From the WWE Rumor Mill: Brock Lesnar may not defend the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble?
What's the story?
On the 28 November edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that the current WWE Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, probably wouldn't defend the title at one of the Royal Rumble.
In case you didn't know...
Since Lesnar won the WWE Universal Championship from Goldberg at WrestleMania 33, he's defended it on television three times: against Samoa Joe at Great Balls Of Fire, in a fatal 4-way at SummerSlam, and against Strowman at No Mercy.
The heart of the matter
According to Meltzer, Lesnar will appear at the Royal Rumble, but may not defend the championship. The reason is at this time the WWE does not have a suitable opponent for Lesnar.
There were past rumours that Finn Balor could challenge for the WWE Universal Championship since he has not had an official one-on-one rematch, but it seems that idea is off the cards for now as Vince McMahon doesn't believe he is "over" enough.
Meltzer ran through a few scenarios as to why Lesnar wouldn't defend the championship including:
a) The way the WWE is booking Braun Strowman, he's not on another collision course with Lesnar.
b) Roman Reigns is still set to face Lesnar at WrestleMania, and that plan hasn't changed.
c) Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins are still set to be a tag team potentially through to WrestleMania.
d) Having Bray Wyatt face Lesnar would be "a complete waste."
Lesnar last defended the title at No Mercy in September against Braun Strowman.
What's next?
With the Royal Rumble still two months away and no Raw-branded pay per view until then, Lesnar may not appear on television until the new year. However, the Dunkin' Donuts Centre in Providence claims that he will appear on the December 18, 2017, episode of Raw.
Author's take
There are positives and negatives having a part-time wrestler as the Raw champion, but at this point, I really wish the WWE Universal Championship was on someone who's there to defend it regularly. It appears I won't get that wish until WrestleMania.
I wouldn't be surprised if Roman Reigns matches the Ultimate Warrior's feat of WrestleMania VI where he went in as the WWE Intercontinental Champion and left with the main title as well.
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