Pretender or Contender: Which WWE Stars Are Legit Threats to Beat Roman Reigns?

It's fair to question whether anyone stands as a legitimate threat to undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns.

The Tribal Chief is smack in the middle of what WWE seems to consider his GOAT-making title reign that started with the Universal Championship over 750 days ago.

Along the way, he's bested Brock Lesnar multiple times, legends like Goldberg and modern juggernauts such as Drew McIntyre, even in the most hostile of environments.

What's left is wondering whether WWE will actually have the dual champion lose, or if he'll keep right on rolling until he decides to step away after an already decreased workload.

For now, here's a look at the stars who have the best chance to eventually dethrone Reigns.

• Logan Paul 

• Kevin Owens

• Bobby Lashley

• Gunther 

• AJ Styles

• Braun Strowman

The guys listed above are fun, but they're not beating Reigns.

If nothing else, this sort of list showcases how many great, short feuds WWE could do while it awaits whatever big event it has planned at WrestleMania 39.

Granted, Reigns should probably stay away from the likes of Bobby Lashley and Gunther so as to not ruin their current momentum. A slugfest with a monster like Braun Strowman would be a ton of fun, and the Logan Paul match in Saudi Arabia on November 5 is nothing but an intriguing diversion.

As a whole, all of these guys are pretenders, but they would at least create memorable moments and matches on a short-term basis.

Austin Theory hasn't felt like much of a threat to Reigns despite his men's Money in the Bank victory in early July.

That seemed like the onset of WWE strapping a rocket to his back as one of the company's next big things.

But since, Theory has flirted with the idea of cashing-in a few times only to be spoiled in silly fashion and hasn't always come out on top of the feuds and matches he's had.

Whether it's talking or in the ring, it feels like the 25-year-old is still a long way from headlining an entire brand, let alone becoming unified champion.

Maybe Theory is a threat in the sense WWE could get creative in somehow splitting up the belts again and he uses an opportunity to cash in and pin somebody else. But he's not a direct threat to Reigns or a realistic-seeming immediate one, briefcase or not.

Verdict: Pretender

WWE blew its chance with Drew McIntyre.

There was a time when the Scot felt like a viable threat to Reigns. He was, after all, the guy who had an entire run to WrestleMania 36 spent building him up before he took down Brock Lesnar.

However, while McIntyre is a no-brainer who looks the part, his treatment at Clash at the Castle on his home turf in the UK said it all: Namely, that he's never going to be the one to take down Reigns.

That was an organic, once-in-a-decade babyface-building moment in front of a 'Mania-style crowd, if not better. It was a great contest, but when The Scottish Warrior should have won, he lost. Even worse, he then sang songs with Tyson Fury and the crowd in the aftermath.

McIntyre was the right guy with the perfect, rare moment, but it's clear the WWE machine has other ideas.

Verdict: Pretender

This feels like the endgame, right? All that talk about family, heads of the table, family members also becoming unified champions...it all builds to The Rock coming back.

Fitting as it might be and as much attention as that WrestleMania headliner might earn, it feels like there is a zero-percent chance The Great One actually wins.

From an outsider's perspective, WWE has had enough trouble getting a busy guy like Dwayne Johnson on a show for pretty much anything, let alone actually wrestling another match for the first time since 2013 (sorry, Erick Rowan).

The idea that The Rock would come back and win, ending Reigns' run, then defend the titles again? Silly, with the seemingly inevitable matchup more a spectacle than an actual competitive match.

Verdict: Pretender

Here's a wild card to consider: WWE could always dip back into this well and who could complain?

It sure feels like Reigns and Seth Rollins have no problems keeping it going, either. Look closely enough, and every interaction they seem to have is one that manages to get under The Tribal Chief's skin in a way no other Superstar can.

Beyond the obvious history between these two in The Shield, this makes loads of sense because Rollins has been doing some of the best work of his career over the last few years and largely gone unrewarded for it.

Even better, The Visionary is one of those best-positioned wrestlers to take over as the next top guy again, especially if it's with unified titles.

And if we're just straight-up talking about guys who are believable threats in the ring? Who better than Rollins himself?

Verdict: Contender

If not Rollins, it's got to be Cody Rhodes, right?

The American Nightmare got a huge reception upon his return at WrestleMania 38 after the hiatus while founding WWE's most direct competition. He was always going to be used in a major capacity and eventually challenge Reigns before his torn pectoral.

That's been put on hold, but WWE was probably going to draw this Reigns angle out until WrestleMania 39 either way. If the passing-of-the-torch moment has to wait a little longer, so be it.

Rhodes is more than enough of a threat in the ring, and the storylines write themselves given the familial history angle of his own he can throw into the mix.

A story long in the making, Rhodes sits easily as the top contender to take down Reigns as soon as he returns to action.

Verdict: Contender