What’s the story?
WWE.com has updated the story-driven “injury” status of Monday Night Raw Superstar Roman Reigns, following a monstrous assault at the hands of Braun Strowman. The self-proclaimed “Big Dog” suffered a separated shoulder, as well as a few cracked ribs and other unnamed internal injuries.
In case you didn’t know…
Strowman attacked Reigns backstage on Monday Night Raw this past week, while he was being interviewed about ending the career of The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. Braun threw the former WWE Champion through a catering table, before crushing him with some heavy production equipment.
Strowman didn’t stop there, however, returning to chase off medics and toss Reigns’ lifeless body - then strapped to a stretcher - off a loading dock to the floor below. Before finally allowing medics to take him away, the big man returned one final time to provide one last beating inside an ambulance, before literally turning the emergency vehicle on its side.
Their rivalry dates back to this year’s WWE Royal Rumble event, where Strowman interfered in a match between Reigns and then-WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens. The following night on Raw, Reigns returned the favour by attack Braun during his opportunity at Owens’ championship. The two collided at WWE Fastlane in a singles match that Roman ultimately won.
The heart of the matter
WWE.com has provided a storyline update on Reigns condition:
“In addition to suffering cracked ribs and internal injuries at the hands of Braun Strowman during The Monster Among Men’s savage assault on Monday, Roman Reigns is also recovering from a separated shoulder, WWE.com can now confirm.
Following a brutal series of attacks that culminated with Strowman hurling Reigns off a loading dock while The Big Dog was strapped to a gurney, local EMTs rushed the battered former WWE Champion into the back of an ambulance. Still unsatisfied by the carnage he had wrought, The Monster Among Men further pummeled the defenseless Reigns before using his superhuman strength to overturn the emergency vehicle with The Big Dog still inside it. Once Strowman had cleared the scene, a second ambulance took Reigns to a local medical facility for treatment and evaluation.”
What’s next?
While the match has yet to be confirmed, Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman is expected to take place at this month’s WWE Payback pay-per-view on April 30th. It’s possible that with the SmackDown Live brand lending its world champion Randy Orton to the show, WWE could hold back on the match until Extreme Rules in June, in order to play up Reigns’ “injuries”, but it’s unlikely they would keep one of their top drawing stars off television for that long without a legitimate reason.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported that Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar is the match currently pencilled in for the June pay-per-view, which means Strowman vs. Reigns will likely be a precursor to that highly anticipated bout.
For what it’s worth, the estimated recovery time for a real shoulder separation is between 6-8 weeks.
Author’s take
After one of the most brutal (and believable) beatings seen on WWE television in years, Reigns better be kept off television for at least a week while he recovers from the assault, in the story. After that mugging, he should be out for months, but WWE will likely want him back as soon as possible to start building towards the show in just a few week’s time.
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