What's Next for Roman Reigns, Samoa Joe and More Stars After WWE Backlash 2018?

With a lackluster WWE Backlash show now out of the way, plans need to start moving forward at pace for some of the company's biggest stars.

With the Universal Championship still around the waist of a part-timer, it could be difficult for WWE to properly craft a main event scene as SummerSlam approaches August 19.

But that could all change in the coming weeks.

Here's what's next for some of the big names in WWE after Backlash.

Roman Reigns

It was a familiar story on Sunday night for Roman Reigns' booking.

Yet again, he emerged victorious in a bout where defeat would have really done him no harm whatsoever—and he went over an opponent who had a greater desire for victory in Samoa Joe.

But what next for Roman given his recent booking?

In truth, it's hard to imagine him stepping away from the hunt for the Universal Championship and Brock Lesnar. The nature of his defeat to Brock at Greatest Royal Rumble—where Roman's feet touched the floor first but Brock was awarded victory—suggests that feud isn't quite over yet.

There are plenty of better and more viable options for Roman, of course, given the stacked nature of Raw's roster at this moment in time.

But it looks likely that Lesnar vs. Reigns still isn't done.

Samoa Joe

It made sense for Samoa Joe to come over to SmackDown Live and immediately challenge for the WWE Championship—but certain circumstances of late have suggested that may not be the case.

And that's no bad thing right now. Joe is almost certainly going to head into that picture before the year is out, but right now, there are other tempting options in terms of potential foes.

And what could work out brilliantly for Joe is a blockbuster feud against the company's biggest babyface.

Joe as a heel is money without question, so the thought of him squaring off against Daniel Bryan for the next few months—with the culmination of their rivalry at SummerSlam—is almost too appealing.

Throw into the mix that, given the way AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura ended on Sunday, their feud for the title isn't over yet—and it's not unrealistic to imagine Joe wrestling someone else before getting to the WWE Championship.

Bryan would be a perfect fit.

Braun Strowman

Raw's main event scene and the Universal Championship picture need a refresh. Braun Strowman is the human wrecking ball that can provide all the answers.

Strowman's momentum has faded since WrestleMania 34, with it still hard to forget the fact that he won the Raw tag titles with a child at the biggest show of the year.

On Sunday, he teamed with Bobby Lashley to beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn—but could his partner be his next realistic opponent too?

Lashley vs. Strowman would make sense—both have failed to make an impression over the last month or so, and it would certainly be a rivalry that would get people talking.

But right now, with Money in the Bank on the horizon for June 17, Roman Reigns vs. Lesnar wouldn't satisfy many fans.

Strowman should be not only returning to the title scene but winning the belt, too.