WWE SummerSlam 2018: Reigns Dethroning Lesnar Is The Best Option
By Dalton Quix
Brock Lesnar has been Universal Champion for over a year now, but WWE SummerSlam 2018 should see the end of his long and sporadic reign.
Brock Lesnar won the Universal Championship from Goldberg at WrestleMania 33. Since then, he has defended the title every couple of months or so against some very credible challengers.
Lesnar has defeated the likes of Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, and most recently, Roman Reigns.
Lesnar actually pinned Reigns in a multi man match at SummerSlam last year, went on to defeat Reigns at WrestleMania 34, and he escaped with a victory against the Big Dog at the Greatest Royal Rumble, too.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
Despite those three losses, Roman Reigns still has his eyes locked on the Universal Championship. After all, he did technically beat Lesnar at the Greatest Royal Rumble, but the ref made the wrong call. So, he does have a legitimate gripe and cause for a rematch.
However, he isn’t the only one who deserves a shot at Brock’s Universal Championship, which is why Kurt Angle originally scheduled a multi man match at Extreme Rules to establish Brock’s opponent for SummerSlam.
Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley were first announced as participants, and I imagine that Finn Bálor and Kevin Owens, two Superstars that are still technically owed a rematch for the Universal Championship, would be in the match. And after Seth Rollins lost the Intercontinental Championship, I thought his sights would be set on that #1 contender’s match, but plans changed.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
The match was scrapped after, according to WWE, contract disputes between Brock Lesnar and WWE officials have forced Lesnar to back out from his scheduled title defense at SummerSlam. This sounds like a tactic to get fans fed up with Brock Lesnar and acquire an “anyone but Brock” attitude, so when Brock finally loses the title, there will be a massive pop.
I still think Brock Lesnar will show up to SummerSlam before he ventures off to the UFC, so the only question is who deserves to be the challenger? Lashley is a credible MMA fighter that would pose a believable threat, but I don’t think he is ready for the title yet.
Meanwhile, Finn, Kevin Owens, and Rollins are all Superstars capable of putting on an incredible match with The Beast and will be formidable champions. WWE could also experiment with rising star Elias or the Glorious Bobby Roode and give them a major rub by having one of them dethrone Brock.
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
However, the best option, in my opinion (and I may be the one), the one to dethrone Brock Lesnar should be Roman Reigns. Fans have trashed over really any PPV program Reigns has had recently, but Roman will likely get some kind of positive reaction when he finally takes the title from Lesnar for the simple reason that Brock won’t have the title.
Then, Reigns will be able to be a unique champion that will be able to play both face and heel in any feud, which will allow for him to take on all comers. He will be able to have programs with the likes of Kevin Owens, Elias, and Constable Corbin, while also playing the heel role against the top babyfaces like Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor.
Then, once Dean Ambrose returns, anything can happen. Ambrose could come back a heel or face and feud with Reigns or Rollins, and it could all be over the Universal Championship. But, while all these feuds would be great, there’s one great reason why Roman should win the title from Brock at SummerSlam.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
Just imagine the reaction that Braun Strowman would get if he cashes in on Roman Reigns. It doesn’t have to be at SummerSlam (although that’d be great), but the Monster in the Bank will inevitably be Universal Champion, so why not give him the loudest reaction possible by beating Te Big Dog for it.
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And, he wont even have to flip an ambulance to win it! However, I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to another Reigns and Strowman feud revolving around ambulances. Either way, Roman deserves to be the next Universal Champion, even if the reign will be cut short by Braun.