Major Update On Roman Reigns' WWE Booking

Latest on WWE's plans for Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns in 2023.

by Andy H Murray
Jey Uso Roman Reigns
WWE.com

Current WWE booking plans call for Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns to skip the Backlash 2023 premium live event on Saturday 6 May, with his next title defence scheduled for 27 May's Night of Champions event instead.

This is according to WrestleVotes (via GiveMeSport). Per the outlet:-

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A tenured member of the creative team confirmed to us that Roman Reigns will be working the Night of Champions show in Saudi Arabia. Roman Reigns is not working the Backlash show in Puerto Rico on May 6th. He will wait until May 27th to wrestle in Jeddah at Night of Champions instead.

Reigns is fresh off his latest Undisputed WWE Universal Championship defence, having defeated Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39. Rhodes, who was a red-hot favourite to dethrone Reigns on 2 April, has since been locked into a feud with Brock Lesnar, whom he has challenged for Backlash.

Roman will pass 1,000 days as WWE's top champion should he make it out of Night of Champions with his gold. 960 days have elapsed since he became Universal Champion in August 2020, defeating Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt, and he added the WWE Championship to his unified collection at WrestleMania 38 last April.

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There is currently no word on who, exactly, Roman will face at Night of Champions, which takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

 
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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.