5 potential challengers for Braun Strowman's Universal Championship

#4. Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn

There is a solid argument that the last person to defeat the current WWE Universal Champion should be the number one contender for SmackDown's richest prize. Step in, the current WWE Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn defeated Braun Strowman, along with his Artist Collective breatherens Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura, to win his first WWE Intercontinental Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber in March 2020.

Despite the match being a 3-on-1 handicap match, and having considerable assistance from Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn was the competitor to score the pinfall on the 'Monster Among Men' after flooring Braun Strowman with a version of his Helluva Kick finisher.

Fast forward to WrestleMania 36. While Braun Strowman is winning his first WWE Universal Championship by defeating Goldberg, Sami Zayn also retains his WWE Intercontinental Championship by defeating Daniel Bryan, a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion in his own right, on the very same night.

Therefore, Sami Zayn has momentum on his side after his Intercontinental Championship defense at WrestleMania, and also possibly has the number of the current Universal Champion. Whilst Braun Strowman may want to fix the previous loss to Sami Zayn on his record, the current Intercontinental Champion may want to join the likes of The Ultimate Warrior in holding the Intercontinental Championship and a World Championship at the very same time.