Roman Reigns has now been the Universal Champion for an astonishing 868 days and the WWE Champion for 287 days. The Tribal Chief has smashed through several records along the way to becoming the most successful WWE Superstar of the modern era.
Who did Roman Reigns defeat to begin his dominant title reign?
With his reign lasting well over two years, some fans may have forgotten how it all began back in 2020. During that year, Roman Reigns took several months away from the ring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when he returned at SummerSlam that August, he had a whole new attitude.
SummerSlam was headlined by a huge match between ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. During the bout, Strowman exposed the wooden panelling underneath the ring canvas, but it was The Fiend who used it to his advantage, dropping Strowman with two Sister Abigails to the exposed flooring to capture the Universal Championship.
However, before he could celebrate, he was interrupted by Roman Reigns, who speared Wyatt before turning his attention to Strowman, spearing him as well before attacking him with a steel chair. To close the show, he speared The Fiend again before holding up the Universal Title.
The following week at Payback, Reigns took on both Wyatt and Strowman in a No Holds Barred Triple Threat Match for the Universal Championship. Reigns refused to enter the match until the last few minutes, allowing The Fiend and Strowman to destroy each other fighting all over the arena.
When Reigns finally made his entrance, he attacked both men with a steel chair but was initially unable to get the pinfall. When The Fiend locked him in the Mandible Claw, however, Reigns hit him with a Low Blow, then speared Strowman and pinned him to kick off his historic title run.