WWE officially retires Universal Championship; Trick Williams & Lola Vice under consideration for main roster call-ups

The title was inactive in WWE programming since April 2024

According to WWE.com, the Universal Championship is officially retired as the promotion on their website lists the title “retired” as of Tuesday, April 22. The title has been absent from programming since April 2024 and was last seen at WrestleMania 40.

Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns, shattering his dominant 1316-day title reign in the main event of WrestleMania 40 (Night Two). Since the victory, the title has been absent from WWE programming. The title was unified with the WWE title at WrestleMania 38 by Reigns after he defeated Brock Lesnar.

The promotion has written Rhodes’ time as Universal Champion out of their official history, while Roman Reigns is listed as the final Universal Champion. The update happened just recently, as Rhodes was still listed as Universal Champion on the website as of Monday, April 21, with his reign acknowledged on the site.

However, after the website was updated to show John Cena as the Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes‘ run as Universal Champion was removed from the official title history. Cena recently pinned Rhodes at the 41st edition of the Mania PLE to become the new Undisputed Champion.

The Universal Championship was established in 2016 after the promotion reinstated the brand split. Over the years, notable names such as Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins have held the title.

Two NXT stars are under consideration for WWE main roster call-ups

Multiple stars from the developmental brand, NXT, made an appearance on the Raw after Mania show at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, including Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia, and Roxanne Perez.

While Perez has made multiple appearances, it looked like be main roster call-up for the three, as Perez too has only flirted with the main roster call-ups. However, according to a new report, it seems like two more stars from NXT might be receiving their main roster call-ups.

According to Cory Hays of Bodyslam.net, there have been talks within the promotion about former NXT Champion, Trick Williams, moving to the main roster, and he is expected to be called up to either Raw or SmackDown.

Furthermore, the reports add that Lola Vice is also under consideration for a main roster call-up. Vice joined the promotion in 2022, transitioning from a career in MMA to professional wrestling. While she hasn’t captured a championship in NXT, she has competed for both the NXT Women’s Championship and the NXT Women’s North American Title.

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