Roman Reigns, a name familiar to every WWE fan, has established himself as the apex of the company's superstar roster. In his reign as the WWE Universal Champion, he's taken all comers. He's beaten the likes of Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, and most recently, Cody Rhodes. Now, he's established himself as a historically significant figure as well.
As of now, he's held the Universal Championship for a staggering 1,028 days, surpassing Pedro Morales' reign of 1,027 days and becoming the fourth-longest world champion in WWE history.
With this achievement, Reigns has now only three icons standing before him: Hulk Hogan (1,474 days), Bob Backlund (2,135 days), and Bruno Sammartino (2,803 days).
This feat speaks volumes about Reigns' legacy in WWE. His championship reign began in Payback 2020, following a win in a triple-threat match against The Fiend and Braun Strowman. He's since held the title with an iron grip, defeating a smorgasbord of industry titans en route to being crowned as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion by defending his title successfully nearly 30 times.
Perhaps what's most impressive about Reigns' run is that he effectively forced the WWE to introduce a new championship title after he unified both brands' title belts by defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38 in a title-for-title showdown.
Over 400 days have passed since that triumphant day, and Reigns continues to stand as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, a testament to his dominance.
Contrary to popular belief, Reigns' journey to this point has been nothing but a smooth ride. In fact, Reigns is probably a lot more vulnerable than ever as the ever-strong foundation of The Bloodline has started to crack. Despite Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman standing their ground, there's undeniable tension among the Anoa'i family members, which, for now, will culminate in the Bloodline Civil War match at WWE Money in the Bank.
Comparisons with legendary champions such as Pedro Morales, Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, and Hulk Hogan aren't new. Each of these champions left an indelible mark on WWE. However, what sets Reigns apart is the unique challenges he has faced. He's not just contending with top-tier challengers for his title, but also battling internal disputes within his faction, all while maintaining a title reign that has been nothing short of extraordinary.
His next milestone is within reach; Sammartino's second title reign of 1,237 days. But can he rise to the challenge and beat the most intimidating records held by Backlund and Sammartino? Reigns has already showcased a dedication and resilience that has cemented his place in WWE history, but to break these records would put him in a class of his own.
For now, fans can only wish for Reigns to defend his title sooner rather than later. Then again, the WWE is smart to keep on riding The Bloodline as it continues to rake in the numbers for Friday Night SmackDown.
At the moment, Cody Rhodes remains the top title contender against Reigns but he's currently busy with other stuff. The American Nightmare is set to wrestle a very effective heel in Dominik Mysterio for some reason at Money in the Bank, so there's no way he'll get a chance for a rematch with Reigns anytime soon. But, hey, maybe WWE can give us a memorable match without risking Rhodes' quest to finish his story? The last we heard, Drew McIntyre is close to returning to the WWE.
