7 directions WWE could take with Roman Reigns after SummerSlam

So, at SummerSlam, Roman Reigns gets one more chance, one more shot - and hopefully one final chance - at Brock Lesnar and the Universal Championship.

This year, Roman Reigns once again main-evented WrestleMania and, although he kicked out of six F5s, the former WWE Champion was left a bloody mess by the Beast Incarnate who retained his Universal Championship. Just one month later, at the Greatest Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns Speared Lesnar through the steel cage leading to one of the most controversial endings to a match we've seen all year - when Reigns undoubtedly won, but Lesnar's hand was raised.

Brock Lesnar has delivered many F5s to Reigns this year

Since then, a lot of things have changed. Brock Lesnar has effectively held the hostage title with the WWE Universe being led to believe that he just doesn't care, he doesn't want to defend it, he doesn't think anyone is worthy of a title defence, he won't sign a new contract, UFC is his priority, and any one of a number of other excuses that can be given, real or not, to disguise his minimal appearances WWE contract - which is rumoured to be ending the night after SummerSlam.

Reigns, on the other hand, faced off in a losing effort against Bobby Lashley in his most recent feud, only to win a Triple Threat Match to qualify for another match against Lashley, which he won to progress to a SummerSlam showdown with Lesnar...again.

But forget SummerSlam, that's two short-sighted. We know Roman Reigns will face off against Brock Lesnar, so there's only a number of scenarios that can occur. I'm more interested in what happens AFTER SummerSlam and I look at five options for The Big Dog going forward.

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#7 Roman Reigns is your NEW Universal Champion

Will we see this happen at SummerSlam?

Okay, so we will get there eventually. Roman Reigns will no doubt be Universal Champion and face of the company (if he isn't already) one day. Like it or not, it is happening.

Well, this COULD be the time. I mean, why else would we be doing this match again? I won't lie, I think Brock vs Roman is always interesting but, based on the WWE Universe's reaction last time the pair faced off, I may very well be in the minority.

I mean, when Reigns won, I let out an audible sigh and thought about Einstein's definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over, and hoping to achieve a different result. But, well, this match will probably have a different result, a Roman Empire overseeing Raw as Universal Champion.

It may not be a popular choice, but at least we'd see the belt and champion on TV a lot more...

#6 Lesnar retains and a humble promo sees Reigns take a backseat

Reigns' promos after losses rarely set him back

So, yeah, the first part of this is probably very unlikely if rumours are to be believed, but let's not discount it as an option.

After all, most of us thought Roman was winning the last twice... Maybe three times we saw the pair clash. What makes this time different?

Roman Reigns' promo after WrestleMania last year was probably one of the most memorable segments of the last year. His promos after this year's Mania and particularly the Greatest Royal Rumble definitely grabbed global attention, too.

After his victory over Undertaker, Reigns was booed out of the building before finally getting a chance to speak, saying only "This is my yard now." After the Greatest Royal Rumble, some were left bemused and some even cheered Reigns' for his shoot-style promo on Lesnar and the events of the previous night.

The Grand Slam Champion has never been known to be humble on the microphone, but if he were to lose to Lesnar again, particularly if he lost clean, we would need to see a very different Roman appear on Raw the following night.

In a John Cena-esque way, we could see a humble Reigns saying he has to re-evaluate and take some time away, and either disappear from TV for a couple of weeks or drop out of the title picture and down the pecking order in a more subtle way, with WWE trying to build on some new-found sympathy if Reigns fails to capture the gold again.

#5 One more match with Brock Lesnar

Could we see one more match?

I mean, I really hope it doesn't go this way, but it is an option.

Admittedly, a bad one if the WWE Universe's reactions to the past few interactions are anything to go by.

Now, I think this is pretty unlikely for a few reasons - namely the length of the feud and Brock Lesnar's UFC ambitions - but I'd be going against all common sense to not mention the possibility of "one more match" in this rivalry.

