6 Times Braun Strowman failed to win the WWE Universal title

Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins
Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins

Braun Strowman is truly 'The Monster Among Men'. He's one of the most physically imposing Superstars in WWE history and perhaps one of the best 'big men' the company's ever had, but he's also yet to become a world champion.

The WWE Universe has seen Strowman tip over a production truck, tip over an ambulance with Roman Reigns still inside, knock over Mr. McMahon's limousine, destroy a car, annihilate Kevin Owens hiding in a portable toilet, and dominate an entire Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.

Wrestling fans have even seen 'The Monster Among Men' somehow survive being squashed in a trash compactor, which is something that no mere mortal would ever hope to experience.

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One thing the WWE Universe has never seen is Braun Strowman raising a WWE world championship above his head. It's a shocking fact, but it's true. It's not like he hasn't had opportunities to do so, as he's been in a whopping six world title matches - all for the Universal Title.

Let's take a look at all six of Braun Stroman's world championship opportunities!


#6. SummerSlam 2017 - Brock Lesnar (c) Vs. Braun Strowman Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Samoa Joe

Braun Strowman stole the show at SummerSlam, but not the Universal Title
Braun Strowman stole the show at SummerSlam, but not the Universal Title

At Great Balls of Fire, Brock Lesnar defeated Samoa Joe to retain his Universal Title and Braun Strowman defeated Roman Reigns in an Ambulance Match. This led to all four men eventually being added to a Fatal 4-Way match at SummerSlam with the Universal Title on the line.

Brock Lesnar would eventually retain his title in this match, but it was Braun Strowman who would steal the show with multiple running powerslams through tables, a huge double chokeslam, and a devastating running dropkick. Strowman even went as far as to throw steel chairs at both Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns.

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Sadly, stealing the show isn't quite as good as becoming world champion. Although Strowman nearly won the coveted Universal championship, Brock Lesnar pulled the referee out of the ring on a two-count. Lesnar inevitably retained the Universal Championship by hitting Reigns with an F5 before pinning him.

#5. No Mercy 2017 - Brock Lesnar (c) Vs. Braun Strowman

Brock Lesnar certainly had 'No Mercy' for Braun Strowman's world championship hopes
Brock Lesnar certainly had 'No Mercy' for Braun Strowman's world championship hopes

As detailed in the last slide, Brock Lesnar pinned Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2017 and not Braun Strowman. This led to Strowman confronting Lesnar during the Universal Champion's victory celebration the following night on RAW. The confrontation led to a singles match between the two at No Mercy.

On his way there, Strowman competed in an iconic Steel Cage Match with Big Show where he sent an emphatic warning to Lesnar by throwing The Big Show through the steel cage.

In fact, Strowman got the better of Lesnar for most of the build up to their PPV match and even stood tall over the 'Beast Incarnate' with the title. Strowman was incredibly white-hot over with the crowd as an unstoppable monster. Most fans believed that Braun Strowman was the man who would slay 'The Beast.'

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Both Superstars were victims of several high impact maneuvers and Brock Lesnar even kicked out of two running powerslams. Lesnar eventually retained his title with one F5 and the pinfall, ending Strowman's second attempt to become a world champion.

#4. Royal Rumble 2018 - Brock Lesnar (c) Vs. Braun Strowman Vs. Kane

Braun Strowman has a third opportunity to take the title off of Brock Lesnar
Braun Strowman has a third opportunity to take the title off of Brock Lesnar

This match began as a feud between Kane and Braun Strowman, stemming from the TLC 2017 PPV where Kane, Strowman, The Miz, and The Bar took on Seth Rollins, Kurt Angle and Dean Ambrose in a TLC Match.

During the match, Kane accidentally hit Strowman with a steel chair. Eventually Strowman's entire team turned on him and threw him into the back of a garbage truck. This led to the two men feuding until they had to wrestle each other to determine the next contender for Brock Lesnar's Universal Title.

The match ended in a double count out. General Manager Kurt Angle decided to add both men to the title match at the Royal Rumble, making it a huge Triple Threat of monstrous men.

