WWE's latest plans for Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns in 2023

Roman Reigns, the Undisputed Universal Champion, will not defend his title at the Backlash 2023 premium live event on May 6; instead, he will defend it at the Night of Champions event on May 27. WrestleVotes (through GiveMeSport) reports this.

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The outlet claims:- Roman Reigns will be a part of the Night of Champions show in Saudi Arabia, a long-serving creative team member has confirmed to us. The Backlash performance on May 6 in Puerto Rico won't feature Roman Reigns. He will postpone his match at Night of Champions in Jeddah till May 27.

Reigns recently defeated Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39 to defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship successfully. On April 2, Rhodes was the overwhelming favourite to unseat Reigns. Since then, however, he has been embroiled in a conflict with Brock Lesnar, whom he has challenged for Backlash.

WWE Champion Kevin Nash argues Reigns should retain the belts until he reaches 1000 days

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Should Roman emerge from Night of Champions with his gold, he will have held the title of WWE's top champion for 1,000 days. After defeating Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt to win the Universal Championship in August 2020, he added the WWE Championship to his unified collection at WrestleMania 38 in April of the following year, making it 960 days since then. Roman's opponent at Night of Champions, which takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is unknown.

On his Kliq This podcast this week, former WWE Champion Kevin Nash argued that Reigns should retain the belts until he reaches 1000 days: "That close to 1,000, you have to do it. It'd be I'd like Ripken had turf toe and would have f*cking just taken a day off. There's certain milestones, and right now, he's too close to 1,000. You're only gonna be as successful as your f*cking top guy, and Roman's the top guy right now.

Roman has the cool factor; Roman's your money guy. They did it with me and Bret. If I would have beaten Bret out of the shoot, I think absolutely Diesel has a much better f*cking run. But the fact that they wouldn't commit and put the f*cking eggs in the basket, I think that it hurt me, and I think that they weren't ready to make that commitment. Things had went too well."