Posts Tagged ‘Universal Championship’

Universal Championship Match Reportedly Set for Hell In a Cell

The WWE Hell In a Cell match for the Universal Championship has now reportedly been set. Dave Meltzer reports that Rey Mysterio is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the biggest prize on SmackDown.

Roman Reigns attacked both Rey and his son Dominik this past Friday on the program. Reigns attacked the duo during their second SmackDown Tag Team Titles match against The Usos.

As of this writing, Bobby Lashley vs Drew McIntyre is the only cage match confirmed for the PPV. No word yet on if Reigns vs. Mysterio will take place inside the massive steel cage structure. Mysterio vs Reigns would be the first contest in the feud, which makes the stipulation less likely. However, it’s not out of the realm of possibility, as WWE have done this in the past.

Here’s the current lineup for WWE Hell In a Cell which is set to take place on Sunday June 20:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Rey Mysterio – WWE Universal Championship Match
  • Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – WWE Championship Match
  • Bianca Belair (c) vs. Bayley – SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
  • AJ Styles and Omos (c) vs. TBD – RAW Tag Team Championship Match
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Charlotte Flair – RAW Women’s Championship Match

Does Brock Lesnar Devalue The Universal Title?

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has released the soonest date that Brock Lesnar can fight in the UFC. The USADA said in a statement:

“After receiving notice of his intent to compete in the UFC, USADA re-entered Brock Lesnar to the testing pool on July 3. With six months and four days remaining on his period of ineligibility, Lesnar will be able to compete on or after January 8, 2019, should he remain in compliance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”

Lesnar famously failed his UFC 200 drug test leading to a one-year suspension. Lesnar spent that year performing for WWE, eventually winning the less-than-a-year-old Universal Championship at Wrestlemania 33 and defending it at Wrestlmania 34. 

Now that Lesnar is ready to make a return to MMA, the question becomes; Who will he drop the Universal Title to, and when?

My answer: Anyone and not soon enough as he DOES devalue the title.

The most obvious (and likely and easiest) choice would be Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. It would give Roman his “big win” and also give Lesnar enough time to slink away and begin his training to face Daniel Cormier, lift trees on his compound, or do whatever it is he does when he’s not on TV.

I’d say there are a few more interesting options though:

Finn Balor – The first Universal Champion who never lost the championship. There it is. The simplest and easiest non-Roman Reigns story you can tell with the title at SummerSlam. It’s a win-win, because it gives Finn back his credibility as one of the best in the world, and it gives us the audience an amazing David and Goliath story. Who wouldn’t want to see Finn figure out a way to overtake the Beast?

Kevin Owens – Kevin Owens is the most entertaining person in WWE right now, non-Alexa Bliss Division. He’s a funny, self-aware heel and his reign as Universal Champion gave us The Festival of Friendship, probably my favourite segment of WWE TV in the last 3 years. Let him grab the title at SummerSlam and run with it right through Wrestlemania.

Bobby Roode – Stay with me on this one. We know that Roode can be an amazing Heel champion. He’s done it before, he can do it again. Right now, strong definitive Heels who are actually on TV are in short supply in WWE programming. Let Roode be Roode. Build an Evolution-style stable around him. Call it the Glorious Era. Build it’s dominance for a few months then have him snatch that title away at Survivor Series.

Braun Strowman – Arguably the most popular WWE Superstar active today. Also, by all accounts, a hell of a nice guy. Is it too soon to pull the trigger on a Strowman title reign? Maybe. I have little faith that WWE would know where to go with him next. But, it would make for a great match at Hell In A Cell to watch Braun rag doll Lesnar out of the WWE.

John Cena – Look, Cena has been spinning his wheels (or belt) at 16 World titles for a couple of years now. He’s never held the Universal Title, so it’d be a double-win in WWE’s eyes to give us a “FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER” call from Michael Cole. Getting that 17th win to overtake Flair is inevitable, so let’s get it out of the way as early as SummerSlam before John is 45 and busy making Skyscraper III: Skyscraper With a Vengeance.