When Lashley debuted, I predicted that we see Brock Lesnar face Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam, but that idea was gazumped when The Big Dog defeated Lashley in the number one contender's match. My thinking was that Lesnar would disappear, Reigns would beat Lashley for the belt, Lesnar would come back at WrestleMania 35 to challenge Reigns, stating that Reigns still can't beat him, only for Roman to retire The Beast Incarnate.

Well, that one's out the window, but let's not discount WWE shocking us again with a controversial Lesnar win and this one going all the way to Survivor Series, Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania for Reigns' ultimate crowning glory.

#4 A Money In The Bank cash-in sees Roman still chasing gold

Could a monster be lurking?

Now, THIS would be one way to achieve that different result I spoke about earlier.

Just as Roman Reigns has Lesnar down and beaten, or even after pinning The Beast...

"I told you, I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU, ROMAN!"

Mr Monster In The Bank comes out to cash out his Money In The Bank contract, leaving both Lesnar and Reigns sans championship and giving the WWE Universe the unexpected finish of the night.

Of course, Strowman may not even be holding the briefcase at that time, it could be Kevin Owens being every bit as opportunistic as we know he can be and sneaking away with the gold.

Either way, we could be left with a disgruntled Reigns chasing down the title he was "cheated" out of after the Money In The Bank briefcase plays a big role at SummerSlam...

#3 Shield brothers reunite

Could we see another reunion?

..and what better way to battle a monster than with two brothers in tow?!

Now, The Shield reunion didn't exactly go as planned, that's no secret.

Injuries and illness blighted the much-anticipated return of one of the fans' favourite factions and, with Dean Ambrose reportedly returning to action very soon, who knows whether WWE will acknowledge the trio's past at all, completely ignore it, or push them back together and try again!

One of the last times we seen The Shield, they made Braun Strowman look like a mere mortal, so maybe the way forward will be The Shield reuniting to help Reigns avenge his loss to Strowman.

The Shield decimated Braun

While I'd like to see WWE capitalise on Rollins' recent heroics as a solo talent, and do something completely different with Ambrose, I wouldn't be too disgruntled at seeing this rivalry play out.

#2 ..or threaten to dethrone a reigning Roman

Could we see more of this epic rivalry?

Now, we can't mention The Shield reuniting without mentioning The Shield...well, fighting

It's no shock that three top talents thrown together won't always get along and all three of these men are Grand Slam Champions and thus former WWE Champions - all holding the title in the same night at one point!

The one belt that has alluded all three men? The WWE Universal Championship.

Seth Rollins challenging a champion Reigns may very well be the smart way forward - and turning one of the pair heel would definitely appease the audience. Reigns has never been a traditional heel to the displeasure of much of the WWE Universe, so a turn - while it may never happen - is long overdue. Meanwhile, Rollins cut his teeth as a heel and because the top guy in the company when he held the WWE Championship in that role.

And then there's Dean Ambrose... The wildcard. Chuck all three together and you could slow build and gear up towards a tantalising Shield Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 35.

With three Superstars in intertwining stories where they try one-up each other, this could be the refreshing story the WWE Universal Championship needs to find relevance again.

#1 A new beginning

Could we see Reigns switch brands?

Or WWE could go with something completely different.

Both rosters are pretty stacked right now, but a shake-up never goes amiss - and this would well and truly shake things up.

A move to the blue brand could be just what the doctor ordered for Reigns, and having Reigns and Styles fight to be the face of the company would be an appetising rivalry. The Big Dog would easily slot in as one of the top guys on SmackDown and could provide a fresh challenge for the WWE Championship as WWE looks set to make SmackDown Live it's flagship show on the run-up to its switch over to FOX.

But AJ Styles may not be the guy Reigns would be challenging...

These two definitely have unfinished business

Samoa Joe may very well hold the gold after SummerSlam, and these two have had one of the best on and off rivalries of the past year and change in WWE. With Joe's return slotting him right into the title picture, a reignited Joe vs Roman rivalry could definitely freshen up the WWE title picture on the blue brand, and maybe even accommodate a Styles switch to Raw.

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What do you want to see Roman Reigns do next? Let us know in the comments.