SK’s Take: Why Braun Strowman could be added to Universal Title match

As reported by Wrestling Inc, Dave Meltzer claimed on the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that Braun Strowman was pulled from a potential Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 34 due to concerns over the proposed Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns clash.

While it’s been clear for the better part of a year now that Reigns would challenge The Beast Incarnate in New Orleans, recent developments have left the prospect of the match actually going ahead up in the air. For one you’ve got Reigns’ comments on Monday Night Raw regarding Lesnar not showing up to the show when he was advertised, although you could argue that was done purely for storyline purposes.

Then you’ve got the impending results from Jon Bravo’s steroid investigation, which could lead to some repercussions for Roman Reigns himself.

Of course, there’s also a general way of looking at this, too, because logic suggests that fans aren’t going to take kindly to the idea of The Big Dog reigning supreme on the grandest stage of them all. While that isn’t a guarantee, Lesnar’s contract is set to end following WM34, and WWE needs to crown a new king when it comes to the Universal Championship.

Step right up, Braun Strowman.

Will one more man be added to the equation?

WWE has been teasing us with the idea of the Monster Among Men either facing Elias or being involved in the main event somehow, and when you add everything up, it really does make sense for them to pull the trigger on the latter.

Brock is leaving, Roman still isn’t over at the highest level, and Strowman is the closest thing we’ve seen to Stone Cold Steve Austin in years. That may sound a little over the top, but everybody is talking about him now and that’s no coincidence. The fans would be furious if he isn’t put in a high profile featured match at the Superdome, and this is the only thing that really fits the bill for him.

Elias isn’t a big enough challenge and, in all honesty, neither is a multi-man Intercontinental Title match. You could easily set it up, too, as Strowman can wreak havoc in the next two weeks leading up to Lesnar & Reigns’ inevitable showdown. Then, after dismantling them both, Strowman is given a spot in the Universal Title match by a reluctant Kurt Angle under one condition – if he loses, he must leave Raw and go to SmackDown Live.

It adds some fascinating stakes to the match and also allows fans to get more invested now that a genuine fan favorite is involved.