The WWE has spent the last 464+ days convincing us, the audience, that the Universal Title and subsequently the Champion, are so big and special that we don’t need to see them every week. We only need to see them on special, pre-advertised, occasions for predictable and repetitive segments. This is not a slight against Paul Heyman, who’s ability to polish turds into gold is second to none. This is a criticism of the WWE and their whole-hearted gulping of the Lesnar Kool-Aid.

As for Lesnar himself, with the exception of a rare moment or two when someone accidentally knees him in the face, I don’t think I’ve seen a wrestler who appears to care less about being in the ring, being the champion, or being part of the company.

The Universal (AKA WWE) Championship has been often referred to as the “richest prize in the game.” During the best and most entertaining eras in wrestling, THE TITLE was the most important thing in the programming, and the main motivation of everyone on the roster. From rookies, to mid-carders to the top, everyone wanted the title, everyone wanted to be the Champion, and being the Champion MEANT something. You were the pinnacle, the face of the company. The one they sent for all the interviews and the one that everyone is chasing. A inspiring leader for fans and talent alike, or in the case of Heel Champs, the greatest villains in the organization.

Brock Lesnar does not inspire. Brock Lesnar is not a great villain. Brock Lesnar is a very large man who’s decent at punching people in the face when he feels like it.

It’s time for that to end. It’s time for the Title to mean something again. It’s time for someone on the roster to stand up, shirk off the over-produced talking points and say (and mean it) “I’m here, I’m YOUR champion, and I’m taking on all Challengers.” Someone who brings VALUE to the Title.

Do you feel that Lesnar devalues the title? Who do you think Lesnar should drop the title to? Let us know in the comments.

RAW Championship Title Statistics for 2017

There were 5 championship matches at the Great Balls of Fire PPV last night, and all 5 titles were successfully retained. In the case of the Raw women’s championship however, Alexa Bliss only retained after being counted-out, but all the same.

Raw Championship Title Defences in 2017
(doesn’t include house shows)

Universal Championship 2017 Title Defences

  • Royal Rumble 2017: Kevin Owens (c) defeats Roman Reigns (via interference from Braun Strowman)
  • RAW January 30th 2017: Kevin Owens (c) defeats Braun Strowman (via interference from Roman Reigns)
  • Fastlane 2017: Goldberg defeats Kevin Owens to win the Universal Championship
  • WrestleMania 33: Brock Lesnar defeats Goldberg to win the Universal Championship
  • Great Balls of Fire 2017: Brock Lesnar (c) defeats Samoa Joe

Raw Women’s Championship 2017 Title Defences

  • Royal Rumble 2017: Charlotte Flair (c) defeated Bayley
  • RAW February 13th 2017: Bayley defeated Charlotte Flair to win the championship
  • Fastlane 2017: Bayley (c) defeated Charlotte Flair
  • WrestleMania 32: Bayley (c) defeated Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, and Sasha Banks
  • Payback 2017: Alexa Bliss defeated Bayley to win the championship
  • Extreme Rules 2017: Alexa Bliss (c) defeated Bayley in a Kendo Stick on a Pole match
  • Raw June 5th 2017: Alexa Bliss (c) defeated Nia Jax via DQ
  • Great Balls of Fire 2017: Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss (c) via count-out (Bliss retains)

Raw Tag-Team Championships 2017 Title Defences

  • Raw January 16th 2017: the Club defeated Cesaro & Sheamus (c) via DQ
  • Royal Rumble 2017: the Club defeated Cesaro & Sheamus to win the championships
  • Raw February 6th: the Club (c) defeated Cesaro & Sheamus via DQ
  • Fastlane 2017: the Club (c) defeated Enzo and Cass
  • Raw March 6th: the Club (c) defeated Enzo and Cass via DQ
  • WrestleMania 33: the Hardy Boyz defeated Enzo and Cass, Cesaro & Sheamus, and the Club to win the championships.
  • Raw April 3rd: the Hardy Boyz (c) defeated the Club
  • Payback 2017: the Hardy Boyz (c) defeated Cesaro & Sheamus
  • Extreme Rules 2017: Sheamus & Cesaro defeated the Hardy Boyz to win the championships in a steel cage match.
  • Raw June 12th: Sheamus & Cesaro (c) defeated the Hardy Boyz in a Best-2-of-3 falls match
  • Great Balls of Fire 2017: Sheamus & Cesaro (c) defeated the Hardy Boyz in an Iron Man Match.

