'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Universal Championship is one of the prestigious titles, WWE has in its possession and has a lot of stories revolving around it. The belt at present is held by Brock Lesnar and has observed loads of feuds and various competitions among the wrestlers to own this title. The championship is hardly two years old but has gained more popularity than several other belts in the industry.
However, just like any other championship in WWE, the Universal Championship has a lot of history, undisclosed facts, rivalries and several controversies which the fans often remain unaware of. In this article, we present you five such existing truths about the Universal Championship, which you may not have come across with.
So, here is the list of five points on the title.
#5 It is a World Heavyweight Championship on RAW
The management along with the creative team of WWE has made it amply clear to the WWE universe, that the Universal Champion will be of the highest priority on Monday night RAW. It has been designated the stature of World Championship and is the sole world championship in RAW. The title was created because a situation arose when SmackDown had the WWE Championship as its world Championship but RAW had none.
Though just two years old, the title has gained more popularity and has been in more focus than the WWE Championship. In fact, the RAW tag team Championship and the Intercontinental Championship are nowhere close to the Universal Championship when ratings or popularity is taken into account. Since it enjoys the status of a world championship it has headlined several pay-per-views and main events and thus outsmarts any other championship in the WWE today.
#4 Replacement to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Many viewers of the WWE might not have a clarity on the origination of the Universal Championship and the deactivation of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The dots can be connected in both the cases, as both the incidents are interlinked. When Randy Orton became the final World Heavyweight champion, he was also the WWE champion as well. The undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion was titled as the WWE championship and thus the World Heavyweight Championship retired shortly afterwards.
This caused a crisis as RAW was left without a World Championship. It was then Stephanie McMahon the then commissioner and Mick Foley the general manager on Monday night RAW inaugurated the Universal Championship. The title was given the special status of a world championship and was named in recognition of the WWE 'Universe' as the Universal Championship.
#3 Finn Balor is the first Universal Champion
Most people think that Kevin Owens was the first ever Universal Champion in WWE, but the fact is Finn Balor is the first ever Universal Champion. On RAW, Balor defeated Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Rusev in a fatal-four way match. He had to face Roman Reigns, who too won a fatal-four way match, defeating Chris Jericho, Sami Zayn and Sheamus. The duo faced off each other where Balor prevailed and defeated Reigns.
This gave Finn Balor the opportunity to compete for the Universal title at the SummerSlam 2016 pay-per-view against Seth Rollins. Rollins and Balor battled each other and gave their cent percent to win the first ever Universal Championship. In the end, Finn Balor won the match and was the inaugural Universal Champion in WWE.
However, the following night on RAW, Balor vacated the Championship owing to a legitimate shoulder injury and this paved the way for Kevin Owens, who competed in a series of matches and became the new and second Universal Champion in WWE.
#2 Kevin Owens the youngest Champion and Goldberg the oldest Champion
The Universal title has changed hands four times from one wrestler to another in a span of one and a half years. The four wrestlers who won the championship belt are undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in their generation. However, the difference lies in the age of the youngest and the oldest wrestler of the Universal title, and it is almost 18 years.
While Kevin Owens became the second ever Universal Champion, he is also the youngest Universal Champion in WWE so far. He won the title when he was 32 years of age. However, he lost the title to none other than the legendary Goldberg at Fastlane pay-per-view in 2017. When Goldberg won the title from KO, he was 50 years of age. Thus, Goldberg is the oldest Universal title holder till date.
#1 Brock Lesnar is the longest reigning Universal Champion
Brock Lesnar is 'the beast' who conquers anything that lies in his path. He won the Universal title at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 from Goldberg. Ever since then he has competed and defended his title against some of the greatest wrestlers in the locker room. He retained his title by defeating the likes of Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Kane in several matches under different stipulations.
His reign at present has crossed 315 days and he is yet to lose the title to anyone. This is a record in itself as the previous World Heavyweight Champion was held by Batista for 282 days in a single reign. He has surpassed that record long back and this record of him will last long as there is no one at present who carries the same vigour as Lesnar does. Thus, he is the longest 'reigning, defending, undisputed' Universal Champion in a single reign in the history of WWE.
