Kevin Owens is taunting the crowd after his win over Cesaro. (Photo : Getty Images/JP Yim)
Seven days after crowning a new WWE Universal champion in Finn Balor, WWE's latest pet championship belt is up for grabs in the main event of this coming week's Monday Night Raw.
Still licking his wounds after a loss to Balor at SummerSlam, two-time WWE champ Seth Rollins finds himself in a crowded mix for the title as he's now facing Kevin Owens, Big Cass and rival Roman Reigns in a fatal four-way match.
Anytime a match is stipulated in a fatal four-way contest, something memorable is bound to happen inside the squared circle. There won't be any exception in Monday's big time title match, because every man in that bout presents a strong claim on the WWE Universal championship:
Seth Rollins: Winning the WWE Championship belt twice already, Rollins - arguably the top heel in the WWE right now - will have another shot at the new title. If WWE wants its business to be in good hands while its latest Baby Face darling Balor is recuperating from injury, Rollins is a safe bet.
The Architect proved throughout his seven-month reign that he can exceed expectation as the promotion's top villain with world-class in-ring skills and uncanny ability to draw jeers from the crowd.
Kevin Owens: Before winning the Intercontinental championship two times, Kevin Owens was Kevin Steele the Ring of Honor legend. During his tenure in that promotion, the Prizefighter was the best in the ring and on the mic.
Don't get me wrong Rollins has been exceptional as the top heel, but Raw will benefit tremendously if they can present the fans another villain.
It's like you have Stone Cold Steve Austin as the top baby face going head to head with the Rock heel, and then Kurt Angle comes out of nowhere and starts suplexing WWE's biggest stars.
Big Cass: I don't expect much from the New Era wrestler. He's still pretty a raw talent but oozing with potential based on his 7-foot physique. He's still a project. If you would ask me, Chris Jericho deserves more to be in that ring than him.
But again, he can be a force to be reckoned with in next 2-3 years and Vince McMahon surely wants him to have a feel of top competition at this stage of his career.
Roman Reigns: Oh, the Almighty Roman Reigns. Just after a month after being caught using substance prohibited by WWE wellness policy and a three-week bullying spree on Rusev, Reigns is back in the world title mix, for God sake.
It's a shame, WWE never learns. The fans hate Reigns and everything he stands for. The WWE universe endured over a decade of John Cena and they definitely don't want another chosen company man to rule over wrestling. Unless, he finally becomes what everybody is waiting for. He turns into villain.
On Monday, WWE is presented with yet another opportunity to turn Reigns into a heel. After brutalizing Rusev for unknown reasons, all directions seem pointing towards the Big Dog going bad. If that happens, WWE finally has a legit explanation why fans keep booing him.
Prediction: Again, the safe bet is on Rollins to win the title. Then again, a major swerve could see Owens taking the title or even more a big bad Roman Reigns annihilating everybody to secure his fourth reign as a WWE champ. Sorry Big Cass, but it would take a huge powerplay from Vince McMahon for him to win it all.
