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In the main event of WrestleMania 37, Roman Reigns defeated Edge and Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship. It was a dominant display from WWE's biggest star on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Reigns stacked Edge and Bryan over one another, pinning both men before celebrating his victory with fireworks in the Tampa sky. His emphatic victory confirms The Tribal Chief as the undisputed face of WWE.
But what's next for Roman Reigns? After such a strong showing, who could match up to the Universal Champion?
Quite a few Superstars could step up to challenge him in the next few months, even if they might not win the title. And honestly, Reigns should remain Universal Champion for as long as possible. Maybe even until the next WrestleMania.
Meanwhile, he can still tell some compelling stories with a variety of opponents. Here are five possible opponents for Roman Reigns after his dominant victory at WrestleMania 37.
#5 Seth Rollins could challenge Roman Reigns
Yes, Seth Rollins lost at WrestleMania. But when has that ever mattered in determining the world title's challenger after WrestleMania? The Messiah lost to Kevin Owens at last year's Show of Shows but challenged Drew McIntyre at Money in the Bank. There are many other examples.
The biggest reason why Rollins could get a crack at Roman Reigns is the history they share. The two were a part of The Shield and dominated WWE together until Rollins stabbed Reigns and Dean Ambrose in the back.
Rollins and Reigns have feuded a few times, and the matches always delivered, particularly at Money in the Bank 2016. That bout was a classic and could get repeated at this year's ladder match pay-per-view. Seth Rollins is currently a heel, but he could transition into a face through a feud with his former Shield brother.
Roman Reigns brings out the best in his opponents, which would ideally lead to an effective face turn for The Architect. It makes for an intriguing story.
#4 Samoa Joe could leave commentary to target Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is part of a Samoan wrestling dynasty, with him being one of many members of his family to be a part of WWE. Some of his famous relatives include Rikishi, Yokozuna, and The Rock. Almost all Samoan wrestlers have relatives in the business, but not all.
Samoa Joe is the exception as he is apart from the Anoa'i family and stands alone. He may step up to Reigns and fight for his Samoan pride. According to a report from Andrew Zarian from the Mat Men Podcast, Joe might not be a commentator on RAW anymore.
This means the former United States Champion could move to SmackDown, getting closer to Reigns. Samoa Joe could either imminently return to the ring, or WWE could build it. He could have a problem with The Tribal Chief's attitude, blasting him in commentary.
Eventually, Joe could leave the desk and attack Reigns. He can be an excellent fiery babyface, a role he has barely gotten to play in the company. The intensity would be off the charts if Roman Reigns feuds with Samoa Joe after WrestleMania, with killer promos galore.
#3 Jimmy Uso could return and step up to Roman Reigns
After Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship in a triple threat against The Fiend and Braun Strowman, his first challenger was his returning cousin. Jey Uso grabbed the opportunity with both hands and excelled as a babyface opposite the villainous Tribal Chief.
However, Uso eventually relented and fell in line. He is now Reigns' right-hand man and a good one at that. The six-time WWE Tag Team Champion played a pivotal role in the main event of WrestleMania, helping Roman Reigns retain his Universal Title.
So Reigns' first challenger after the big match could just be his returning cousin. This time, Jimmy Uso could step up to the plate. He has been out injured for over a year and was last seen at Hell in a Cell, where he indirectly caused his brother to lose an "I Quit" Match to Reigns.
Jimmy can object to the way his cousins are ruling SmackDown with an iron fist, even convincing Jey to see the light. He can have a competitive match or two against Roman Reigns before eventually falling in line. The endgame would be The Usos reuniting as heels alongside the Head of the Table.
#2 Finn Balor could jump from NXT to challenge Roman Reigns
This may seem like an odd choice, but it isn't out of the question. Finn Balor lost the NXT Championship to Karrion Kross at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. And it seems like his time on the black-and-gold brand might be over.
Balor has done everything possible for a star of his caliber during his second run in NXT, from turning heel and back to embarking on a stellar title reign. He could return to RAW or SmackDown following WrestleMania. The Irishman is a much bigger star now than he was when he left the WWE main roster.
Finn Balor would be a smart push, not unlike his 2016 debut, which saw him defeat Roman Reigns on his first night on RAW. He became the Universal Champion within a month but had to relinquish the title due to injury. WWE has a second chance with a world-class talent that it shouldn't squander.
Balor could return to SmackDown and quickly gain enough momentum to take on the Universal Champion. Reigns has not had a bad match since he returned last year, and a potential match against the two-time NXT Champion could be one of his best.
#1 Cesaro could face Roman Reigns after his stellar WrestleMania performance
There are myriad choices for Roman Reigns' next challenger. But the best of them might be Cesaro. He has never looked this good in WWE. The Swiss Superman took on Seth Rollins on Night One of WrestleMania and earned the biggest win of his career.
He got one of the best crowd reactions on the show. WWE must capitalize on Cesaro's momentum and continue to push him. He has delivered spectacularly so far and should progress to the main event, where the Universal Champion will be waiting.
Roman Reigns and Cesaro have had great matches of their own in the past. If they face off for the world title, the match will blow all their previous encounters out of the water. The two are on the best runs of their respective careers. Cesaro also fits the bill as a persistent babyface who can trouble Reigns.
Who do you want to see Roman Reigns defend the Universal Championship against next? Are you a fan of his dominant title reign? Sound off in the comments below.
