Roman Reigns has dominated the WWE since capturing the Universal Championship in a triple threat match against Braun Strowman and then-champion Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam 2020. His impressive title reign has surpassed 860 days and will hit 880 by the time The Head of the Table defends his Undisputed Titles against Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble.
This isn't the first time Owens has tried to end The Tribal Chiefs' incredible title reign, as they faced off at TLC 2020 and also had a fantastic match at the 2021 Royal Rumble. After two failed attempts, is the third time the charm for KO?
This is a different Kevin Owens than the one that stepped across from the champion in 2021, and he's done a great job at getting into the champs head in recent weeks, but I believe he'll come up short once again. Sami Zayn's loyalty has been questioned by the Head of the Table himself, and the Rumble is the best opportunity for Zayn to show just how Ucey he is! Zayn will be the deciding factor in Reigns continuing on being the man to beat for the biggest prize in the business.
It almost seems impossible to beat Roman at this point. From John Cena to Logan paul, from legends to up and comers, every challenger has fell at the hands of Reigns. We know Reigns won't keep the titles forever, and whomever finally gets the three count on him will be considered the new face of the WWE and will be expected to carry the company on their back.
If Reigns does indeed get past Owens, then who and when ends this modern day historic title reign? Here are my three best candidates as to who could take the mantle from The Tribal Chief.
Photo: WWE
Cody Rhodes
Rhodes is the obvious and smart choice to be the one to defeat Roman. After leaving the WWE in May of 2016, Rhodes went and wrestled on the independent scene where he made a major name for himself, including being one of the founders of All Elite Wrestling. After almost six years, Cody made his epic return at WrestleMania 38, where he defeated Seth Rollins.
Before tearing his pectoral muscle in June, he had three instant classic matches with Rollins and looked well on his way to being the man to finally beat Reigns. He was arguably the hottest thing in the business upon his return. Rhodes is getting healthy and should be back in time for the Royal Rumble where he is one of the favorites to come out victorious. Having him beat Reigns at WrestleMania will finally give him two of the biggest things that he's desired: Winning the world title and having a true WrestleMania moment.
Photo: WWE
Bron Breakker
This might be the least likely of my choices but having Bron Breakker come up from NXT and defeat Reigns might just be the right choice. Fans have wanted WWE to create new stars for several years, and Breakker has the tools, bloodline and look to be the face of the company for the next 10-plus years. A two-time NXT champion, Breakker has done enough for the brand and is ready to be a main event talent on the main roster. A surprise debut the night after Mania during an open challenge would get a massive pop from the audience.
Photo: WWE
Seth Rollins
Rollins is perhaps the safest choice out of my selections. Rollins has done everything in the business, including being a four-time world champion. He knows how to carry the company and is one of the most dependable superstars for the WWE. Rollins is probably one of the few already established stars that could take the world titles off of Reigns and not disappoint the fans or ruin the overall reign of Reigns.
Any loss to Seth 'Freakin' Rollins is a credible one. With the crowd behind him, ending WrestleMania Night 2 with a victory over Reigns would usher in the era of The Visionary.
It's been a crazy run for Roman Reigns, and it just goes to show how good he truly is. Very few wrestlers could have a 860-plus day reign and not make it feel stale, and he's definitely one of them. The time will come and he will lose both championships, and when it does, this reign will be recognized as possibly the greatest of all time.
