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Fans were anticipating a blockbuster main event from last week’s RAW as Kane faced Braun Strowman to determine the number one contender for the WWE Universal Championship. The winner of this match was supposed to face Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble PPV, the first of the Big-4 PPVs of a year.
The match was a slobber knocker of a main event. However, as we predicted, the match ended with in a draw. Brock Lesnar is scheduled to show up on Raw this week.
The wrestling world is buzzing with all the possibilities and the probabilities to demystify the Universal title picture at the Royal Rumble.
We present to you the four reasons why having a triple threat match at the Royal Rumble makes perfect sense.
#1 To sell the match despite of its obvious result
Everyone is on the same page when it comes to the main event at WrestleMania 34. It would be Brock Lesnar defending his Universal Championship against the “Big Dog”, Roman Reigns.
Given the guaranteed match at WrestleMania 34, the Universal Championship matches prior to the event have become irrelevant. Hence, there should be a match which would attract the fans despite the obvious result.
Brock Lesnar defending his championship against Kane and Braun Strowman will just serve the purpose. Note that Kane and Brock Lesnar have never faced each other in a proper match apart from being in the Royal Rumble match in 2016. It is a pretty big deal despite Kane being a shadow of his former self.
We have seen similar matches in the past; Lesnar(c) vs. Cena vs. Rollins (2015), Kurt Angle(c) vs. Chris Benoit (2003), Randy Orton(c) vs. Jeff Hardy (2003) are to name a few.
#2 Single match doesn’t make sense
Let us assume for the argument that the number one contender’s match last week on Raw had produced a result. What will be the landscape on Raw?
If Braun Strowman had won the match, Lesnar would have to beat him (again). This has already killed the momentum Strowman had in the earlier part of this year. We don’t expect WWE to do the same again.
If Kane had won the match, it would have been worse. No one, including WWE, wants to decorate Kane with the Universal title at the dusk of his career.
#3 Rare title change at the PPV
Royal Rumble PPV has always been a showcase for the Royal Rumble match. It is the only PPV in WWE where the company’s Championship match usually takes a back seat, unless it is being defended in the Royal Rumble match itself (Royal Rumble 2016).
The circumstances along with the obvious main event at WrestleMania (as discussed earlier) put WWE in a tight spot. Hence, a triple threat match will not only engage fans in this predictable match, but will also make Brock Lesnar look strong as he advances to WrestleMania 34.
#4 Double benefits for WWE
With a triple threat match, WWE promises the “monstrosity” in the match as the “Beast Incarnate” faces the “Monster among men” and the “Big Red Monster”. It is safe to say that fans will be treated with a ton of physicality in this match.
Additionally, Kane and Braun Strowman can continue their rivalry post-Royal Rumble. This provides ample time to WWE to bring gravitas to the storylines for these two monsters.
Overall, WWE will be attempting to kill two birds with one stone.