Intercontinental Championship 2017 Title Defences

  • SD January 3rd: Dean Ambrose defeated the Miz to win the championship
  • SD January 24th: Dean Ambrose (c) defeated the Miz in a lumberjack match
  • WrestleMania 33 Kickoff show: Dean Ambrose (c) defeated Baron Corbin
  • Raw May 15th: The Miz defeated Dean Ambrose (c) via DQ
  • Extreme Rules 2017: The Miz defeated Dean Ambrose to win the championship
  • July 3rd: the Miz (c) defeated Heath Slater
  • Great Balls of Fire 2017: the Miz (c) defeated Dean Ambrose

Kevin Owens Universal Championship Reign Statistics

Kevin Owen’s Universal Championship reign (so far the longest in history) came to an end last night at Fastlane.

Kevin Owens Wins the Universal Championship

After Finn Balor was forced to vacate the title, it was determined the new champion would be crowned via a 4-way elimination match on Raw. Owens qualified for the 4-way match by defeating Neville in a singles match the week before. The 4-way was held on the August 29th 2016 episode of Raw.

In addition to the match crowning Owens as champion, it also kick started the Triple H vs. Seth Rollins feud, when Hunter gave Rollins a pedigree and literally handed the belt to Owens.

Not counting house show results, Owens successfully defended the Universal Championship six times before dropping the belt to Goldberg last night.

Feud with Seth Rollins

With Triple H nowhere to be found for months after helping Owens win the title initially, Owens entered a months long feud with Seth Rollins. While Owens wasn’t able to rely on the help of Triple H, he got plenty from his “best friend” Chris Jericho during this program.

Jericho helped Owens successfully defend the title against Rollins 3 times, first at Clash of Champions, then inside Hell in a Cell, and then again on the Raw after Survivor Series in Toronto. With Rollins out of the title picture, Owens then moved on to a program with Roman Reigns.

Feud with Roman Reigns

Owens’ feud with Roman started while he was teasing a breakup of his friendship with Chris Jericho. It seemed like Jericho was going to turn on Owens and cost him the title. That kind of happened at “Roadblock: End of the Line” when Jericho gave Owens the codebreaker during the Owens vs Reigns title match, causing the DQ. Turns out this was all a rouse and Jericho was just saving the title for his buddy.

Reigns then got another shot at the Rumble, this time with Jericho suspended in a shark cage above the ring. Strowman then saved the title for Owens however, when he interfered and gave Roman a power slam through a table.

Then Owens was scheduled for a title defence against Strowman on Raw, but Roman interfered causing the DQ and inadvertently saving the belt for Owens.

Loss to Goldberg

We still don’t know what Triple H said to Kevin Owens to cause him to turn on Jericho. Whatever it was it didn’t help him out much. Not only was Jericho not there to help Owens, but he actually caused the distraction which allowed Goldberg to get the squash victory in mere seconds.

Total Reign: August 29th 2016 to March 5th 2017
Days as Champion: 188
Title Defences (no including house shows): 6

 

Photo: New WWE Championship Belt Coming Soon?

Orange County Choppers is working on a new championship belt for WWE, according to a tweet sent out over the weekend. OCC created the WWE Championship belt that was introduced for The Rock for his most recent title run.

Although you can see a photo of the Universal Championship below, it’s unknown if this belt will be a replacement for Kevin Owens’ existing belt.

Kevin Owens Is The New WWE Universal Champion (Video)

Kevin Owens is your new WWE Universal Champion.

Owens defeated Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass in the Fatal 4 Way main event of Monday’s RAW to capture the gold. He didn’t do it alone, however. After Big Cass had been eliminated, Triple H appeared out of nowhere delivered a pedigree to Roman Reigns, to the delight of the crowd. He threw Roman Reigns back in the ring and Seth Rollins got the pin, narrowing it down to only two competitors.

