5 Deserving WWE Superstars Who Should Hold The Universal Championship

It would be fair to say that Brock Lesnar has never really been the most popular member of the WWE roster.

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Thanks to his various extra-curricular activities - namely taking time away from the ring to compete in UFC - the 40-year-old is forever fighting the perception that he sees pro-wrestling as a way to line his pockets and nothing more.

This year, more than any other has been a damaging one for The Beast Incarnate's reputation. In March, he was booed out of the arena after his advertised appearance at a house show in Chicago lasted just 35 seconds.

Since then, reports have emerged claiming that his new contract will see him earn more than $100,000 every time he shows up on Raw.

Combine all of this with his disappointing performance opposite Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 34, and many are beginning to question whether he's really deserving of the WWE Universal Championship, a title he has held for more than a year.

Sadly, it appears as though fans will have to wait at least another couple of months before the company crowns a new title holder. Paul Heyman's client won't be defending his belt at Money in the Bank, and may not make another appearance in the squared circle until SummerSlam.

That gives us a lot of time to speculate on the identity of his successor, and though it's rare that WWE reward their employees simply on the basis of who is the most "deserving", here are five that could surely do a better job than Lesnar.

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#5 Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn is one of the hardest workers in WWE, evidenced both by the sheer volume of matches he's fought since being promoted to the main roster in 2016 and the fact that he takes bumps like nobody else on the roster.

The Underdog From The Underground is clearly a committed team player. Despite being a potential main event star in his own right, he has spent most of his mainstream wrestling career helping to make others look good, specifically the likes of Kevin Owens and Braun Strowman.

The concern with Zayn has always been that, although he is an undoubtedly skilled technician, he lacks the personality to be the leading player on Monday Night Raw. These fears, however, have been firmly laid to rest over recent months. Since his heel turn late last year, he's been one of the most entertaining voices in the company.

#4 Finn Balor

Balor was the first Universal champion

Inside the WWE locker room, Finn Balor faces largely the same problems as the aforementioned Zayn. There is an unfortunate perception of him as a solid worker, but one who lacks the charisma to be anything more than an upper mid-carder.

As with Zayn, however, these fears are misplaced. Balor may not have the mic skills of someone like The Rock or John Cena, but he makes up for it with his effortlessly cool presence.

He's perfect for the internet age: quiet and understated, but also with the ability to back it up when he steps in the ring.

Having seen a potential Universal Title pursuit canceled late last year, the Irishman now faces an uphill struggle to make real his dreams of being a fully-fledged WWE headline act. Only a fool would write him off so soon, though.

#3 Kevin Owens

Owens had a solid run as the Universal champion

Owens carried the Universal Championship for more than six months between August 2016 and March 2017, and most fans agree that his reign was far more entertaining than the one we're currently being made to watch (or, as is more often than not the case, not watch).

This time, however, KO is a far more established main event presence. The year he spent on SmackDown - a large part of which was spent feuding with the McMahons - has transformed him from a wise-cracking coward into an intense, take-no-prisoners bad guy.

Now he's returned to Monday nights, it's the perfect time to put him back in the main event spotlight. As well as guaranteeing entertaining promos at the foot of Raw's first hour every week, we'd also get far longer matches on pay-per-view than those served up by Lesnar.

#2 - Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins is the hottest Superstar on the roster at the moment

Incredibly, it's now been almost two years since Seth Rollins last held a world title in WWE. The Architect hasn't held either of the company's biggest prizes since his three-minute reign at Money in the Bank 2016.

Mostly, this has been the result of bad luck. Rollins was hit by injury shortly the brand split later that year, and it's only as of the last few months that he has been consistently fit and able to generate some momentum on Monday Night Raw.

Now that he has, he's one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster. His crowd reactions are solid every week, and he's putting on great pay-per-view matches too - including one of the best on the entire WrestleMania 34 card alongside Balor and The Miz.

#1 Braun Strowman

Strowman is one of the most entertaining Superstars in the roster

There is nobody currently on the Monday Night Raw roster who would make a more deserving Universal Champion than Braun Strowman, who has been one of WWE's most consistent performers over the last 12 months,

In addition to a series of great performances in the ring, The Monster Among Men has the kayfabe credibility to back it up. He's already taken Brock Lesnar to the limit at No Mercy and won the inaugural Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.

Crucially, he's also a wrestler who tends to bring the best out of his opponents. Whether it's Roman Reigns, Rollins or The Miz, everybody looks like a million bucks when they're sharing the stage with Strowman. Even Nicholas.

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Who do you think should be the next Universal Champion? Sound off in the comments section below!