'%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)
Finn Balor challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship this week on WWE SmackDown, but came up short when the referee called for the bell following The Guillotine.
Balor was overlooked for this match at SummerSlam after Baron Corbin took the star out at his own contract signing and John Cena signed the contract in his place.
It's been a rough few weeks for the inaugural Universal Champion but given the return of Brock Lesnar, Balor wanted to ensure he was given the title shot he deserved.
It was clear from the minute the challenge was laid down that Roman Reigns was going to retain, but here are just five reasons why Finn Balor should have been the one to come out on top.
#5. A Finn Balor victory would have been less predictable for the WWE Universe
Roman Reigns has now held the Universal Championship for more than a year and it's clear that whoever takes the Championship from The Tribal Chief will be the company's next big star.
Reigns isn't expected to drop the title until that marquee match against The Rock at WrestleMania, which has made every title defense that Reigns has had very predictable.
The Head Of The Table has swept aside all of his challengers since he picked up the title at last year's Payback and has been able to become the biggest heel in WWE at the same time.
Reigns has put on some fantastic displays in title defenses over the past 12 months, but the outcome is obvious before the bell.
A Balor victory would have put a spanner in the works and made it so that Reigns would have to go after Balor whilst Brock Lesnar was still in his sights. It would have set up a definite rematch for Reigns and could have been the first match that was made official for WWE Extreme Rules.
Instead, Balor was defeated and now it appears as though Reigns will be skipping WWE's Extreme Rules pay-per-view to focus on the challenge of Brock Lesnar in Saudi Arabia in October.
#4. If Finn Balor took WWE's Universal Championship then it would leave Roman Reigns open to be drafted
The WWE Draft is reportedly set to take place next month, even though the company is yet to officially announce it.
Every WWE Superstar is usually up to be drafted, but more often than not WWE decides to leave their main champions on their original brand.
If Finn Balor was able to defeat Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship then it would leave Reigns open to be drafted.
Roman Reigns being moved over to Monday Night RAW would help fix the ratings issues that the company is currently having.
There is no need for Roman Reigns and Becky Lynch to be on the same brand and since Lynch is married to Seth Rollins, it's more likely that she will stay on FOX.
The USA Network has been upset with recent storyline developments in WWE and this would have been quite the swerve.
#3. Finn Balor needs that Championship in WWE more than Roman Reigns does
Roman Reigns is the biggest star in WWE at present, it has reached the point where the Universal Champion no longer needs a Championship.
As noted by several stars in the past, a wrestler makes a Championship, not the other way around, and right now there is no need for Reigns to hold that title.
Reigns has made the Universal Championship prestigious and wrestling The Tribal Chief has become an honor even if the Championship isn't on the line.
Balor has spent the last two years down in NXT and has only recently made his way to the main roster. The inaugural Universal Champion is in need of a push at present and could benefit from the boost that a Championship win would have given him.
As noted, it could be argued that right now, Balor needs that Championship a lot more than Reigns does.
#2. The feud between Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns doesn't need the WWE Universal Championship
Following Roman Reigns' victory over Finn Balor on WWE SmackDown, The Tribal Chief will now turn his attention to Brock Lesnar.
The Beast Incarnate made his return to WWE at SummerSlam last month and it's already been revealed that he will be part of next week's episode of SmackDown live from Madison Square Garden.
Lesnar and Reigns are expected to collide at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia in October, but why does this feud need a Championship? Lesnar hasn't requested a Championship match against Reigns as of writing and the main storyline seems to be surrounding Paul Heyman's loyalty to The Head of the Table.
It could be argued that this is already enough for a match between the two men since the WWE Universe has already seen a number of Universal Championship matches between Reigns and Lesnar.
#1. Finn Balor vs John Cena would become a reality in WWE
John Cena was the man who signed on the dotted line in order to face off against Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at WWE SummerSlam. Finn Balor had already had his challenge accepted by Reigns and it was his name on the contract that Cena crossed off.
This is enough of a seed to be planted for the two men to collide in a WWE ring in the future when Cena's able to make it work within his schedule.
If Balor was able to win the Universal Championship from Reigns this past week on SmackDown then there would be more riding on the match between the two men.
Cena could have become a record 17-time World Champion with a win, whilst Finn Balor would have been able to establish himself as a star in the company if he beat Super Cena in a Championship match.
We found a missing AEW star RIGHT HERE.
