Every Roman Reigns WWE Universal Title Defence Ranked In Order Of Greatness
20. Vs Kevin Owens (TLC 2020)
There was something fitting about Kevin Owens being so heavily involved in trying to bring down The Bloodline as WrestleMania 39 approached.
He'd been trying to do just that from the very beginning.
The first of their four title matches over the Roman's three-year reign was the weakest of the three, but it's at this point in the countdown that 'The Tribal Chief's outings really ramp in quality. This was good stunt-and-bump fun without the dramatic heft of the matches later to follow, and a realisation of a physical chemistry that would carry both of them into wilder wars than this.
In the build, Owens no-sold the supposed dominance of 'The Head Of The Table', and it bled into the action. He refused to simply lay down and die in the face of the Champion's threat, regardless of the brutal punishment he suffered thanks to the show's titular weapons and his penchant for big scary bumps.
A persistent Jey Uso was the major difference maker for the first time. Owens had fingertips on the gold before 'The Right Hand Man' stepped in, the distraction freed up Reigns to win with - of all things - a low blow and ladder-assisted guilotine.