Who Should Face World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns After SummerSlam?

Roman Reigns defeated his long-time rival and former friend Seth Rollins at SummerSlam Sunday 2026, retaining the World Heavyweight Championship in the process. He won the gold back at WrestleMania 42 from CM Punk, holding the title ever since, fending off both Jacob Fatu and Rollins thus far in his reign.

With Reigns seemingly not looking like someone who is in any position to lose the title any time soon, it poses the question of who should be the one to step up and challenge him next. When looking across the WWE roster, some names stand out more than others.

5

LA Knight

• Knight cut a fantastic promo against Reigns on RAW.
• WWE should put these two together for a full-blown feud.
• Reigns & Knight have unfinished business.

LA Knight confronted Roman Reigns on the August 3 edition of Monday Night RAW, making his title intentions clear. Reigns stated that he didn’t just give title shots out and they needed to be earned, casting doubt into whether Knight will end up challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship. However, the magic they created on the mic was enough to warrant WWE booking them together more in the coming weeks.

Knight & Reigns can create tension and heat, building on their previous feud back in 2023, so this is a no-brainer route for WWE and the World Heavyweight Title scene.

4

El Grande Americano

• WWE teased Roman Reigns heading to AAA.
• WWE can elevate Americano by giving him a world title match.
• This would be a fresh and unique match for Reigns.

On the August 3 episode of RAW, WWE teased that Roman Reigns might head to AAA for an appearance. If this is the case, then WWE must consider booking a blockbuster match with the biggest star in AAA. El Grande Americano is a sensation in Mexico, making himself an even bigger star after his match of the year contender earlier this year. He is at a point where any appearance garners an enormous reaction, so stepping up to face Reigns – whether that be in WWE or AAA – would be a major deal.

In fact, WWE should consider booking two matches; one in WWE and one in AAA to maximize the buzz. Even if Americano comes up short, working Reigns in such a capacity will only serve to raise his star power.

3

Royce Keys

• Royce Keys needs a star-making feud in WWE.
• He has had issues with The Bloodline in the last month.
• Reigns endorsed a vicious attack on Keys through Jacob Fatu.

Royce Keys is still new to the WWE main roster and has yet to truly create a connection with the WWE fans. After feuding with The Bloodline over the summer and recently falling victim to a brutal attack from Jacob Fatu, Keys can finally establish himself by turning his sights to the man in control of Fatu; Roman Reigns.

Keys stepping into the ring and challenging Reigns can be the moment which finally allows him to connect with the fans and make a name for himself. Even with a loss, Keys working with Reigns would be a huge deal, and it would also allow Reigns to work with someone completely new to make his World Heavyweight Title reign even stronger.

2

Bron Breakker

• WWE never pulled the trigger on Breakker vs. Reigns.
• This could be an elevating feud for Breakker in WWE.
• Even in defeat, Breakker would benefit from a world title program.

In 2025, Roman Reigns feuded with The Vision and even faced Bron Breakker in tag team action… only for WWE to not pull the trigger on a singles feud between the pair. With Reigns as the World Heavyweight Champion, Breakker turning his sights to Reigns would push him back up the card and allow him to work with a huge star in order to continue improving his talents.

Breakker is someone who could even dethrone Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship, in what would be a star-making moment. He could drop the belt back to Reigns if WWE wants him as champion heading into WrestleMania 43, but there is no reason why a little bit of hot potato can’t be played in the main event scene on RAW.

1

Penta

• Penta recently lost the Intercontinental Championship.
• Fans would get behind Penta in a feud with Roman Reigns.
• Penta deserves a shot in the main event scene after flawless world in WWE’s midcard.

Penta has been on fire ever since arriving in WWE, forging a strong connection to the fans, elevating the Intercontinental Championship, and having great matches every week. After dropping the Intercontinental Title to Chad Gable at SummerSlam, WWE should move Penta onto bigger and better things.

There is no world in which Penta defeats Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship, but stepping up to one of WWE’s biggest stars would instantly make him a bigger deal. WIth how much fans love Penta, they would rally behind him as he gives Reigns a completely new and fresh opponent in the main event scene, even if it is just for a one-off PLE or Saturday Night’s Main Event.