Opinion: Ranking the effectiveness of all of the Universal Champions

#1: Kevin Owens

Owens surprisingly had the most stable reign as Universal Champion.

While Owens was often treated as the cowardly heel champion, things were never more stable for the Universal Championship than when KO held the title.

After Balor had relinquished the title due to injury on the same night, a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match was held the next week.

Owens, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass all competed for the right to become the second Universal Champion.

When the dust settled, Triple H had a hand in the eliminations of both Reigns and Rollins, helping lead his second talented NXT superstar to the Universal Championship in Owens.

Owens was more than capable in both the ring and on the mic and his reign highlighted the belt's existence.

During his reign, he defeated Rollins, Reigns and Strowman as champion, albeit all due to interference from wrestlers.

Chris Jericho interfered multiple times in order to help Owens retain.

Strowman interfered in a match between Owens and Reigns because he hated Reigns and revealed that he was promised a shot at Owens in exchange for his help.

Reigns interfered in the match with Strowman.

Owens' reign ultimately came to an end with the writing on the wall of a Lesnar/Goldberg match at Wrestlemania.

He lost the belt in a quick squash match thanks to 'interference' from Jericho.

While Owens typically retained his belt thanks to interference, he at least was around for the company while champion and provided one of the best storylines in recent history with his friendship with Jericho.

Owens provided Raw with what Triple H and Vince hoped Balor's reign as Universal Champ would do, but Owens managed to stay healthy.

It was also another positive sign that the main title on Raw was entrusted to another wrestler who didn't fit the prototypical mold of Vince's vision of a superstar.

Owens losing the belt to a part-timer only for another part-timer to win set the belt back and it has been in trouble for the most part ever since.

EFFECTIVENESS METER: 8 - MULTIPLE DEFENSES AND PROVIDED RAW WITH A STABLE CHAMPION FOR BABYFACES TO CHASE