How WWE should book the Universal Championship through WrestleMania

The Universal Championship is pretty much a non-factor in WWE programming at the moment and has been for some time with the champion, Brock Lesnar, defending the title rarely and winning comfortably.

However, with the road to WrestleMania about to commence, a title match against Braun Strowman at the Royal Rumble and the possibility of the winner taking on Lesnar at 'Mania, perhaps fans can finally get hopeful that there may be an end in sight to Lesnar's title reign.

Reports currently seem to suggest that Mr. McMahon is favoring a Braun Strowman versus Drew McIntyre WrestleMania match for the title.

While this would be refreshing in that it would be two relative newcomers to the top of the card, it doesn't seem like the perfect fit. As talented as the pair are, this simply doesn't quite feel like a WrestleMania main event and one can't help but feel that there are better options out there.

Similarly, there is talk that Triple H would like to see a Brock Lesnar versus Seth Rollins WrestleMania match for the title which again has its pros and its cons. While this has much more star power and a real main event feel to the match, it does very little in terms of bringing up rising talent and would only serve to cement Rollins as a top star in the company, a label most would agree he already holds.

With WrestleMania still months away there is, of course, plenty of room to manoeuvre. Plans can, and frequently do, change in the WWE and so perhaps we will see an altogether different main event from the two listed above. With that in mind, here is how I would like to see the title booked through WrestleMania.

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#4 Royal Rumble

When will Lesnar's title reign finally end?

Brock Lesnar (c) vs Braun Strowman

This one is pretty straight forward, Strowman should go over clean. Strowman losing this match would be a final dagger to the momentum he had generated as a break out superstar in recent years and would end fan perception of him as being capable of winning the big one.

Lesnar already has an inexplicably clean title victory over Strowman and so would lose nothing in terms of credibility here. While the most likely way this will go is either party winning in controversial manner, for this to have the greatest impact and to truly usher in a new era to the Raw brand, which WWE seems to be pushing at the moment, a clean Strowman win works best. Strowman becomes a star and Lesnar becames a dangerous, pissed off beast.

Result: Braun Strowman defeats Brock Lesnar, wins Universal Championship

Elsewhere on the card, Rollins should lose to Ambrose for the Intercontinental title to clear the way for him to move on into the Universal title picture. He can then enter the Rumble match in the top 10 and clearly be feeling the effects from this match.

Lesnar too can enter the Rumble match, bringing it some real star power and showcasing how dangerous he can be now he's lost his title. Shockingly, however, Lesnar can be quickly eliminated from behind by Dolph Ziggler, looking to make a name for himself.

Ultimately Rollins should go on to win the match as he is the only one that really makes sense to do so at the moment, with Miz seemingly tied up in a Shane McMahon storyline and McIntyre likely not a big enough star quite yet to do so.

#3 Elimination Chamber

Will Strowman be the next Universal Champion?

Braun Strowman (c) vs Brock Lesnar

Strowman can't lose the title here having only just won it and Lesnar would lose too much legitimacy from taking a seocnd clean loss to Strowman so controversy is the way to go for this match.

This could be facilitated by making it a No-DQ match or simply having the two giants bundle over the referee at some point in the action. McIntyre, who has a history with Strowman and can have made his title aspirations clear in the weeks preceding, can appear as Strowman looks close to seizing victory.

He can deliver a Claymore to the monster among men and return to the back leaving a smug looking Lesnar left to pick up the pieces. However, with Lesnar about to deliver an F5, Ziggler can once again attack Lesnar from behind, this time with a chair, and flatten the Beast Incarnate, allowing Strowman to pick up the pinfall and the victory, retaining his title.

While this isn't the cleanest booking, it protects both men and does plenty to set up future matches. McIntyre announces himself as a big time player, who won't take no for an answer when it comes to the Universal title and Ziggler can once again seem like a pesky thorn in Lesnar's side, desperate to make himself into a bigger star by thwarting the industry's biggest.

Lesnar and Ziggler can go on to have their own match at WrestleMania, one that has plenty of star power, does lots to build Ziggler and doesn't need the title that can be used elsewhere.

Result: Strowman defeats Lesnar, retains Universal Championship

#2 Fastlane

When will McIntyre get his hands on the gold?

Braun Strowman (c) vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Elias vs. EC3

It will likely be the Raw men's turn to have a mad six-pack challenge to book their seat in WrestleMania's main event and these are some of the best fits for the match but in truth, the names beyond Strowman, McIntyre and Balor could easily be changed for others.

Rollins can watch from commentary as his opponent for WrestleMania is revealed. With the match breaking down, each man can do his very utmost to take out the monster champion and essentially eliminate him from contention. With Balor and McIntyre facing off in the match's final throws, McIntyre can shockingly pick up the victory and win a maiden Universal title for himself in the process.

While this cuts Strowman's first title reign a little short, it keeps him looking strong as it took four men to prevent him from retaining. Balor's stock rises here too as we see just how close he was to finally reclaiming the Universal title.

Of course, McIntyre is the big winner here, he becomes a top star in the company, books his place in the main event of WrestleMania and sets up a triple threat main event of McIntyre vs. Strowman vs. Rollins that has both the star-power and the star-making qualities to be great.

Result: McIntyre pins Balor, wins Universal Championship

#1 WrestleMania 35

Who will leave WrestleMania with the title?

Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Seth Rollins

Each man at this point has sufficient motivation for wanting to take out each other. This match raises the stock of each man involved and sets up McIntyre and Strowman as legitimate main eventers, which you could argue they haven't been completely treated as, as of yet. It also promises to be a quality match given just how talented each man involved in the match is.

The winner here isn't really important so long as McIntyre at least remains in the title picture long enough that his credibility doesn't vanish right away. Promoting these stars to the top of the card on Raw frees up more time to shine for those lower down, which can only be a good thing given the wealth of talent in the company at the moment. Additionally, a shock win for Ziggler over Lesnar could create yet another main event player out of a group that are too often relegated to the mid-card.

Result: ???