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It looks almost certain that WWE's Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, is set to leave the WWE after SummerSlam, where he will defend his title against Roman Reigns. Lesnar is reportedly booked for three shows - the RAW go-home show of SummerSlam, SummerSlam, and the RAW after SummerSlam.
Since re-signing with the WWE in 2012, Lesnar has gone on to have several achievements, including ending The Undertaker's "Streak", and also becoming the longest-reigning WWE Champion in the modern era.
The entire WWE landscape is set to change after Lesnar leaves the company as the WWE will embark on a new direction, which will most likely see Roman Reigns as the "face" of the WWE.
But, what are the other things the WWE should do post-Lesnar? Here are 5 things WWE should do after Brock Lesnar leaves:
#1 Universal Championship Open Challenge every week
Brock Lesnar has defended the Universal title just five times this year, which is a shocking number considering how the title is the most important title in the WWE.
John Cena, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles have all issued Open Challenges during their reigns as US or Intercontinental champions, and adding an Open Challenge to the most prestigious belt in the WWE will only add more value to the Universal Championship and to RAW.
With the likes of Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Kevin Owens and Drew McIntyre all waiting in the wings to be at the top of the card, there could be several great match-ups for the Universal Championship.
Add to that list a returning Dean Ambrose, and maybe NXT stars like Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Aleister Black, or Tommaso Ciampa, and that's a roster filled with future Universal Champions!
#2 Not put a belt on a part-timer
One of the biggest criticisms that WWE has received from fans and pundits is of putting the Universal title on a part-timer like Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar has made few appearances and defended his title even fewer times. The WWE and Vince McMahon should refrain from going down this road once again as it does not go down well with the fans, who want to see WWE titles defended at every PPV, and a champion who shows up on RAW or SmackDown Live.
So, WWE putting the title on part-timers like John Cena, Goldberg (if he does return to the WWE), or any other part-timer (The Rock wants a return to the WWE; please, WWE, don't... just don't) could be disastrous for the brand.
#3 Give championship opportunities organically
WWE fans don't like Superstars pushed down their throat, evidenced by one Superstar (*cough* Reigns *cough) on the roster who has faced backlash over the last few years.
It's not Reigns' fault that he has faced brickbats from a majority of the WWE Universe, but it's up to the WWE to make the decision to not offer opportunities to those that the fans aren't behind (unless it evokes an unpopular reaction for a certain Superstar who has turned heel).
On RAW, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Braun Strowman are the darlings of the WWE Universe, and fans have been clamouring to see them battle it out for the Universal championship. It helps that Rollins and Balor are fantastic wrestlers, while Strowman is a beast of a human (and who doesn't like a Superstar who can throw other wrestlers like ragdolls, huh?) who has won the hearts of the fans.
WWE, give the fans what they want!
As for Roman Reigns...
#4 Turn Roman Reigns heel
... this is the best option right now. Reigns already gets massive heat from the WWE Universe, so why not give them what they want? The Big Dog, for all his criticism, is a good wrestler in the ring and his mic work has improved significantly over the last few months.
You don't have to be a face to be popular in the WWE; NXT's Tommaso Ciampa is a prime example of that.
Perhaps Reigns can align with the McMahons, reminiscent of what happened during the Attitude Era, and more recently between Seth Rollins and The Authority.
Turning Reigns heel could make things interesting on RAW as there aren't too many great heels on RAW apart from Kevin Owens.
#5 No longer the land of the "big men"
After the introduction of NXT, WWE's strategy to hire new talent has changed quite significantly. Gone are the days when a wrestler had to be tall and look like he could kill you to qualify as a top-level Superstar.
Finn Balor, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens have shown that WWE have gone in a different direction and like Superstars who are skilful, quick and acrobatic in the ring. The fans seem to love it too! It perhaps didn't seem legitimate and believable that Lesnar, one of the hardest men in the WWE and UFC, could be defeated by someone like Balor.
We could perhaps see a "smaller" champion rule the WWE now that Lesnar is set to leave.
Yes, Braun Strowman still deserves to be Universal Champion, but that's because he's athletically superior and quicker than most big men (maybe the beard helps, too).
