squared off in the main events of WrestleMania 31, WrestleMania 34, and SummerSlam 2018.
Lesnar returned after 16-months hiatus at SummerSlam in August when he confronted Reigns and Heyman after Reigns beat John Cena in the show's main event.
It's hard to predict which way WWE will lean in terms of a winner as it would appear this won't be the last time we see this matchup.
Here is everything you need to know about WWE Day 1.
What time does WWE Day 1 start?
Date: Saturday, Jan. 1
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Day 1 begins with the kickoff show starting at 7 p.m. ET and the main show getting underway at 8 p.m. ET. The card is expected to last around four hours.
How to watch WWE Day 1
United States: Peacock, PPV
Everywhere but the U.S.: WWE Network (Premium subscription), $44.99 (PPV)
Day 1 will be live on Peacock in the United States as the WWE Network transferred to the NBC streaming service in March. You can purchase a premium subscription for $4.99 per month.
If you don't have capable internet speeds, you can order Day 1 through your cable or satellite provider at a pay-per-view price of $44.99.
Where is WWE Day 1?
Day 1 takes place from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
WWE Day 1 match card
- WWE Champion Big E vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins in a five-way match
- SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
- Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss
- Edge vs. The Miz
- SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and King Woods)