WWE Announces Retirement of Championship Belt After WrestleMania 41

[FrenzyMaster]

Yo, champs, what’s up—it’s FrenzyMaster, your guru for all things wrestling and weight room. WrestleMania 41 wasn’t just about body slams and pyro—it was the sunset moment for one of WWE’s most impactful titles.

That’s right—WWE has officially retired the Universal Championship, a belt with a legacy of dominant reigns, main-event madness, and more than a few controversial decisions. After nearly a decade of history, the company has made its move, and fans are buzzing louder than a deadlift PR attempt.

Which Championship Belt Was Retired?​

The Universal Championship—yup, the big red (then blue) beast of a belt that’s seen some of the most iconic reigns in modern WWE—was officially retired following WrestleMania 41.

This title first appeared in 2016 during the brand split, when Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley unveiled it as RAW’s top prize after they moved the WWE title to SmackDown. Finn Bálor became the first-ever Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016, defeating Seth Rollins. But in a tough twist of fate, Bálor had to vacate the title the very next night after suffering a shoulder injury.

Fast forward to the end of the belt’s run, and we’re talking about one of the most dominant reigns in WWE history. Roman Reigns, aka The Tribal Chief, held the Universal Title for a whopping 1,316 days, starting from his win over Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam 2020.

That reign ended on April 7, 2024, when Cody Rhodes defeated Reigns at WrestleMania 40 Night Two, becoming the Undisputed WWE Champion. At the time, both the Universal and WWE titles were on his record.

Why WWE Retired the Belt​

Officially? WWE hasn’t released a long press statement, but they’ve updated their website to mark the Universal Title as retired, and more importantly, they've edited the record books. People no longer recognize Cody Rhodes as the final Universal Champion—that honor now belongs to Roman Reigns.

The move fits WWE’s current strategy: streamlining titles, making each belt feel meaningful, and restructuring the brand split. With Reigns drafted to SmackDown in 2023, WWE introduced a new World Heavyweight Championship for RAW to give both shows top-tier gold. Unifying the Universal and WWE titles under one Undisputed belt was always a temporary fix. Retiring the Universal strap for good makes it official.

It also signals WWE’s focus on making one clear, definitive world championship—cleaner for booking, easier for storytelling, and a power move for future legacy.

Impact on Current and Former Champions​

Even though Cody Rhodes beat Reigns and held both belts physically, the official record now removes him from the Universal title lineage. He’s still the Undisputed WWE Champion, but Reigns is now the final Universal Champion—a decision that’s left fans scratching their heads.

Past Universal Champions like Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Brock Lesnar, and Braun Strowman all carry legacy weight under this belt’s history. Now, it ends with Roman, whose record-setting reign made the belt truly feel “undisputed” for a time.

As for Cody? He’s still the face of the company, but the record books tell a slightly different story than fans may remember.

Fan and Industry Reactions​

This move lit a fire on Twitter, Reddit, and wrestling forums. Some fans are hyped to see the Universal Title finally laid to rest—it was a polarizing belt from the jump. Others are straight-up mad that Cody got bumped out of the history books as the final Universal Champion.

Wrestling personalities are keeping things quiet, but John Cena still introduced Cody as the Undisputed WWE Champion on RAW after Mania 41, showing how fast the official change came. WWE may have adjusted the title history, but fans and the locker room might not be ready to rewrite that chapter so fast.

WWE’s Title Landscape Going Forward​

So what’s the next step? With the Universal Title gone, WWE is likely consolidating its top-level championship structure. We’ve already got the World Heavyweight Title repping RAW. Now, the Undisputed WWE Championship serves as SmackDown’s big prize.

There’s room for new belt designs, storylines, and a clearer path to building new stars. And if WWE wants to expand internationally or host more stadium shows, this cleaner layout makes booking much more flexible.

Bottom line: this isn’t just a title retirement—it’s a signal that WWE is fine-tuning its storytelling engine for the long run.

Other Recent WWE Title Changes​

The Universal Title isn’t the only one they've archived. WWE’s been in belt-cleanup mode lately. We’ve seen the NXT UK titles retired, the 24/7 Championship thrown in the trash, and even talk about merging more midcard titles in the future.

It’s a trend led by Triple H’s creative team, aiming to make each title feel elite, not just a prop. When every belt matters, every title match feels like a big deal. And that’s how wrestling should be.

Historical Parallels​

It isn’t WWE’s first time putting a belt out to pasture. Remember the European Championship? The Hardcore Title? Even the original Cruiserweight Championship took a long break before they revived it.

What’s different now is how they handle it. The Universal Title is getting the royal treatment on the way out. It started with a promise, survived through chaos, and ended on one of the most dominant title reigns ever.

Roman Reigns leaves a massive legacy in that belt. And now, it’s locked in history forever.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Who was the first Universal Champion?

Finn Bálor won the inaugural title at SummerSlam 2016 but vacated it the next night due to a shoulder injury.

Has WWE retired championships before?

Yes, WWE has retired several titles over the years, including the European, Hardcore, Cruiserweight (original), and 24/7 Championships.

Is Roman Reigns officially the last Universal Champion?

Yes, WWE’s website now lists Roman Reigns as the final holder of the Universal Championship, not Cody Rhodes.