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The Universal title has been quite controversial since its reveal in 2016 after the brand split. Many fans were unhappy with the design, claiming it was just a red version of the WWE Championship. It was pretty much described as 'ugly'. But that did not stop WWE from using the title, which has since been the main title on RAW ever since then.
It also has a reputation for being a cursed title as well. The inaugural champion Finn Balor had to relinquish the title the very next day on RAW due to an injury suffered during the mach to crown the inaugural Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016 vs Seth Rollins.
Two part-timers in Goldberg and Brock Lesnar have held the title, which many fans disagreed with. Roman Reigns won the title at SummerSlam 2018 and was all set to have a lengthy reign but instead got diagnosed with leukemia and had to relinquish the title.
Regardless of these, the Universal Championship is still a coveted prize and a huge achievement for any superstar to win it. Here are 5 superstars who could be the next WWE Universal Champion.
#1 Finn Balor
The first ever Universal Champion Finn Balor is just what everyone describes him to be - an extraordinary man who can do extraordinary things. Finn Balor is an amazing in-ring performer and is very over with the crowd as well. He had to relinquish his title as mentioned above, and since then has never got the deserved push that he needs. That may all change in this year's Royal Rumble.
Finn Balor is set to take on Brock Lesnar on the January 27th 2019 at the Royal Rumble PPV held at Chase Field for the Universal title he never lost.
He could potentially unleash the "Demon" inside him and that may very will be the only thing that could subdue the "Beast" right now.
Fans desperately wanted Balor to get another Universal title shot and now he has got it. Everyone wants him to win the title and claim back the throne which he never lost.
#2 Seth Rollins
While Finn Balor may enter WrestleMania 35 as the Universal Champion, Seth Rollins will leave WrestleMania 35 as the Universal Champion.
The Kingslayer is set to lead RAW, and is their top star by a mile. There are few who can match his overall work. Finn Balor could have a satisfactory reign until WrestleMania 35 so that it pleases the fans too. Seth Rollins can win the Royal Rumble and challenge Balor.
Finn vs Seth is an amazing clash of in-ring talent and we have seen their performances at SummerSlam 2016 where Finn emerged victorious. This could be Rollins' turn to get his revenge and finally be the official face of RAW.
If anything is guaranteed for 2019, it is that Seth Rollins will have a very good reign as the Universal Champion.
#3 Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins have had a very personal feud for the past few months and let's just say it hasn't quite reached our expectations. Their match at TLC was very lengthy and lackluster and it was evident from the fans chanting "Boring".
Dean Ambrose has not been having a great time on RAW since his return. He betrayed his Shield brother, Seth Rollins, had a feud with him which could have been way better, won the Intercontinental Championship and but failed to have a meaningful reign before he lost it to Bobby Lashley.
There is one way to fix Dean Ambrose' current position and reignite his feud with Rollins and make it one of the hottest acts on the entirety of WWE in 2019.
Have Dean Ambrose challenge Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship.
Out of all the Shield members, Dean is the only one who hasn't held the Universal title, assuming that Rollins will win the title at Wrestlemania, which is most likely. This way they could make Dean Ambrose relevant again on RAW and not be this boring heel and finally conquer the Architect to have a reign as the Universal Champion.
#4 Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman is one of the top babyfaces of RAW. He has had numerous opportunities for the Universal title but has yet to carry the red belt once. He is over with the crowd and fans desperately want him to win the title at least once in his career.
He has accomplished numerous achievements which include the winning of the Greatest Royal Rumble, having the most eliminations in a Rumble match, and winning the RAW Tag Team Championships with Nicholas. But for a man who has been booked as the "Monster Among Men", he has never won a world title.
Braun Strowman could change this black spot in his career by facing Dean Ambrose, who could be one of his easier opponents to face, and this could finally mean Strowman can have a meaningful reign as the Universal Champion and be the top star of RAW.
#5 Drew McIntyre
Not many people would face the "Monster Among Men" Braun Strowman unless if your name is Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar. A third member could step up to the party and form a 3MB (pun intended) who could face and defeat Strowman - "The Scottish Psychopath" Drew McIntyre.
A feud between McIntyre vs Strowman has been teased in the past and McIntyre is one of the very few people to have brought Strowman down to the floor, thanks to his brutal Claymore Kick.
Many former WWE superstars and "The Beast's Advocate" Paul Heyman himself told on "A Moment of Bliss" that he is guaranteed to be a future Universal Champion and that his moment is bound to happen soon.
So why not reignite this forgotten feud and set up an epic feud between the two goliaths?
Strowman could carry the title until Mania and Drew can defeat him at Mania and finally fulfill his prophecy of the "Chosen One" and ascend to the top of the food chain of the WWE thus becoming the new face of RAW and one of the most dangerous stars in all of WWE.
Got any other superstars who you would want to have as Universal Champion? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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