Triple H got Owens from outside and and threw him back in the ring. Just as it looked like The Game was setting Seth Rollins up for the win, he shocked the world and delivered a pedigree to Rollins. The crowd went absolutely nuts. A stunned Kevin Owens seized the moment, covered Rollins and scored the pinfall victory.

Owens and Triple H embraced in the ring while Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley looked on in complete disbelief. The crowd chanted “You Deserve It” as Kevin Owens celebrated his win.

Finn Balor, the man who won the Universal Championship just a week ago but had to forfeit the title after 24 just hours due to injury, was quick to congratulate Kevin Owens on his big moment.

Finn Balor Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Talks About Relinquishing The Universal Championship

NXT Champion Finn Balor underwent surgery on Tuesday night to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He’ll now begin the recovery process, which is expected to keep him out of action for 4-6 months.

Finn Balor gave a candid interview to WWE prior to the surgery and opened up about having to surrender the new Universal Championship just 24 hours after winning it. Balor is shown backstage at Monday’s RAW watching on as Michael Cole explains he’ll be forfeiting the title. With an emotional look in his eyes, Balor was barely able to watch the replay of the injury taking place.

Finn Balor says its quite astonishing how quickly things completely unraveled for him. After reaching the top of the mountain so early into his WWE career, now he must work his way back up from the very bottom. He knew almost immediately that it was a serious injury. He felt his shoulder dislocate, he popped it back in during the match but the pain kept kept him awake all night.

Balor was at Good Morning America the next morning and was still optimistic that a few weeks of rehab on his shoulder would be enough. While he was feeling bad for himself, he walked into somebody backstage who did not have an arm. That put things in perspective and he came to terms with the injury, because he will bounce back. He went to the hospital, his x-rays came back relatively fine but the MRI revealed the labrum tear. That’s when he knew the writing was on the wall and this was a serious injury.

Finn Balor said he was actually very proud to walk to the ring on Monday night as Universal Champion. The situation got real for him when he walked back through the curtain and realized he won’t be stepping foot back in that ring for the next 6 months.

WWE Universal Championship Revealed (Video)

Last night at WWE SummerSlam, RAW and SmackDown authority figures Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley finally unveiled the new Universal Championship.

Fans in attendance at the Barclays Center were outspoken about the title, disrupting the Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins match with chants mocking its design. Seth Rollins, who lost to Finn Balor, was outspoken about the live reaction:

The Universal Championship is now available for pre-order at WWEShop.com but will not be arriving until December 12th.

Here are some more reactions from social media.

https://twitter.com/muffinlordsa/status/767542619023048704

Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan Mock RAW’s Universal Title, NXT Tapings Prior To Takeover

– Prior to Saturday night’s NXT Takeover: Brooklyn live special from the Barclays Center, WWE will tape matches for next week’s episode of NXT TV. The next batch of tapings will take place the following day (8/25) from Full Sail University.

– WWE SmackDown’s authority figures Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan took at dig at the RAW brand and the new Universal Championship while backstage at Tuesday’s SmackDown. Daniel Bryan mocked the “Universal” name on a recent edition of SmackDown Live, but now he and Shane are showing off a design suggestion for the new belt.

Surprisingly, WWE has not yet unveiled the Universal title, which will be awarded to the winner of the Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor match at SummerSlam. A lot of wrestling fans are passionate about belts and a big deal could have been made over the design reveal to help the viewership of Monday’s RAW.Maybe we’ll see something prior to Sunday.

Universal Championship Rumored Design, Big Show In Amazing Physical Shape (Photo)

– With a WrestleMania 33 showdown against Shaquille O’Neal still 8 months away, the Big Show looks to be getting himself in tremendous physical shape. Show tweeted the following picture on Monday showing off his weight loss:

– Reddit user dvizzle with knowledge of WWE championship belts in the past has indicated that WWE’s new Universal Championship will be a variation of the current WWE World Championship held by Dean Ambrose. To match the color scheme of the belts’ respective brands, the Universal Championship will have a red background while Ambrose’s belt will be updated with a blue background. The user noted last week that he’s awaiting confirmation on this mock-up:

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The first-ever WWE Universal Champion will be crowned at SummerSlam on August 21st when Seth Rollins faces the “Demon King” Finn Balor.