The competition angle

[ShinChan]

So after the brand split, Braun Strowman used to squash jobbers on weekly basis for a couple of months. He always asked Foley for more competition. His first significant competition turned out to be Sami Zayn whom he went over.

He continued asking for more and Foley gave him Roman Reigns for Fastlane.

Does someone remember a similar angle?

Brock Lesnar. Pre Wrestlemania 30. Paul Heyman said on his behalf that he wanted more competition and therefore an open invitation for anyone who wants to fight Brock at Wrestlemania 30. And what happened next? The Undertaker appeared and we got the end of streak at Wrestlemania 30.

So the question is:

"Could this be leading to Braun Strowman Vs. The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33?"

We have been read reports suggesting that it's Reigns Vs. Undertaker but how about Strowman Vs. Undertaker?

 

[Spencesc11]

No way Vince buries his golden boy before Wrestlemania. Reigns will win and then go on to defeat Taker at Mania.

 

[Kodo Sawaki]

"Could this be leading to Braun Strowman Vs. The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33?"

Nah, seeds have been planted for Undertaker vs Reigns already. Dont see Strowman there unless Reigns hurts himself so they need replacement.

 

[LoveReignsO'erMe]

Or...

triple threat?

If they aren't going to do a Harper/Orton/Wyatt triple threat for the title (which absolutely should have been the storyline), then maybe they're going in a triple threat direction for these guys.

The storyline could be that Undertaker interferes and the match is thrown out. Right as Reigns is going to spear a staggering Strowman to possibly finish the match, the lights go out. When they come back on, Undertaker is in the middle of the ring standing between the two men. He attacks Reigns, then Strowman tries to go toe to toe and also gets taken out. Undertaker stands tall.

Next night on Raw, you start with Reigns calling out Undertaker. Strowman comes out instead and confront Reigns, telling him he's lucky Undertaker interfered blah blah blah. I want a piece of him too blah blah blah. Undertaker comes out and says they'll both rest in piece at Wrestlemania.

 

[Vanilla Midget]

Reigns won't get excluded form the Undertaker match. There was no doubt, then the end of Raw tonight clinched that. The question becomes what happens to Braun?

It seems strange for WWE to host a triple threat match where there's no prize being contested. The Streak is gone, and none of the guys in question have a title. Braun's competition angle makes sense for him to insert himself, but the money is in the less muddy angle: 1v1 Taker and Reigns.

Braun has gotten himself nice and tidy over. The "holy shit" chants when Taker and Strowman shared the ring tonight prove that. Unfortunately, Braun may act as a proxy for Taker (who won't be at every Raw until Mania), giving Roman someone to feud with in the deadman's absence.

This sort of booking generally leads to the proxy being left off the PPV card. It seems a mistake to leave Braun Strowman off of WrestleMania. The Andre battle seems like the default spot for wrestlers they can't figure anything out for. That seems like painting by the numbers for Strowman.

There are rumours Shaq is backing out of the WrestleMania match, thus Big Show may be free. Samoa Joe needs a match, but I can't see them turning Braun face, let alone Joe. Rusev similarly has nothing going on, but has the same heel face issues as Joe.

There's also the possibility of an interpromotional match. AJ Styles seems destined to lose his WWE title shot, and a rumoured match with Shane doesn't scream great wrestling - just entertainment. Ditto for a match vs Braun.

Anyone else on Smackdown is a bit of a step down for Strowman, but that's kind of where WWE has booked themselves with this guy, into a corner.

Braun's built great momentum. Beating or being beaten by Undertaker will derail that. Roman can take the loss or the victory. He's already largely despised by the vocal male demographic. Strowman defeating Undertaker may set back the progress he's made with the same fans.

The same logic applies to adding AJ Styles to the WWE title match as adding Braun to Reigns vs Taker. It's unnecessary, it doesn't fit the long form story, but it does add a certain factor of interest.

Braun Strowman hasn't been a singles wrestler for a year yet in WWE. With little faces available, he seems destined for the battle royal or an unadvertised legend segment at Mania (ie getting buried by The Rock).

Strowman does the battle royal or winds up against Big Show should Shaq drop. Odds are that it winds up being both. That's not a bad thing, it's just the same thing Corbin did last year. It also follows a tradition of the Andre battle winners becoming jobbers to the stars, when they should be treated like the old King of the Ring winners.

 

[ShinChan]

Now that Braun Strowman and The Undertaker have had a confrontation at tonight's Raw, I think that Braun Strowman maybe added in the match between Roman Reigns and The Undertaker. The match between Reigns and Undertaker looks like all confirmed.

There's no other match for Braun Strowman to be added in. It's either Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal or this match.

If he's in the former, he should surely win. If he's in the latter, there's literally zero winning chance.