Top 5 WWE Universal Championship matches

#4 Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification Match (WWE Royal Rumble 2017)

Kevin Owens retained the Universal Championship at the 2017 Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

Back in early 2017, the Universal Championship was new and less prestigious than its counterpart - the WWE Championship. However, Kevin Owens' match with Roman Reigns helped enhance the title's status and position.

With Owens' best friend, Chris Jericho, locked in a shark cage suspended above the ring, the Big Dog had a fair shot at the Universal Championship. It was an all-out war between the two fierce rivals.

The champion executed a Frog Splash onto his opponent through the table. Jericho handed him the brass knuckles, which Owens used to hit a Superman punch. However, Reigns kept kicking out and fighting back.

Luckily for the Prizefighter, Braun Strowman emerged and brutally assaulted Reigns. Strowman drove the challenger through a table with a Running Powerslam, and Owens pinned Reigns.

BRAUN #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/uQVDAyqlvS

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) January 30, 2017

The two WWE Superstars collided again in a Last Man Standing Match four years later at the same event. However, their brutal affair in the Alamodome was undoubtedly the best.

The live crowd was red-hot and invested in their contest as it could have gone either way. Y2J was entertaining and amazing as always, adding some intrigue to the match. The Monster Among Men's shocking involvement was the icing on the cake to a wonderful clash.

Thanks to @BraunStrowman, @FightOwensFight RETAINS the #UniversalTitle. And there was much rejoicing in the #SharkCage! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/ukQMG79SVa

— WWE (@WWE) January 30, 2017