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Ever since WrestleMania 38, Roman Reigns has been dominating as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but it has been a reign which has seen him develop into more of a part-time schedule, much to the dismay of several WWE fans. Whilst there is nothing that can be done about the months which have passed in regards to this, it is still an issue which WWE can fix. There is little doubt that having a full-time champion would be beneficial to both weekly TV and to PPVs, but how exactly can WWE do that in a way which benefits everyone? With care, consideration, and creativity, WWE can certainly accomplish that.
WWE Wants Two World Champions Ahead Of WrestleMania 39
Throughout the 2010s, WWE began relying on a lot of part-time performers, having been unable to create new top stars, mostly due to the fear that they would outgrow the company much like the likes of The Rock have done. Names like Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, Triple H, and Goldberg began to hold the spotlight when it came to the biggest shows, hogging the top spots over those who work week after week for the promotion. This even included title reigns, with the likes of Goldberg winning the Universal Championship on two occasions, Triple H winning the WWE Title despite being an authority figure, and Lesnar also winning countless belts within that time, going months without an appearance.
Having a part-time star can certainly make it more special when they appear, and to an extent it has done with Roman Reigns, but with Raw and SmackDown each having just one singular world champion between the shows, and with him not being there every week, coupled with the fact that he is no longer appearing on every PPV, it has been a detraction. Instead of making the World Title and champion feel more special, it has made shows and everyone else on the roster feel less special. WWE reportedly wants to have two world champions ahead of WrestleMania season, but doesn’t want Reigns to lose, per the WrestleVotes Twitter account, so they need to do something to get there.
WWE Would Need To Ensure That A Roman Reigns Loss Isn’t Predictable
In terms of fantasy booking, there are still very few ways in which WWE’s ideal situation could come about, but there is certainly a way to fantasy book a situation like this. It would need to be a scenario in which Reigns keeps hold of one of his world titles, preferably the Universal Championship, in order to continue his record-breaking title reign, whilst crowning someone else with the WWE Championship.
Some fans have stated that doing something similar to WrestleMania 16 in which the European and Intercontinental Titles were each on the line in a triple threat match, with one fall being for one title, and the next being for the other, could be an idea. However, if WWE booked a match with this stipulation, then it instantly becomes clear that Reigns is losing one of his titles, taking away all unpredictability from proceedings. However, there is a way around this. Heading into a PPV, say Survivor Series, Reigns could come up against two opponents in a triple threat match - let's say Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins for example.
Ahead of the bout, a contract signing could take place, in which Paul Heyman produces his very own personalized contract. In contract signings, individuals are usually wishy-washy when it comes to reading terms, so Heyman and Reigns could easily wind both men up to the point in which they just fleetingly sign the contract without reading the exact conditions.
A Well-Booked Triple Threat Match Could Take One Title Belt From Roman Reigns
During the match itself, either Rollins or Riddle could win the match by pinning the other, leading to a huge celebration. However, following the bell, Heyman could come out, contract in hand, stating that per the terms of the contract, if Roman Reigns isn’t pinned or submitted, he still keeps the Universal Championship, ensuring he can continue on to WrestleMania. That way, it adds huge heat to Reigns, it ensures the match isn’t predictable as the stipulation has been kept a secret, and it makes sure that Reigns hasn’t lost the match or been pinned/submitted.
Of course, WWE could easily give Reigns a newly designed belt and introduce another one, but with the brand split being essentially non-existent, this would feel like a cheap thing to do right now, and it would make whatever new title they introduce feel inferior, unless of course it was a recognizable prize like the World Heavyweight Championship. Either way, WWE do have some options, and whilst they are somewhat backed into a corner due to their own doing, there are some escape routes to get to their preferred position ahead of WrestleMania 39.