'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAhh//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAgEAACAQQBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBEhFAUSIjJx/9oACAEBAAE/AEtmsuj3iyRwP3NEryezDIDgLrQ8hn5XHtV0eQSNZDgV/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERA//aAAgBAgEBPwDRRqH/xAAZEQABBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDEoH/2gAIAQMBAT8AWR1NP//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
WWE Legend, Stone Cold Steve Austin recently spoke about Wrestlemania 34 on a podcast and touched upon WWE's decision to have Braun Strowman team up with a 10-year old fan, Nicholas and defeat The Bar to win the RAW Tag Team Championships.
In case you didn't know...
Wrestlemania 34 took place on the 8th of April and saw some major upsets as Asuka's undefeated streak came to an end at the hands of Charlotte Flair and The Undertaker managed to defeat John Cena in under 5 minutes.
However, what many people found the most surprising booking decision was Strowman tagging with a 10-year old child chosen from the audience to defeat Cesaro and Sheamus in the second last match of the night.
The heart of the matter
Autin has been known to give his honest opinion on matters and has never held back in criticizing WWE if he feels displeased. The same was the case when he stated what he felt about WWE deciding to team Strowman with Nicholas at Wrestlemania 34: (credit: Wrestling Inc)
“Braun Strowman is over like rover, a lot of potential, a lot of momentum, a lot of great storylines for him. But the fact that he goes out there in the crowd and picks some kid, it’s almost like a disservice to Cesaro and Sheamus, who’ve been working their asses off. Two physical specimens, have really gotten some chemistry together as a team. Not to be taken lightly. Braun’s a big guy, but you know, Cesaro’s one of the strongest guys in the locker room. Sheamus is a brute.
“They can’t monetize this person who was picked from the crowd. And, I don’t know, I wasn’t really down with it, and that’s with respect to a damn good tag team like The Bar. And then Strowman picks someone [from the crowd], I just, man you’re walking a fine line with him, because you have this brute force killer who’s legitimately one of the biggest, strongest men in the world. It didn’t do much for me.”
What's next?
It is unclear at this point as to what direction the WWE is planning to take Strowman as he has already relinquished the Tag Team Championships.
Author's take
I completely agree with Stone Cold on his opinion on the matter. While many feel it was a feel-good moment and was meant to give a light tinge to the show before the grueling match between Lesnar and Reigns; it did more harm than good, in actuality.
It wasn't worth a Wrestlemania match, that too one which was so highly anticipated by the fans. It would have been a fun segment on a house show or maybe even RAW, but the Biggest Show of the year should be treated a bit more seriously.
