The first episode of WWE Smackdown of 2022 was headlined by the two top champions from the current roster. Both the Universal Champion Roman Reigns and the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar were under the same roof to indicate a potential battle at Wrestlemania 38.
It was the Universal Champion who kicked off WWE SmackDown from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Roman said there are two people who he never wants to see ever again and that’s the champion from Raw, Lesnar, and his advocate Paul Heyman.
WWE Raw: Brock Lesnar Confirmed For January 10 Episode From Philadelphia
The WWE Champion and Paul Heyman eventually came out and joined the Trial Chief in the ring. Lesnar stopped Heyman and did his own introduction, and also advised Roman to acknowledge him.
Lesnar stated in a promo during the opening segment of WWE Smackdown that he got what he wanted last Saturday and that’s the WWE Championship. Now it’s time to give the fans what they want and that’s Lesnar winning the Universal Championship. The Beast then proceeded to challenge Roman to a Title vs. Title match.
?#SmackDown @WWERomanReigns @BrockLesnar @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/87WvqArt8c
— WWE (@WWE) January 8, 2022
Reigns upstaged Lesnar on WWE Smackdown
Roman mentioned how this idea is intriguing but it’s not his idea. He then said that he doesn’t do business with people who has an association with trash people like Paul Heyman. Heyman got upset and mentioned how he’s served his Tribal Chief. Lesnar told Heyman to shut up when Roman pounced on him with a Superman Punch!
Roman then left the ring by saying that Brock is the number-two champ in WWE while he’s the number-one to end the segment on WWE Smackdown. While no immediate matchup between these two has not been announced, the prediction is that these two bitter rivals will go head-to-head at The Biggest Event of Them All in a Champion vs. Champion or in a Title Unification matchup.
acKNoWledGE mEEe#SmackDown @BrockLesnar @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/RmQx7XXmjC
— WWE (@WWE) January 8, 2022
Round 1️⃣ goes to @WWERomanReigns…#SmackDown @BrockLesnar @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/4I2hD0oVzX
— WWE (@WWE) January 8, 2022
Ringside News already reported that a tenured member of the creative team informed them that “the Mania plans have not changed” involving Lesnar and Reigns. The info was also explicitly channeled to the writing team after their WWE Day 1 title match was canceled. The segment from last night’s WWE Smackdown also indicated the same main event that should be in-store for the April PPV.
