Braun Strowman is nothing short of a phenomenon in WWE. The Monster Among Men captivates the audience every time he‘s on camera as he has become must-see television. But as Strowman continues to impress on Raw, fans are beginning to wonder what happens next.
What is Braun Strowman’s role at WrestleMania 34? The man that wreaked havoc on his way up the roster should be in a high profile match on April 8. But so far he has nothing to do. Brock Lesnar will defend the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns. The Undertaker will likely face John Cena. Samoa Joe is still on the shelf.
So what is Strowman going to do? More importantly, why does he not have a clear path to The Grandest Stage of Them All? As fans debate the issue, a certain level of fear has begun to settle in. What if there is no plan for Strowman?
What if Strowman’s reign of terror has been for nothing? He has dominated nearly everyone he’s stepped into the ring with and that includes The Beast Incarnate. Surely all of that work, combined with his ungodly feats of strength, is leading him in the right direction.
However what if everything he’s done to this point really has no point to it at all? Braun Strowman is over with the fans, there is no denying that. But what if that’s all WWE wants? The man that once looked like a world champion in the making is now becoming a character babyface.
Is this what fans want? The crowd that booed him when he first debuted with The Wyatt Family is the same crowd that now explodes every time Strowman’s music hits. The WWE faithful is responsible for Strowman’s face turn. He is what they want. Without them, where would he be?
But it could very well be that someone behind the scenes in WWE has decided that Strowman is doing just fine right now. He doesn’t need the Universal Championship. He doesn’t need really need to main event pay-per-views all the time. Braun just needs to show up, destroy something and then leave. He is picking up where Stone Cold Steve Austin left off.
Braun Strowman has turned into the prototypical pro wrestler. Like Goldberg before him, Strowman is a force of nature that devours the scenery every time he’s in the ring. Fans love him. They love to watch him wreak havoc. They just can’t get enough of him. Strowman is a man’s man and he does what he wants, when he wants to do it.
Not only is he entertaining; he’s fun. He’s a natural when it comes to his character and there’s much more to him than just his size and strength. So what’s wrong with just allowing him to tear through the roster every week? Why not just let him keep laying guys out and demolishing equipment in the process?
When Strowman’s story is written one day, this opening chapter will not be forgotten. He has fascinated the fans with his brute force. He has displayed an intensity unmatched in the company. But most importantly, he gets it. Strowman understands this world and his role in it. He knows how to get over.
But suddenly his killer instinct has been tempered with comedy. He now has a sense of humor. He also has a crush on Alexa Bliss. There are moments when Strowman looks less like a monster and more like a monstrosity. Is this merely a stage of character development, or is something else happening?
The fact is WWE’s track record of booking the big men is less than stellar. Ryback became a caricature. Tensai became a clown. The Great Kahli was a catastrophe. Braun Strowman’s upside is greater than all of those Superstars combined. The fans know that.
However does the company truly have great things in store for Strowman? Will WWE book Strowman in a main event capacity? Will he be presented as a top attraction and a threat to any title he wants? Or will he just continue smashing everything in sight because the company believes it’s the best thing for him?
Will Strowman actually get a prime spot at WrestleMania 34 and if so, against whom? Could The Big Show return just in time for one more match against The Monster Among Men? Maybe Strowman will compete in the Intercontinental Championship Match featuring The Miz, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor.
Or maybe Strowman will once again compete in The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He may even win it this time. Would that be enough for his fans? Is anything less than wining the Universal Championship going to be enough?
This may be a case of WWE booking itself into a corner with Braun Strowman. He’s already faced Lesnar. He bested Reigns. He took down Kane. Strowman has put in a good amount of work in a short amount of time. He still has a lot left to do. But who’s left to face him?
Next: Ranking The Usos Top 10 Matches Ever
Could it be that WWE moved too quickly with Strowman? Or is there something more behind the scenes that fans just don’t see? Strowman has time and that much is obvious. But whether or not he will have main event time at WrestleMania 34 remains to be seen.