That all changed, however, on last night s SmackDown.
In a previous episode of the show, Reigns and Jey Uso had forced WWE official Adam Pearce into a Gauntlet Match, which ended with him sharing the ring alongside Shinsuke Nakamura.
Not content with that, they then proceeded to determine the result of the contest by beating up both Nakamura and Pearce, before dragging the latter across the mat to complete the cover.
With this victory, Pearce was expected to take on the imposing champion Reigns.
The contract was set to be signed on Friday night, and Reigns was sat smugly in the ring believing that he had secured an easy opponent for the Royal Rumble. Only Pearce had a trick up his sleeve.
A Universal Championship contract signing is set for tonight s episode of SmackDown.
Ahead of their scheduled title match at the Royal Rumble, Universal Champion Roman Reigns and authority figure Adam Pearce will meet for their official contract signing. Pearce won a number one contender s gauntlet match last week to earn the title shot. Reigns forced Pearce into the gauntlet because he signed the Kevin Owens vs. Jey Uso main event the previous week.
Shinsuke Nakamura dominated the gauntlet match with victories over Rey Mysterio, King Corbin, and Daniel Bryan. However, Reigns and Uso attacked Nakamura and knocked out a reluctant Pearce with a superkick. The heels then dragged Pearce on top of Nakamura for the win.
Following a surprise move by WWE Official Adam Pearce, Universal Champion Roman Reigns will once again go head to head with Kevin Owens at Royal Rumble.
Thanks to his renewed singles run over the past few months, Big E now finds himself as one of the top choices to challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship. He closed out the final episode of SmackDown by winning the Intercontinental Championship and has been one of the favorites to [.]