Next Week Will Reveal WWE’s True Feelings on Braun Strowman
By Josh Raibick
One of the big stories of 2017 was the meteoric rise of former strongman, Braun Strowman. Despite the quick climb up the card, Strowman is yet to stand alone on top of the mountain as WWE Universal Champion. What is WWE waiting for?
Despite coming up short in previous Universal Championship matches, this Sunday at WWE Elimination Chamber 2018, Strowman has a chance to become the #1 contender and face Brock Lesnar at WWE WrestleMania 34. Unfortunately as most fans are well aware, the plans for almost a year have been for Roman Reigns to challenge Lesnar at WrestleMania for the Universal Championship.
In the past WWE has gotten away with booking Strowman in matches with multiple opponents to protect him. Usually The Monster Among Men could inflict bodily harm to everyone in the match, and then due to bad timing Strowman would not be involved in the finish.
This time around there is a key word that will prevent WWE from following through with the same booking, “elimination”. For Strowman to not win the Elimination Chamber match, he must be physically beaten.
That means no technicalities, no excuses, Strowman’s shoulders would have to get pinned to the mat. Obviously Strowman has to lose again at some point, but is that time now?
According to Cageside Seats the superstar that main evented the most pay-per-views last year was in fact Braun Strowman. The five main events that Strowman participated in were the most in WWE, unfortunately Strowman was 2-3 in said events.
Also what must be factored in is Strowman’s most recent failure to capture the Universal Championship at WWE Royal Rumble 2018. Even though this was not the main event, and Strowman was not factored in the decision, a pattern is starting to build.
WWE is showing the confidence in Strowman to be the most dominant force each week on Raw, yet when it becomes time for The Monster Among Men to cash in during high profile matches, he comes up short. This brings us to this Sunday at the Elimination Chamber event.
Strowman enters this Sunday as one of the most “over” babyfaces in the company. Will Vince McMahon listen to the fans and finally give Strowman the extra nudge needed to get him over the hump?
Or what if WWE tries to protect Strowman again by having unfair circumstances contribute to his demise in the chamber? If this were to happen there is only one solution, make the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania a triple threat match.
I know, “You mean we are going to get another Universal Championship match that isn’t one on one?!” If it means turning a superstar into an even bigger star while avoiding the exact same main event from WrestleMania 31 with little variation in character for either superstar, then yes.
After Sunday, the next night on Raw will be full speed ahead to WrestleMania, which means if there is even going to be a hint of a change to the main event of the biggest show of the year it will come on that Monday. This is where even if there were unfair odds stacked against Strowman at Elimination Chamber, his intentions for WrestleMania will be made clear the next night.
So why is Sunday and Monday so make or break for Strowman? Honestly, who outside of the Universal Championship picture is a qualified opponent for Strowman at WrestleMania that could raise his stock? The answer is simply, no one.
Strowman has devoured the entire mid-card, and quite frankly one on one only Lesnar and Reigns have been competition for him. How fitting would it be that Strowman’s two biggest rivals of his career are the two opponents he must vanquish to get to the top of the mountain in WWE?
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There is no other choice. Strowman can’t keep beating up mid-card talent, but then come up short in main event caliber matches. Simply put, Strowman is not going to get his recent reactions forever, and this next week is now or never on the road to him “GETTING THESE HANDS” on the Universal Championship.