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Roman Reigns failed to capture the WWE Universal Championship in his first 6 attempts, in a fatal 4-way match on RAW, 2 Universal Championship matches against Kevin Owens, a fatal 4-way match at SummerSlam and 2 failures against Brock Lesnar before finally conquering the Beast to win the title. The fans were relieved of a part-time champion as Roman showed up on every RAW episode with the Universal Championship. However, his reign ended abruptly due to his 11-year-old Leukemia problem.
He held the title for 64 days and had an amazing feud with Braun Strowman during his reign. Reigns was scheduled to defend his title at WWE Crown Jewel in a triple threat match against the Monster and the Beast Incarnate but Roman dropped a bombshell on RAW and vacated his Universal Championship to end his reign.
Here’s my analysis of the Big Dog’s run with the flagship show’s premier title-
#1 Best - The night after he won the title
Dean Ambrose returned with a jacked-up look (which screamed a heel turn) on the RAW before SummerSlam as Seth Rollins announced that the Lunatic Fringe would be in his corner for his IC title match at the Biggest Party of Summer.
Though Ambrose did not turn on Rollins, the WWE Universe never expected a S.H.I.E.L.D reunion on RAW. After the Big Dog successfully defended his newly won Universal Championship against Finn Balor, Mr. Monster in the Bank Braun Strowman cashed in his MITB contract on Reigns. But out of nowhere, the S.H.I.E.L.D's music hit and Ambrose and Rollins came out donning the same black attire. The trio destroyed Braun Strowman putting him through the announce table and ended the show with their famous fist bump.
#1 Worst - Underwhelming Hell in A Cell match against Braun Strowman
A Hell in a Cell match is meant to give the WWE Universe a hardcore clash between the two competitors and the better man emerges as the winner. Several feuds and rivalries have ended under the demonic structure. However, for the first time we did not get a winner from a Hell in A Cell match. The prime focus of this match was not on Roman and Braun but it was their allies who got more attention. Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler's fall off the cell was one of the most exciting moments of the match.
The addition of Mick Foley as a special guest referee did not serve any purpose as the legendary superstar once botched a pinfall. Brock Lesnar came out in the end and took out both the superstars with a vicious F5 to set up a triple threat match for Crown Jewel.
#2 Best - Universal Championship defenses on RAW
Kevin Owens was the last Universal Champion to have defended his title on an episode of Monday Night RAW. Since then, Goldberg and Brock Lesnar rarely appeared on RAW forget about the chances of having a title match. Universal Championship matches had got exclusive to pay-per-views only.
But Roman Reigns promised to defend his title every night after winning it from Brock Lesnar and gave an opportunity to Finn Balor. Even acting General Manager of RAW Baron Corbin had a go against the Big Dog for the title in the main event of RAW in a no DQ match. Though Roman Reigns emerged victorious out of both the matches, it added an element of excitement to the flagship show with its premier title being on the line every week.
#2 Worst - The S.H.I.E.L.D reunion overshadowing the Universal Title
The S.H.I.E.L.D faced off the Dogs of War in six-man tag team matches for weeks and weeks. Roman Reigns never defended his championship after the Hell in A Cell pay-per-view. WWE Creative team took a bizarre decision by having the General Manager announce that Roman Reigns could not defend his title before the Crown Jewel event.
The Universal Championship seemed meaningless on Roman Reigns' shoulder as he was either taking part in six-man tag team matches representing the S.H.I.E.L.D or facing off one of the members of the Dogs of War in non-title matches on RAW. Even at the Super Show Down PPV in Melbourne, Australia, the Big Dog did not defend his Universal Championship. Maybe a feud with a heel Bobby Lashley or a title defense against fellow RAW superstars like Elias or even Drew McIntyre would have made his reign more memorable.
#3 Worst - Leukemia
Roman Reigns came out on RAW amidst a lot of cheers and boos and made a shocking revelation of him being diagnosed with Leukemia. He broke character on screen and said that he was a person named Joe who had been battling leukemia for the past 11 years and due to its return had to relinquish his Universal Championship. Reigns left his Universal title in the middle of the ring and left the ring. His S.H.I.E.L.D brothers joined him on the ramp as the trio did the famous fist bump for possibly the last time ever. This was one of the most emotional moments on RAW and the company even shared the backstage video of superstars consolidating Joseph Anoa'i.
How high do you rate Roman Reigns' Universal Title reign ? Share your views in the comments box below.
