'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAIAQEAAAAAPf8A/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//aAAgBAhAAAABP/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//aAAgBAxAAAABv/8QAHxAAAQQBBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDBAYABRITIzFB/9oACAEBAAE/AJ1SsER+TCgO6M/NB3rkyQJCZQx9FUFcCk3PanINQM/pK29n/8QAFxEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAEf/aAAgBAgEBPwAqq6rv/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACMf/aAAgBAwEBPwBumT//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
While Roman Reigns did not defend the WWE Universal Championship at Survivor Series this year, he went up against the toughest opponent he's faced in his short-lived heel tenure- Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre and Reigns went to war, and with a little bit of help from Jey Uso, his cousin, Roman Reigns, emerged as the victor in the contest and lives to fight another day.
So, now the question is, who will step up and challenge Roman Reigns on the episode of WWE SmackDown after Survivor Series.
With that said, here are 5 WWE SmackDown superstars that could step up and become Roman Reigns' next opponent.
#5 Reports suggest that Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan is scheduled to happen at a future date
According to reports, Daniel Bryan will be Roman Reigns' next opponent, though it is unclear whether their clash will happen at TLC or at the Royal Rumble. The only reason why this selection is so low in the list is that it is pretty clear at the moment that Daniel Bryan and Sami Zayn are on a collision course. It would be very weird to tease a clash between Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan and have Roman Reigns step into the fray.
That said, undoubtedly and undisputedly, Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan is a money feud and there is actually a story in place for it as well, especially if you consider that Jey Uso and Daniel Bryan had a recent clash, where Roman Reigns was an integral part.
Plus, Daniel Bryan just cannot have a bad match and despite how many matches he loses, he is still one of the most revered men on the WWE roster.
Also, this goes without saying, but the match quality will be impeccable indeed.
#4 Do not forget that Kevin Owens has a bone to pick with Roman Reigns too
Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens have a ready-made storyline too, because it was with the help of Roman Reigns that Jey Uso delivered a low blow to The Prizefighter and picked up arguably the biggest win of his career.
Kevin Owens is a former WWE Universal Champion, and back when he was a heel, he did feud with Roman Reigns; but now the dynamics are reversed. Also, one can agree with the fact that Roman Reigns should not lose his WWE Universal Championship anytime soon, which is why Kevin Owens is the ideal opponent.
Considering where Kevin Owens is, in the WWE roster at the moment, a loss will not really be a loss in momentum for him, especially if it's a feud with Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship.
In fact, it'll be a massive step up from whatever Kevin Owens has been doing in WWE recently, where he's just another guy in a sea of several talented souls.
#3 Now that Seth Rollins is out of action, could Rey Mysterio and Roman Reigns clash for the Universal Championship?
It is clear as day that while Rey Mysterio is still putting on the best matches ever at this stage of his career, his days are numbered, and before he rides off into the Sunset like The Undertaker, it may make sense for him to face Roman Reigns.
Seth Rollins will take some time off to attend to his wife, Becky Lynch, and Rey Mysterio could take this opportunity to challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship and put on some classic matches that will be in a very different vein from the kind of clashes that he had with Jey Uso.
The size difference, in this case, will work in Roman Reigns' favor, establishing him as the big monster heel taking on the ultimate underdog in a contest to determine if indeed, 'heart' can triumph over might. Plus, the match quality will be exceptional, considering the caliber at which both men operate every time they step into the ring.
#2 Is it finally time for Murphy to move up a few steps on the WWE SmackDown roster and face Roman Reigns?
Murphy has got the girl, he's won the approval of the family, and the only thing left for him to do, at this point, is to become a top tier WWE SmackDown Superstar. And a feud with Roman Reigns may just be what the doctor ordered in his case because, as we know, Murphy can have a good match with just about anyone. And we know from past experience that Roman Reigns and Murphy have excellent chemistry because they once had a match-of-the-year quality contest on WWE SmackDown, some time ago.
Seth Rollins put Murphy over in the best way possible to conclude their WWE SmackDown feud, and the latter cannot afford to lose any momentum at this point.
Murphy vs. Roman Reigns could certainly elevate the stock of Seth Rollins' former disciple in much the same way that Roman Reigns elevated the position of WWE SmackDown star Jey Uso in the roster through their engrossing and gripping feud.
#1 Big E vs. Roman Reigns is the feud that fans want to see
Roman Reigns is in the midst of arguably the best run of his entire storied career and to take the title off his waist at this juncture would probably be a big mistake from WWE.
Perhaps the only other person that fans would be okay with seeing as the WWE Universal Champion at this point in time, clashing with Roman Reigns in a battle of the powerhouses, is the beloved former New Day member, Big E.
Big E was suspiciously off the Survivor Series lineup, although speculation was rampant that the purpose of the dual-branded battle royal in the Kickoff Show was to have Big E win big (no pun intended) and make him look like a credible challenger for Roman Reigns at some point down the road.
Do not be surprised if it is Big E that confronts Roman Reigns on this week's episode of WWE SmackDown, setting up a clash between the two men at TLC or even the Rumble.
