10 Ways To Fix WWE's Universal Title
3. A Lengthy Title Reign
The days of Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan’s multi-year title reigns are dead and gone. Wrestling evolved beyond that point a long time ago, and it’d be impossible to book such a run without causing major problems in the modern era. That said, WWE could definitely stand to benefit from giving the next Universal Champion a long, successful run with the belt, and it could be exactly what the belt needs to finally gain some prestige.
Great championships are defined by great champions, and it’s hard to call someone a “great champion” if they can’t keep hold of the belt for longer than it takes to brew a cup of tea. Finn Balor’s injury was obviously unideal, but his one-day reign got the Universal Title off to a disastrous start. Hot-shotting the Raw Women’s Title has worked well for its prestige, but it won’t work with the men’s top prize, and the next title reign should be a lengthy one.
A dominant run from a credible champion stretching all the way to late Summer or early Autumn would work wonders for the Universal Title. WWE would need to be wary of falling into the Superman-esque trappings that have plagued John Cena’s career, but fans will tune-in in droves to see a strong, well-booked champion, and a lengthy reign will only make an eventual title change feel even more important.