The build up to this included some of Strowman's best WWE moments. An enraged Bran Strowman tipped over a lighting rig on Kane and Lesnar. In turn, Kurt Angle fired 'The Monster Among Men,' who then went on a rampage destroying everything including a WWE production truck, until he was reinstated to the company.

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Lesnar retained the title yet again, by pinning Kane in the middle of the ring. While Strowman didn't win the title, he also didn't technically take the pinfall. This led to another confrontation between Lesnar and Strowman, who made it abundantly clear that he was never actually beaten.

#3. Hell in a Cell 2018 - Braun Strowman Vs. Roman Reigns (c)

Hell In A Cell 2018
Hell In A Cell 2018

Braun Strowman's next Universal Championship opportunity came at Hell in a Cell 2018. 'The Monster Among Men' won the Money in the Bank Briefcase and cashed his title opportunity in advance, against then champion Roman Reigns.

Strowman had previously tried to cash in his briefcase at SummerSlam and although he failed to do so, his distraction allowed Roman Reigns the chance to beat Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Strowman then tried to cash in against Reigns the following night on RAW but was stopped by a reunited Shield.

As a result, Strowman declared he'd be facing Roman Reigns in a Hell in a Cell match at Hell in a Cell, so that The Shield couldn't interfere. Mick Foley was later named as the special guest referee.

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Strowman was one-on-one with a smaller opponent inside the Hell in a Cell structure. Surely the 'The Monster Among Men,' the man who can tip trucks over with his bare hands, would win the title?

Despite not being in the match, Brock Lesnar found a way to thwart Strowman for the fourth time. 'The Beast' ran down to the ring, kicked the door off of the Hell in a Cell structure, and laid out both Reigns and Strowman, leading to a no contest.

#2. Crown Jewel 2018 - Braun Strowman Vs. Brock Lesnar - Vacant Universal Title

Brock Lesnar once again thwarts Braun Strowman's Universal Title attempt
Brock Lesnar once again thwarts Braun Strowman's Universal Title attempt

Following the events of Hell in a Cell, the plan was for WWE to hold a Triple Threat Match between Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, and Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel, as announced by then General Manager Baron Corbin.

However, Roman Reigns shocked the world by revealing his leukemia diagnosis. Reigns was forced to vacate the Universal Championship leading to the second one-on-one match between Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar.

There's no denying that a one-on-one match between these two giants was hotly anticipated, especially considering their history and the way things ended between the two at the Royal Rumble.

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Unfortunately, Braun Strowman was attacked by Baron Corbin before the bell. As Corbin viciously attacked Strowman with the Universal Championship, 'The Monster Among Men' was forced to compete with the odds already clearly stacked against him.

Lesnar then hit him with three F5s inside the ring, all leading to near falls. He then hit Strowman with an F5 outside the ring, but Strowman made his back before the ten count expired. Ultimately, Lesnar hit a fifth and final F5 and went on to become a two time Universal Champion. Braun Strowman had just lost his fifth Universal Title match.

#1. Clash of Champions 2019 - Braun Strowman Vs. Seth Rollins (c)

Braun Strowman loses cleanly to Seth Rollins
Braun Strowman loses cleanly to Seth Rollins

Braun Strowman's most recent Universal Championship opportunity came at Clash of Champions where 'The Monster Among Men' would take on 'The Beastslayer,' Seth Rollins.

Interestingly, this would take place after RAW Tag Team Champions Strowman and Rollins would be forced to work as a team and defend their RAW Tag Team Championships against Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode. The duo was unsuccessful in their efforts, as Ziggler and Roode would go on to win the bout and the championships.

Many expected this match to have a dusty finish thanks to the involvement of 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt, who would challenge either Strowman or Rollins to a Hell in a Cell match. However, 'The Monster Among Men' provided what was perhaps the biggest surprise of the night when he was pinned cleanly by Seth Rollins.

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Thankfully for Braun Strowman, the WWE Universe didn't have much time to dwell on his embarrassing sixth Universal Title opportunity loss, as 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt attacked Seth Rollins to end the show.

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