3 Reasons Why Roman Reigns Might Lose His WWE Championships At Royal Rumble 2024

2 years ago By Sports Desk

Roman Reigns is slated to return to WWE soon after successfully defending his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight at Crown Jewel 2023. Reigns has held WWE’s top prize for over 900 days and counting. However, The Head of the Table could be set to lose his historic championship reign at the upcoming Royal Rumble event on January 28, 2024. In this article, we detail three reasons why Roman Reigns may finally drop a title after his record-setting run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Randy Orton’s Shocking Return Sets Up a Monumental Championship Showdown: In a surprise move, Randy Orton made his WWE return on SmackDown instead of the expected Monday Night Raw. Orton immediately set his sights on Roman Reigns and the Bloodline. Rather than re-sign with Team Red, The Viper inked a contract with Team Blue, foreshadowing an epic championship collision with Reigns at Royal Rumble. Orton got right in Paul Heyman’s face, telling him to deliver a blunt message to The Tribal Chief. Orton is coming for Reigns and the titles he carries. This shocking return paired with the intimate message to Roman instantly restarted Orton and Reigns’ storied rivalry. Now the pieces are perfectly set up for Randy Orton to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. As arguably Reigns’ biggest threat, WWE must have Orton snap The Tribal Chief’s jaw-dropping 900+ day title reign on the grand stage of Royal Rumble, especially with the event taking place in Reigns’ backyard of San Antonio.

The Viper knows how to strike his prey when they least expect it. And with Reigns letting his guard down against a SmackDown-only roster, Orton lurks, ready to fulfil his promise to bring down The Bloodline empire. At Royal Rumble, in front of a Texas audience that favors their homegrown Tribal Chief, Orton may shock the world by taking Roman Reigns’ most prized possession – becoming the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Credible Challengers Emerge for Reigns’ Crown: While Randy Orton poses the most imposing threat from a storyline perspective, several other rising Superstars have gained serious momentum that could also position them to dethrone Roman Reigns. Superstars like Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, and Bron Breakker have all accumulated major fan support recently, becoming credible challengers that the WWE Universe can get behind.

McIntyre had a heartbreaking title match loss to Reigns last year but remains immensely popular. After regaining momentum, McIntyre could ride a wave of fan admiration back into the main event picture. With fans rallying behind him, it would make for an uplifting moment if McIntyre were to defeat Reigns’ dominant Bloodline faction. Similarly, Cody Rhodes returned from injury at the 2023 Royal Rumble in triumphant fashion. He seems destined to complete his family’s legacy by capturing a world championship. After an emotional comeback, Rhodes could reach the pinnacle by taking down Reigns.

Meanwhile, NXT standout Bron Breakker continues his rise to dominance. By catapulting the young powerhouse onto the main roster, WWE could establish their next breakout star by having Breakker shock Reigns and usher in a new era. With fan support behind fresh contenders like these three competitors, WWE has an opportunity to amplify crowd excitement and cement a rising star’s legacy with a career-defining title win over the formidable Reigns.

Door Opens for a New Champion vs Legend at WrestleMania: Finally, WWE frequently utilizes the Royal Rumble pay-per-view to plant the seeds for major WrestleMania feuds. By taking the title off Roman Reigns in stunning fashion, it opens the door for a fresh champion to step up while also allowing for a blockbuster WrestleMania matchup. A prevailing rumor indicates that boxing legend Floyd Mayweather could enter this year’s Royal Rumble match. If Mayweather were to pull off an unbelievable Rumble victory, he could challenge Reigns’ successor on the Grandest Stage. Other legends like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin have also been hinted at for potential returns.

WWE likely has big WrestleMania plans set. Transitioning to a new champion before April by dethroning Reigns enables WWE to pair their new titleholder against a box office behemoth like Mayweather, Johnson, or Austin. Any of these clashes would undoubtedly generate tremendous hype and a massive payday. By taking the gold off Reigns at Royal Rumble, the stage is set for a fresh Superstar to cement their legacy and for WWE to maximize ticket sales by promoting a legend vs new star match with the highest stakes on the line.