Fatal 4-Way for Universal Championship: Preview, Predictions for WWE Raw Match

On Monday night, the WWE Universal Championship will be up for grabs for the second time in as many weeks when Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Big Cass and Roman Reigns do battle in a Fatal 4-Way match in the Raw main event.

The contest is the company's response to an ill-timed shoulder injury suffered by titleholder Finn Balor, who underwent surgery on Aug. 23 and has begun working toward a magnificent comeback.

In his absence, WWE Creative was left scurrying to come up with a suitable way to solve the issues. Its solution gives three prominent stars and a potential breakout star from the tag team division the opportunity to lend credibility to a title in desperate need of it after a disastrous start.

Not only did Balor suffer an injury that left the title with no owner just 24 hours after the first champion was crowned, but the fans also rejected the design of the belt.

Monday's match is about more than crowning a champion. It is a rare second chance to make a first impression, the likes of which can either prop up a concept or doom it to damnation.

The Unproven Contender

There is a lot to love about Big Cass as he prepares for his biggest match to date.

The 7'0" competitor has made the most of his opportunities in both tag team and singles competition thus far in his main roster career. Now the big man has the opportunity to leave Houston on Monday night with the top title on the red brand around his waist.

That he is even in that position suggests WWE management is happy with his progression and impressed by what it sees out of him every time he hits the squared circle. A strong performance Monday could net the former NXT standout a more significant push going forward.

The only question then is whether a strong showing from Cass would lead to the breakup of his team with Enzo Amore. For as impressive as Cass has been, Amore has been integral to getting him over. Could the heavyweight thrive without his partner firing crowds up with his natural electricity and gift for gab?

Renewing a Rivalry

Reigns and Rollins have battled countless times over the last two years, their hatred for each other stemming from The Architect's shocking betrayal of his Shield brethren in 2014. It was Rollins who cost Reigns the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 31 by cashing in Money in the Bank and leaving with the gold, and it was Reigns who finally reached the mountaintop in The Architect's absence.

Most recently, it was Rollins who defeated Reigns at June's Money in the Bank pay-per-view to become WWE champion, only to lose the title to Dean Ambrose moments later.

The history between Reigns and Rollins is there, but will WWE be quick to revisit that feud beginning Monday night with the Universal Championship match?

Reigns and Rollins are the most logical contenders. They have been at or near the main event for the last 730-plus days, the closest thing to breakout stars for WWE since John Cena. They have the credibility among fans and are former champions, helping to establish the legitimacy of the new title.

In the same breath, fans have seen them battle so many times that the prospects of creating excitement or intrigue, let alone a must-see product, with them competing against each other one more time is low.

That is, unless WWE Creative executes a rare double-turn, switching Reigns from hero to villain and Rollins from heel to babyface. Only then could the company freshen things up enough to convince fans to invest in yet another feud between former Shield teammates.

The Wild Card

Kevin Owens has been a step outside the main event scene for the last year; he's been a regular opponent of the most popular competitors in the industry, yet he has never been what anyone would call a headliner. Even with the extraordinary in-ring performances and natural charisma, he has been firmly implanted in the midcard. Taking that into consideration, though, would a championship victory over Rollins, Reigns and Big Cass surprise anyone?

Though he has been in that midcard position for far too long, WWE Creative has always done a strong enough job of presenting Owens in a light that suggested he was every bit as good as Reigns, Rollins, Cena or Ambrose and that he just needed that one signature win to break through the proverbial glass ceiling.

That win could come Monday night.

It was in Houston that Owens captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and he will look to net even more gold out of his lucky city. He alluded to as much on Twitter.

"

Last year, I won the IC title in Houston. Tomorrow night, I become @WWE Universal Champion there. Witness history: https://t.co/SAN1IQ0pZ5

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) August 28, 2016"

Speaking of Twitter, Owens also engaged Rollins in a brief back-and-forth ahead of Monday's bout, putting the final touches on some pre-match hype.

"

You misspelled "champ"...Also, I don't need you to put me in my place, buddy. I can get to the top all on my own. https://t.co/kZYBOfQga3

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) August 29, 2016"

At some point, a guy like Owens needs to win a match like this, if only to maintain his credibility. A Superstar can only compete in (and lose) title bouts so many times before being labeled a filler, someone who fights but is never expected to win.

A championship victory Monday would change his narrative while simultaneously creating questions about his relationship with newfound tag team partner Chris Jericho.

Final Prediction

Rollins is winning this.

The former champion looked poised to leave SummerSlam with the title before Balor's upset and has been the face of Raw from the moment he was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick.

He is also not in the middle of being punished for a violation of the WWE Wellness Policy, something that strengthens his case in relation to Reigns.

Rollins has proved his ability to carry a show and will do so for the foreseeable future.

Reigns has the second-best chance of leaving with gold, but he is still in that uncomfortable situation where he is being admonished for his ill-advised mistake away from the ring, so it is difficult to see him being rewarded with the championship at this moment.

Owens and Cass will have their moments, but they are here only to fill out the field.