'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAlD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAG//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAEDEAAAAD//xAAhEAABAwMEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBRESAAYUMhMiQf/aAAgBAQABPwCqz6DFk1aDHiz6dwHCpzgqQEJPhPQKvlcX76ci7njuKZFTQ6Gzhmp9YKrfT66//8QAFxEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEAA//aAAgBAgEBPwDsqiVd/8QAGREAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAyIx/9oACAEDAQE/AKcllXgn/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Current WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has dominated Friday Night SmackDown since returning to WWE at SummerSlam 2020.
Only seven days after returning to WWE, Reigns captured the Universal Championship for the second time in his career.
During his impressive Universal Championship reign, which has lasted close to 250 days as of this writing, Roman Reigns has defended his championship against reputable WWE Superstars such as Daniel Bryan, Edge, Kevin Owens, Braun Strowman, and even his own cousin Jey Uso.
Trending
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
This past week on SmackDown, Reigns once again successfully defended the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan, banishing Bryan from the blue brand in the process.
This has led many WWE fans to question as to when exactly Reigns will eventually lose the title.
Let's take a closer look at five reasons why Roman Reigns should hold the WWE Universal Championship until WrestleMania 38.
#5 Roman Reigns' undefeated streak in singles WWE competition since 2020 should continue
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns currently possesses one of the most impressive undefeated streaks in recent memory.
The Tribal Chief has been undefeated in singles action since he returned to WWE television at SummerSlam in 2020. Not a single WWE Superstar has been able to officially pin or submit Roman Reigns during a WWE match.
But Reigns' incredible streak started even before his WWE return at SummerSlam in 2020.
The last time The Head of the Table was defeated in singles action inside a WWE ring was all the way back at the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view event on December 15, 2019. This means that Roman Reigns' current WWE undefeated streak has lasted over 500 days.
With a streak this impressive, it is in WWE's best interest to extend it and finally have an opponent beat Reigns on the biggest stage possible.
An up-and-coming WWE Superstar defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38 for the Universal Championship would immediately establish them as a bonafide main event draw.
#4 There are not many viable WWE Superstars to be Universal Champion currently on SmackDown
Since moving to the FOX network in 2019, SmackDown has quickly established itself as the "A-Show" in WWE's list of priorities. SmackDown generates the highest viewing figures for WWE and also brings in the largest amount of television rights revenue.
As such, it could be argued that, in comparison to Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown has the roster with the biggest WWE Superstars at its disposal. However, how many SmackDown superstars could realistically be a viable alternative to Roman Reigns as Universal Champion on SmackDown?
Reigns has already defeated some top-tier stars to retain the WWE Universal Championship. Looking at the other names on the SmackDown roster right now, not many superstars can take the ball from Reigns and run with it.
Instead, it would make more logical sense for Roman Reigns to hold the WWE Universal Championship until WrestleMania 38.
During this time period, WWE could build up several names on SmackDown, elevating them to be considered as a viable alternative to Roman Reigns as Universal Champion.
#3 Roman Reigns could become the longest reigning Universal Champion in WWE history
Since WWE debuted the Universal Championship in 2016, only eight superstars have held the prestigious Universal Championship gold on WWE television.
Former Universal Champion Brock Lesnar currently holds the record for the longest single Universal Championship reign in WWE history. The Beast captured the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 33 on April 2, 2017, and held the title until SummerSlam on August 19, 2018.
This marked an incredible 504-day reign as Universal Champion, which is recognized as the sixth-longest World Championship reign in WWE history and is also the longest World Championship reign in WWE since 1988.
Roman Reigns' current Universal title reign has already crossed more than 240 days, and he could break Lesnar's record in the long run.
Should The Tribal Chief hold onto the Universal Championship until WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, it would mark over 580 days as Universal Champion for Reigns.
In addition to maintaining an incredible undefeated streak, Roman Reigns holding onto the Universal Championship until WrestleMania 38 will allow him to define the current generation of superstars for a long time.
#2 Roman Reigns is the top heel in WWE right now
Last week, Roman Reigns lived up to his top heel status after banishing a top babyface like Daniel Bryan from WWE SmackDown.
The clash between the two WWE Superstars was critically acclaimed, with many stating that it is arguably the best match to happen on WWE television this year so far.
Many have also been quick to praise Roman Reigns' performance against Daniel Bryan.
Since returning to WWE in 2020 and aligning himself with Paul Heyman, Reigns has easily been doing the best work of his WWE career inside the ring and on the microphone.
Reigns also debuted a new entrance theme this past week on SmackDown, which perfectly accompanies and matches his new, darker persona that he has explored over the past 12 months.
Not only is Roman Reigns the top heel in WWE right now, but he is also the top WWE Superstar on any brand currently. It wouldn't make any sense for WWE to book Reigns to lose the Universal Championship while he has so much momentum.
The saying goes, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it." Therefore, WWE should continue with what is currently working incredibly well, and that's keeping the Universal Championship on Roman Reigns until WrestleMania 38.
#1 Over 100,000 could witness the historic end of Roman Reigns' streak at WWE WrestleMania 38
WWE announced earlier this year that WrestleMania 38 will emanate from Arlington, Texas, inside AT&T Stadium in April 2022.
This won't be the first time that WrestleMania has taken place in AT&T Stadium as WWE presented WrestleMania 32 inside the very same venue in 2016.
WrestleMania 32 was a huge success for WWE, drawing a disputed attendance of 101,763 fans in attendance. That figure broke WWE's previous attendance record of 93,173 fans for the WrestleMania III pay-per-view event in 1987.
Due to the global pandemic, WWE has been without live fans in attendance at various events on a regular basis. After one day, one month, and one year without their physical presence, WrestleMania 37 featured a live crowd earlier this year.
However, fans that were present at WrestleMania 37 inside Raymond James Stadium returned at a reduced capacity of 30%. Therefore, 25,000 tickets were available for each night of WrestleMania 37.
With COVID vaccines and herd immunity, there is hope that events with capacity crowds in arenas and stadiums could return by the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. As a result, 100,000 fans could theoretically attend WrestleMania 38 if health and safety protocols permit them to do so.
With such a large crowd in attendance, it would be the perfect opportunity for Roman Reigns' incredible undefeated streak and record-breaking Universal Championship reign to come to an end.
