Here's What's Next For Roman Reigns As WWE Universal Champion

Reigns still has Daniel Bryan in his orbit following WrestleMania 37.

Roman Reigns Paul Heyman
WWE.com

Cesaro is likely up next for WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

The Wrestling Observer notes that while there's currently no word on how WWE will get to Reigns vs. Cesaro with Daniel Bryan still orbiting Universal Title contention, the expectation is that next week's match between Roman and Daniel will likely bridge to The Swiss Superman.

Reigns is currently without an opponent for WWE's next pay-per-view, WrestleMania Backlash, which goes down on 16 May 2021. He successfully defended his Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37 by pinning Bryan and Edge simultaneously in their night two main event.

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Cesaro, meanwhile, beat Seth Rollins the evening before, re-establishing himself as a SmackDown contender.

Last week's SD opened with Bryan and Cesaro beating Seth Rollins and the Reigns-affiliated Jey Uso following a show-opening in-ring segment. Reigns appeared later in the evening, turning down Cesaro's request for a title shot but agreeing to put the belt on the line against Bryan on next week's show. Daniel took the match with Cesaro's approval.

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If it happens, Reigns vs. Cesaro will be the first time the challenger has ever competed for the Universal Championship. He last went one-on-one with Roman on a December 2017 episode of Raw.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.