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WWE Universal Championship: It’s Time For Kevin Owens To Finally Begin His Title Reign

By Jason Fletcher
Published on: 04:13 PST, Aug 23, 2016

In order to usher in a new era in WWE, the company had to start making some serious changes to the outcome of matches and get away from what had become predictable. The process started following the WWE draft when Finn Balor shockingly earned the right to face Seth Rollins for the new WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam by winning his debut match on Monday Night Raw.

While it was cool to see a talented guy like Balor get such a heavy push right after his debut, I’m are not sure anyone actually expected the WWE to let him win the title at SummerSlam against Rollins. But in an effort to prove that they’ve completely changed their ways, the creative team allowed Balor to win the inaugural WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Rollins.

Unfortunately, the WWE’s plans quickly went awry as Balor suffered a shoulder injury during the match. According to WWE ringside physician Dr. Chris Robinson, Balor dislocated his right shoulder during the match, but was able to pop it back into place immediately and was able to finish the match.

The Irishman was sent for an MRI that revealed a tear in his labrum. Balor announced in the opening segment on Monday Night Raw that the injury could keep him out of action for up to six months. As a result, Balor agreed to give up his WWE Universal Championship, and Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon and Raw general manager Mick Foley wasted no time in announcing how the next champion would be crowned.

McMahon and Foley set up a series of four matches on Monday night’s show that featured Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens vs. Neville, Big Cass vs. Rusev and Roman Reigns vs. Chris Jericho. The winners of those four matches would go on to compete in a Fatal 4-Way match at the August 22 edition of Monday Night Raw to determine the next WWE Universal Champion.

Rollins would go on to pin Zayn, Owens would defeat Neville, Big Cass earned a victory over Rusev via count-out and Reigns beat Jericho despite some interference from Owens. That means Rollins, Owens, Big Cass, and Reigns will square off in a Fatal 4-Way match next Monday night in Houston to determine the next WWE Universal Champion.

Rollins has already been a two-time WWE Champion, and while he’s possibly the best talent in the sport, I’m not sure the WWE Universe is ready for a third Seth Rollins title reign. The same goes for Roman Reigns, who is a three-time WWE Champion. With the criticism he receives from fans, coupled with his recent 3o-day suspension for Adderall, it would be hard for me to see the creative team allowing him to hold the title so soon.

That leaves Big Cass and Kevin Owens. If the WWE writers wanted to shock the entire world, they would have Big Cass emerge victorious and become the WWE Universal Champion, but I don’t think he’s quite ready for that role. In addition, the WWE would be better served to have Big Cass and Enzo Amore make a serious run at The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championship as they are one of the biggest fan favorites in the division.

In my opinion, the best solution is Kevin Owens. KO is a two-time Intercontinental Champion, and he held the WWE NXT Championship for 143 days in 2015. Kevin debuted in WWE NXT on December 11, 2014, and he won the championship on February 11, 2015, exactly two months after his debut. Owens would then go on to make his debut on Monday Night Raw on May 18, 2015, when he attacked United States Champion John Cena.

Cena and Owens would then have a non-title match at Elimination Chamber two weeks later which Kevin won by pinfall. Owens would then head back to NXT, where he would lose his title to Finn Balor at a July 4 event in Tokyo. Finn and Kevin would then have a rematch in a ladder match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn with Balor emerging victorious once again as Owens would make his permanent move to the main roster following this match.

Owens knows how to be a champion. He’s one of the greatest heels in the business, but he also brings with it talent, personality, and experience. If the WWE really wants to show the WWE Universe that it’s become less predictable, then it’s time to let Kevin Owens WWE Universal Championship reign begin next Monday night in Houston.

[Image via WWE]

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