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Since it's introduction in 2016, the WWE Universal Championship has been subject to bad luck for various Superstars. For starters, the WWE fans booed the red belt when it was revealed. The likes of Finn Balor and Roman Reigns were forced to vacate the Universal title, while bad booking and irregular title defences further dented it's credibility.
Even the move to SmackDown did not help the Universal title much, until Reigns returned to the title scene. After four years of underwhelming matches and moments, the Universal Championship feels important.
Roman Reigns has turned heel and aligned himself with Paul Heyman. He won the blue belt a week after his shocking return at SummerSlam.
The Big Dog looks to be heading into a long reign as the Universal Champion, likely going beyond WrestleMania. He is completely rejuvenated as a performer and the fans are excited to see what is in store for him, as well as the Universal title.
With that being said, let's go a couple of years into the future and predict the next five WWE Universal Champions, once Roman Reigns loses the title.
#5 Big E defeats Roman Reigns (WWE Backlash 2021)
A lengthy run with the Universal Championship is in store for Roman Reigns, who could finally enjoy that long world title reign he never quite went had. Expect victories over some of WWE's most beloved babyfaces. The Tribal Chief will likely retain his title against top stars like Daniel Bryan, Jeff Hardy, and even 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt.
Roman Reigns will march into WrestleMania as the Universal Champion, where a dream match against The Rock is very possible. Reigns would likely defeat The Rock further extending his time with the belt. However, WWE will need a new top face to step up to the dominant Big Dog and take his title after the 'Show of Shows'.
Big E is the perfect man to take that spot. He is equally effective as a goofball as he is in a serious role. The New Day member is also incredibly popular among the WWE fans, as well as his peers. Given an opportunity to thrive as a singles star, Big E could be propelled to the top of the card by being the one to defeat Roman Reigns shortly after WrestleMania.
Backlash seems to be an appropriate place for this massive moment, considering it hosted the 'Greatest Wrestling Match Ever' earlier this year. The only reason why Big E's moment would not happen at 'Mania is the huge box-office attraction of Roman Reigns vs. The Rock.
#4 King Corbin cashes in on Big E (WWE SummerSlam 2021)
Defeating Roman Reigns would instantly turn Big E into a major star in WWE. His time with the world title, much like Kofi Kingston's, may be more about the moment rather than the months that follow. He does not need to have a long run as the Universal Champion like Roman Reigns might.
A couple of months of solid title matches against heels like AJ Styles and Sheamus would suffice for Big E, whose reign would end at SummerSlam. After one more successful title defense against somebody like Daniel Bryan or Adam Cole, King Corbin could spoil the New Day member's party.
The hated heel is a great option to win the Money in the Bank briefcase, as long as WWE is smart with how they book him. Fewer feuds with Roman Reigns over dog food and showcasing of his impressive moveset is needed. Corbin could do well as a heel world champion.
Cashing in on Big E to win the Universal title would instantly make him the most hated man in WWE. King Corbin would be gloriously obnoxious with the belt on SmackDown, with Big E's chase to win it back would make for a fun program. WWE are clearly big fans of Corbin, so he will likely win a world title sooner or later.
#3 Brock Lesnar squashes King Corbin (WWE Crown Jewel 2021)
King Corbin's Universal Championship reign need not be very long. In fact, title changes would be welcome after over eight months of Roman Reigns as the top dog. The good thing about Corbin is that he is equally good at being a top villain and being utterly humiliated.
After fending off Big E through some dirty tactics, King Corbin would meet his match at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. By this time, one year from now, Brock Lesnar will likely be back in WWE. He might even get drafted to SmackDown, to keep Paul Heyman only on one show. Roman Reigns, it seems, won't be moving away from Friday nights on FOX.
Lesnar has a perfect record in Saudi Arabia pay-per-view matches, winning all four of them with a combined ring time of fewer than 20 minutes. All of them were world title matches as well. It is safe to predict that The Beast will continue squashing his opponents in the Middle East.
Seeing King Corbin receive his comeuppance in the form of a one-sided beating at the hands of Brock Lesnar would be satisfying. Months after Roman Reigns loses the blue belt, Paul Heyman could once again be in the corner of the Universal Champion.
#2 Roman Reigns defeats Brock Lesnar (WWE WrestleMania 38)
Well, it's probably going to happen. And this time, it will be great. Brock Lesnar would go on to have a typical reign with the Universal Championship. One of the biggest matches he can have is a Champion vs. Champion match at Survivor Series, against Bobby Lashley, who could possibly hold the WWE Championship at the time. But the main story is with Roman Reigns.
In what will be a 'Battle of the Paul Heyman guys', Reigns and Lesnar will destroy each other after realizing that they cannot co-exist under Heyman's management. After the Big Dog wins the 2022 Royal Rumble match, he could set his sights on the man he failed to beat in two attempts at WrestleMania.
Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2018, but this would be the emphatic statement victory WWE has always wanted him to have over The Beast. It would also serve as a redemption for their lackluster main event at WrestleMania 34. In the end, the 'Tribal Chief' could win the Universal title with some help from his "special counsel".
This would be a huge development, with Roman Reigns facilitating the end of the legendary partnership between Lesnar and Heyman. The latter's new act with Reigns could possibly reach a similar level if WWE handles it carefully over the years. After this, there is no doubt about who the biggest star in WWE is.
#1 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt defeats Roman Reigns (WWE SummerSlam 2022)
And now, back to square one. Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship from 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt in a triple threat match, also involving Braun Strowman, at Payback. Two years later, as he finds himself with the title again, The Fiend could finally strike back and take it from him. He never truly forgets.
As mentioned earlier in the article, Roman Reigns could defeat Bray Wyatt's monstrous alter-ego during his current run as Universal Champion. This defeat could send Wyatt onto a path of self-reflection, with him taking a backseat to Alexa Bliss, whose path to the Firefly Fun House is getting more and more intriguing by the week.
The Fiend does not need a Championship, which is why he could go over, a year without coming anywhere near Roman Reigns or the Universal title scene. He would continue his path of vengeance on some names from his past, defeating the likes of Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy, who contributed to him getting "deleted" by Matt Hardy.
The Fiend could grow ever stronger with each victory over an old foe, eventually defeating Goldberg in Saudi Arabia. This leaves Bray Wyatt with one Superstar left to "hurt" for him to truly "heal": Roman Reigns. The man who stole his spotlight at SummerSlam and took his title at Payback, before pinning him at a later event. Reigns even won a long feud against Wyatt in 2015.
SummerSlam would be the perfect place for 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt to finally defeat Roman Reigns and win back the Universal Championship. The place where Wyatt wrestled his first pay-per-view match, both as himself and The Fiend. The place where he won his second Universal title, before being tossed aside by the Big Dog.
After two years of rebuilding himself as a babyface and conquering his past, Bray Wyatt is once again on top of the WWE mountain. It may not be the case during this reign, but The Fiend could truly be the endgame for Roman Reigns as the Universal Champion.
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