Predicting The Next 10 Challengers For Roman Reigns After WrestleMania 38

Roman Reigns has held the top prize in the WWE, the Universal Championship, for close to 600 days. With his successful defense of the title against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38, Reigns is now the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, having defeated seemingly every possible challenger for his throne, and in some instances, in a rather dominant fashion.

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The question now is "who is next?" WWE has the difficult task of providing Roman Reigns challengers that make sense and that the fan base believes in. Ones that make for compelling television throughout the next calendar year until next year's WrestleMania, or until WWE plans on ending this monumental reign. We take a look now at 10 people who fit the bill.

10 Shinsuke Nakamura

Assuming the feud with Brock Lesnar continues into WrestleMania Backlash, Reigns will need a fresh opponent, respected in name, but not likely to dethrone him. In steps Shinsuke Nakamura. While 2021 wasn't exactly a headlining year for the former Intercontinental Champion, their brief encounters from the past would be the perfect callback to this matchup.

In 2018, Nakamura won the Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Reigns to do so. On the January 8th, 2021 episode of Smackdown, Nakamura had seemingly won a Number 1 Contender's Gauntlet Match to challenge Roman Reigns for the title, only to be screwed out of the opportunity by Reigns and The Bloodline. With little to no follow-up to that encounter, WWE could easily use that as a jump-off point to a short-term program for Roman and could have the payoff on an episode of Friday Night Smackdown.

9 Ricochet

As the reigning Intercontinental Champion, Ricochet would qualify as a legitimate contender, but WWE fans would be hard-pressed to forget how poorly he has been booked since his call-up to the main roster. With two to three months of successful title defenses under his belt, Ricochet's credibility would be restored to the point where a one-on-one encounter with Roman Reigns wouldn't be dismissed.

The matchup itself should be, by all accounts, spectacular, filled with high spots from Ricochet, and feats of strength that showcase Roman's power. The contrast in styles would be extremely entertaining. The outcome wouldn't be much in doubt, but the match & feud would do their job of engaging the audience while moving the timeline of Roman's reign along to a major challenger for Hell In A Cell, Money In The Bank & SummerSlam.

8 Randy Orton

Randy Orton and Roman Reigns have had multiple encounters in the past, but this meeting would be the first time their roles would be reversed: Orton, the babyface. Reigns, the heel. With their planned champion vs. champion match at Survivor Series, 2020 changed, this would be the first time the two superstars faced off since 2014, therefore giving the matchup a fresh feel.

The Viper would also be classified as a legit threat to end the dominating reign of Roman. With Reigns now the reigning Unified WWE Champion, the cross-brand issues would cease, and the matchup could occur at a show like Hell In A Cell in June. It could also have a dual purpose: It would further cement Reigns' legacy as champion, and it could be the start of the storyline break-up of Orton's team with Riddle, RK-Bro.

7 Riddle

Riddle's gimmick of being an easy-going, scooter-riding, care-free dude who can take care of business inside the squared circle has gotten over well with the WWE Universe, and the RK-Bro partnership with Randy Orton has been one of the highlights of WWE programming for the better part of a year. As such, WWE has a ready-made storyline on its hands with Riddle & Orton, and this matchup versus Roman Reigns could be used as a means to get there. Just coming off of defeating Randy Orton, Reigns would dismiss the challenge of the other half of the current Raw Tag Team Champions. The seeds of jealousy from Randy Orton would be planted, fearful that his younger partner might be able to do what he couldn't just a few short weeks prior. Money In The Bank in July now has its main event match, and Roman Reigns has a new, fresh & exciting opponent on the road to SummerSlam.

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The WWE Universe would firmly be behind Riddle in his quest to dethrone Reigns, and die-hard fans who follow the dirt sheets would be eager to see if any of the supposed heat between the two would translate in the ring.

6 AJ Styles

Roman Reigns is no stranger to AJ Styles. He was the first person Styles faced when he debuted at the 2016 Royal Rumble. They've faced off in title matches before, but this would also be unique, being the first time the heel/face dynamic between them would be reversed.

