Predicting The Next 10 First Time Universal Champions
2. Samoa Joe
No matter how hard he tries, Samoa Joe just can't seem to get his hands on AJ Styles' WWE Championship. Whether he does or not is irrelevant because there is a Universal Championship in his future.
A tremendous in-ring performer, Joe has given us some memorable matches since his arrival in WWE. Feuding with the likes of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, he even earned himself a Universal Championship match against 'The Beast'. Unfortunately, after losing that match, his momentum stalled and he eventually found himself on the injured list.
Though he's come straight into SmackDown Live's main event scene, it still doesn't feel like he's quite ready to carry the show on his own yet. He has reinvented himself very well as Styles' friend-turned-enemy, but he needs more time to take out some worthy contenders before he wins a major championship.
In short, Joe needs to pick up where he left off on Monday Night Raw and, knowing WWE, when he picks up a bit more steam on SmackDown, that's exactly where he will be moved to. And when he ultimately returns, the Universal Championship will be his for the taking.