Who Is the Current WWE Universal Champion? The WWE Universal Championship, introduced in 2016, was one of WWE’s two most prestigious male world titles. Paired with the WWE Championship, it symbolised the highest achievement in men’s professional wrestling—especially for those competing on Raw. However, as of 2024, the landscape has undergone significant changes. Here’s a full overview:
Table of Contents
🏆 Background of the Universal Title
- Launched in 2016 for the Raw brand, separate from the longstanding WWE Championship. Finn Bálor was the inaugural champion of Facebook, Wikipedia, Cageside Seats, and more.
- Over the years, dominant figures such as Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, and Braun Strowman have held the title.
- In 2020, Roman Reigns began a historic reign (second reign lasting 1,316 days)—the longest in the title’s history WWEPro Wrestling Fandom+1Cageside Seats+1.
📜 Retirement and Unification
- On April 7, 2024, Roman Reigns lost in a WrestleMania 40 match against Cody Rhodes, which led to the official retirement of the WWE Universal Championship.
- Despite Cody briefly being recognized as the Undisputed WWE Champion, WWE has retroactively credited the final Universal reign to Roman Reigns, making him the undisputed final titleholder WWE+7Cageside Seats+7Reddit+7.
🎯 So… Who Holds It Now?
Technically, no one. The WWE Universal Championship is officially retired—no current champion exists. The lineage concluded with Roman Reigns on April 7, 2024 WikipediaCageside SeatsWikipedia. WWE now focuses on the Undisputed WWE Championship and the newer World Heavyweight Championship.
What Came Next?
After retiring the Universal title, WWE redirected its focus:
- Undisputed WWE Championship: A singular title now featuring both lineages—WWE and Universal. John Cena holds it as of April 20, 2025 RedditWikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3.
- World Heavyweight Championship: Introduced in 2023 to balance WWE’s world title division for both brands.
Why Was the Universal Title Retired?
There were key reasons behind WWE’s decision:
- Unified Focus: Consolidating the two top titles into one Undisputed Championship simplifies the hierarchy.
- Storyline Refresh: After Roman’s lengthy dominance, retiring the belt allowed a fresh chapter under Cody Rhodes and now John Cena.
- Prestige Realignment: WWE continues to shift narratives, and with the World Heavyweight title’s emergence, retiring Universal helps maintain brand exclusivity.
Current Championship Layout
Here’s how WWE’s top-tier structure stands:
| Title | Current Holder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Undisputed WWE Championship | John Cena | Title unifying WWE and Universal lineages The Times of India+13Wikipedia+13Cageside Seats+13Wikipedia+6Laredo Morning Times+6talkSPORT+6WWE+1Reddit+1RedditWikipedia |
| World Heavyweight Championship | Gunther | Raw’s top-tier world title Wikipedia |
Why It Matters
- Legacy and History: Roman Reigns’s reign of 1,316 days etched his name in history—still the longest for a WWE world title Pro Wrestling Fandom+1Wikipedia+1.
- Clarity for Fans: Retiring the Universal belt helps streamline the championship landscape.
- Highlighting New Icons: With John Cena’s Undisputed reign and Gunther’s World Heavyweight title, WWE spotlight shifts to a new era.
FAQs
❓ Why isn’t the Universal Championship active now?
WWE officially retired it on April 7, 2024, concluding the lineage with Roman Reigns as the final champion. (Wikipedia, Facebook)
❓ Who was the last person to hold the Universal Title?
Roman Reigns. His second reign—1,316 days long—ended at WrestleMania XL 2024 WWEPro Wrestling FandomCageside Seats.
❓ Why was Cody Rhodes not recognized as Universal Champion?
Although he held the Undisputed WWE Championship briefly, WWE retroactively maintained the Universal title lineage ended with Roman, removing Cody’s Universal reign Cageside SeatsWikipedia.
❓ Who are the current top two champions in WWE?
- John Cena is the current Undisputed WWE Champion, Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15YouTube+15.
- Gunther holds the World Heavyweight Championship for Raw Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2.
❓ Could the Universal Title return?
WWE frequently reinvents its titles. While the Universal belt is retired now, future changes in branding or storytelling could bring it back.
🏁 Final Takeaway
To answer the question:
Who is the current WWE Universal Champion?
There is no current champion—the WWE Universal Championship was retired in April 2024, with Roman Reigns historically recognized as its final holder. Instead, WWE now features the Undisputed WWE Championship (currently held by John Cena) and the World Heavyweight Championship (currently held by Gunther) as its premier titles.