AJ would continue the trend of legitimate World Title threats for Roman Reigns and their matchup would be nothing short of "phenomenal." AJ is a former two-time WWE Champion, so his pursuit of championship number three and defeating Roman Reigns for the first time would be a good story to head into SummersSlam in August.

5 Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre versus Roman Reigns has Pay-Per-View main event written all over it. A matchup worthy of headlining the company's planned UK stadium show Labor Day weekend. A matchup of the two biggest stars in the company over the last two years. McIntyre has been positioned as one of the few people who could stand toe-to-toe with Reigns during his dominant run at the top as The Tribal Chief, and the fan base would get a rematch of their 2020 Survivor Series encounter in the Thunderdome.

This time, they wouldn't be in front of a virtual audience, but rather, in front of potentially 70,000 people at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. For the first time since being challenged by Brock Lesnar, Reigns' title would be in serious jeopardy. McIntyre has made it no secret that this is a match that he wants, but has stated that it is something he wants to build up to. The yet-to-be-named UK event in September would be a great place for it.

4 Bobby Lashley

In what would be a match pitting Roman against an opponent more powerful than him, the prospects of Bobby Lashley stepping up to challenge Reigns is one too good to pass on. Lashley has momentum after his win over Omos at WrestleMania 38 and with Lashley now seemingly a face it would be easy to get to this match: Lashley never truly lost the WWE Championship. He wants his belt back and Roman has what he wants.

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The Almighty versus The Tribal Chief would be the caliber matchup that could easily headline the next Saudi Arabia trip for Crown Jewel if WWE can wait that long.

3 Seth Rollins

Two careers intertwined and forever connected. The story of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins is a long one, with a multitude of chapters that have seen them in wars together as "brothers" and on opposite sides as "enemies." While Roman Reigns has seemingly beaten and or dominated every person that has been lined up in front of him, the same can not be said of Seth Rollins.

They have battled a handful of times in the past for a major title, and as recently as this past January at the Royal Rumble, they had the match of the night for the Universal Championship. Revisiting their story at Survivor Series and/or Day1 would be welcomed by the WWE Universe. Reigns refusing to let go of the guillotine choke resulting in a disqualification followed up with a steel chair attack would be an easy way to open up the next chapter in this storied rivalry.

2 Gunther

Formerly known as WALTER, Gunther would pose a new, fresh & threatening challenge to The Tribal Chief. As a championship reign continues for as long as Roman Reigns' current reign has lasted, competitive & believable challengers are needed. If the WWE wants to avoid rehashing overdone matchups, Gunther would do just that.

As NXT United Kingdom Champion, Gunther reigned supreme for 870 days. He could step up to the plate as Roman seeks out new opponents in 2023. Gunther could match Roman in the power department making their head-to-head battle a true battle of the titans. Throwing in a Bloodline versus Imperium storyline with a few six-man tag matches on the way to the championship match, at The Royal Rumble or The Elimination Chamber, on the road to next year's WrestleMania would be intriguing, as well.

1 The Rock

The writing has been on the wall for months. As more and more people fell at the hands of Roman Reigns as he took on the title "Tribal Chief," the matchup seemed inevitable. If The Rock were coming back to the WWE for one final matchup, Reigns would be the most logical opponent. It would be the biggest match the WWE could produce, and the backstory of how this point is reached is clearly defined.

While some may look at the fact that WWE's failure to create new stars and worthy challengers for Roman Reigns along the way as the reason this match is even needed, one cannot argue the appeal this would have, to both casual and committed viewers. A battle between the star of yesterday and the star of today. For bragging rights, to determine who is the Head Of The Table in the Anoa'i Family, Roman Reigns versus The Rock has to happen at no other place than WrestleMania 39 in Hollywood. The potential matchup has been wildly anticipated and expected by fans all around the world. WWE has one and only one thing to do, deliver it.