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I thought that WWE really told the perfect story with Seth Rollins. He stepped out of the mid-card, won the Royal Rumble and challenged The Beast Incarnate. He tore the house down with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35 in a match that made many fans happy. But his journey has just begun.
Seth Rollins has promised us that he will be a fighting champion in the days that follow. Expect a lot of successful defenses from the Kingslayer, because WWE will want to showcase Rollins as a strong Universal Champion. But every Champion has to succumb one day, doesn't he?
In this article, I shall pick the five likeliest challengers that he can drop the Universal Championship to. Please let me know your thoughts and views in the comments.
Whom do you want to see him finally lose the title to?
#5 Lars Sullivan
It is quite clear indeed that Lars Sullivan will get a main event push, right off the bat. This is because of the way he looks and this is obvious from the way that he decimated the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions- The Hardy Boyz. Lars Sullivan is here to stay and he's the new resident monster in the house.
One wonders how much longer Brock Lesnar will stay with WWE and because of this reason, it is amply evident that WWE is in need of a new monster. Well, they need not look any further than Lars Sullivan, because he has all the attributes that make a beast. He will also benefit from working with someone as adept in the ring as Seth Rollins.
Don't expect the Sullivan-Rollins match to happen straight away, folks. But if Rollins is to drop the title later in the year, Sullivan could certainly be Universal Champion.
#4 Brock Lesnar
I know that this is the possibility that every member of the WWE Universe has been dreading and how. But it must be noted that Slice Wrestling reported not long ago that Brock Lesnar has signed a short-term deal ahead of WrestleMania 35. What this essentially means is that Lesnar will probably be working in Saudi Arabia, at one of their pay-per-views.
It is very unlikely that Brock Lesnar will lose two matches in a row, especially if he has to look strong before his big UFC fight. And so, it is all too likely that Brock Lesnar may recapture the Universal Championship and embark on yet another reign of terror where he only appears on RAW occasionally. I'm not saying I like this idea, but Vince McMahon probably does.
If this does happen, Rollins needs to recapture the title at SummerSlam. WWE can't make a year-round arc of this angle.
#3 Roman Reigns
As long as Roman Reigns remains a part of RAW (results here), there's always a chance that he could potentially become the Universal Champion. He is still the golden boy of the company and has proved time and again that despite the fan backlash, he can put on great matches when the strap is put around him.
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have great chemistry when they work against each other, because of how well they know one another in and outside the ring. If the two men do work a program against one another, it's guaranteed to be a hit.
Even if Roman Reigns goes to SmackDown Live, there are various ways he can stay in title contention. He could win the Money in The Bank briefcase or later in the year if Rollins remains champion that long, win the Royal Rumble to challenge The Kingslayer.
I wonder if he'll go heel then!
#2 AJ Styles
Fans, especially those from the internet wrestling community, are probably salivating at the thought of AJ Styles potentially locking it up with the Universal Champion. After all, Seth Rollins and AJ Styles are no strangers to one another. They have worked each other in the independents and are recognized as two of the best in the world.
I personally believe that Styles has done nearly everything that was to be done on SmackDown Live. It is all too likely that he's coming to RAW during the Superstar Shake-Up. And if he does arrive on RAW, chances are that he will be a top star for the brand.
Matches between the two men are almost guaranteed to be contenders for 'Match of the Year' based on the track records of both these performers. I just wonder if VInce McMahon trusts Styles to be the face of the A-brand of his company.
Special mentions
The WWE roster is so stacked right now that there are so many people who could potentially become the next Universal Champion. I mean you could have someone like Randy Orton move over to RAW and engage Seth Rollins in a long feud.
Then you also have Kevin Owens, who is a former Universal Champion. There's also the possibility that Daniel Bryan could move over to RAW this time and with his bulky companion, Erick Rowan, unleash his own reign of terror.
Ultimately, there's the Monster Among Men, and if he does stick around on RAW, there's a long overdue coronation that's waiting for the giant. Many believe that he should have been crowned the Universal Champion a long time ago.
The problem is that while all of these scenarios are possible, they're not as likely as the other names in my list claiming the top prize on the red brand.
#1 Drew McIntyre
So, this is not just fantasy booking from my end. One of the strongest rumors doing the rounds right now is that Drew McIntyre will be the man who will square off against Seth Rollins in the weeks that will follow.
But at the same time, Drew McIntyre is injured which may mean that he does not get to square off against Rollins right away. This may not necessarily be a bad thing because when McIntyre does return, it may be the right time for Rollins to drop the Universal Championship.
At this point in time, we have no idea how serious the injury is and moreover, we hope that Drew McIntyre is all fit and ready to go in no time. Let's hope that Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre are able to tear it down with a long and extended program against one another.
Do you think Drew McIntyre can be a successful future Universal Champion someday?
