'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Universal Championship is the top prize on the Raw brand, it was introduced in July 2016, on the red brand, after the brand split.
The Universal champion is often seen as the face of the Raw brand. It has had four championship holders which include Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Goldberg and Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar is the current Universal champion and has held onto the title for 15 months. His title reign has proven to be disastrous to not only the red brand but the Universal title too, the title has become an afterthought on WWE programming and is overshadowed by its counterpart on the blue brand, the WWE title.
Lesnar is rumoured to be on his way out of WWE soon which means that he has to lose the title in the near future. He is expected to drop the title next month at Summerslam before leaving WWE for UFC.
As the title is relatively new, it isn't as prestigious as the WWE title. Moreover, the title has been held by two part-timers which means that the title hasn't been seen regularly on WWE programming. Part-time champions have damaged the title's prestige and honour.
The title needs to be seen regularly on television which means that the next champion must be a full-time, fighting champion.
There are very few worthy candidates left for dethroning the Beast Incarnate. He has defeated Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, Kane, and Roman Reigns to retain his title in the past.
Raw doesn't have many plausible candidates to dethrone the reigning Universal champion. The only deserving candidates left on the red brand to dethrone the Beast are Seth Rollins, Strowman and (to an extent) Reigns. The rest are either overlooked by the management or are just simply not on Lesnar's level.
The red brand is in dire need of a brand-new Universal champion. Here's a look at three Raw superstars who could potentially become future Universal champions.
#1 Roman Reigns
This one was pretty obvious, in fact, it is inevitable. Reigns has always been booked so strongly only to lose to Lesnar.
This is what happened in 2014-15 and is currently happening now. Unfortunately for Reigns, Rollins cashed in on Lesnar during Reigns Vs Lesnar at Wrestlemania 31 to win the championship.
Even though fans have voiced their opinions about Reigns, he has had multiple Universal title shots against Lesnar.
He lost clean to Lesnar at Wrestlemania and their match at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia ended in controversy with Lesnar leaving with the title. Reigns is destined to win the title from Lesnar.
The Big Dog is expected to defeat Bobby Lashley at Extreme Rules, become the next number one contender to the Universal champion and defeat the Beast Incarnate at Summerslam.
WWE is just playing around with the fans right now but everyone knows that Lesnar will drop the title to Reigns despite the fan backlash.
Lesnar won't look for a rematch as he would probably be on his way out of WWE after his title loss.
#2 Braun Strowman
Unfortunately for Reigns, his title reigns will be super short. Due to Strowman's soaring popularity and Reigns' resentment, WWE would be smart to have Strowman come out after the gruelling championship match at Summerslam and have him cash it in successfully on Reigns.
Imagine the pop Strowman would receive at Summerslam if he takes the title off the Big Dog seconds after Reigns just won it from Lesnar. It would make for one of the most memorable moments in recent memory.
Strowman has been on a tear recently, winning the Greatest Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank ladder match in convincing fashion.
A Universal title win for Strowman would catapult him to great heights and would be excellent for business. Strowman has improved a lot since the brand-split in 2016, he is now ready to become the top guy on the red brand.
The Monster Among Men would be a great Universal champion and his feud with Reigns would be even better than their previous feud.
#3 Bobby Lashley
Strowman has overcome the challenges of Reigns, Bobby Roode and Finn Balor. Meanwhile, Bobby Lashley has turned into vicious, dominant and ruthless Superstar.
Lashley has gained a lot of momentum after his heel turn and has become Strowman's next challenger.
Lashley is one of the few contenders who could match Strowman's strength. You could argue that Lashley's character is stale and uninteresting, but a heel turn could reinvigorate his career and make him relevant once again
A perfect scenario for Strowman's title loss at Royal Rumble 2019 would be a no holds barred match with Lashley.
As Strowman should be protected in defeat, WWE should have Finn Balor, the Demon, interfere in the match and cost Strowman his title, thus setting up a mega-match between the two stars at Wrestlemania. This would give both Balor and Strowman a huge boost and would turn Balor heel as well. Strowman would benefit a lot from feuding with Balor. and could possibly end his career as well.
Meanwhile, Lashley could revive his WWE career as a dominant heel champion and reach his maximum potential
Send us news tips at [email protected]
