WWE Rumors: Braun Strowman unlikely to compete at TLC

What's the story?

The world has been waiting with bated breath over the last few weeks regarding Braun Strowman's status for TLC on Sunday.

It appears we are now closer to knowing if he'll compete on Sunday or not.

Ringsidenews.com carried a report from Wrestlevotes mentioning that Strowman hasn't been cleared yet and hasn't been competing at shows on the current holiday tour.

In case you missed it...

Braun Strowman has been at odds with interim GM Baron Corbin for the last few months.

Ever since Corbin attacked Strowman before the latter's match with Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title at Crown Jewel, Strowman has seen red any time Corbin has been in front of him.

Since Strowman helped lead Team Raw to victory at Survivor Series, he was granted a match with Corbin at TLC.

Stephanie McMahon also gave him a rematch with Lesnar at the Royal Rumble for helping lead Raw to victory.

Because of Strowman's threats, Corbin enlisted the aid of Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley in order to put Strowman out of commission.

The three attacked Strowman on an episode of Raw, crushing his elbow and arm under the steel steps.

The attack wrote Strowman off of television in order for him to get elbow surgery and clear up some bone spurs.

His status for TLC has been up in the air ever since his surgery, but it appears that we now have at least some more tangible proof that he might not be cleared for action.

The heart of the matter

Wrestlingnews.co ran a story and tweet from Wrestlevotes suggesting Strowman's status:

Back to news: I’m hearing Braun Strowman is still not likely to compete Sunday at TLC. So much so, that on the holiday tours, John Cena will wrestle in his place. Strowman will still appear at the holiday tour shows, just won’t work. So I can’t see him working a TLC match.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) December 13, 2018

The report from Wrestlingnews.co also mentioned that since Strowman wasn't competing at the shows on the holiday tour, John Cena was brought in to help sell tickets.

WWE needed a big name to help sell the tour and Cena came to the rescue.

What's next?

If this actually comes to fruition, it would spell disaster for those hoping to see Baron Corbin get what's coming to him.

Strowman could still appear and not compete, but WWE will obviously have to rework much of the card in order to still compensate for Strowman and potentially Finn Balor not working the PPV.

If there wasn't a stipulation attached to the Corbin/Strowman match, then the WWE could have just cancelled it.

Will Braun Strowman get his revenge on Baron Corbin for this attack at Crown Jewel?

Instead, they've left themselves with a quandary regarding that match, unless they knew all along that Strowman wouldn't be cleared.

They have a better working knowledge of the health status of competitors so Corbin simply winning by forfeit might have been the call all along.

It would garner even more heat for the GM-Elect but it would be better if someone replaced Strowman.

Of course, things could always be completely addressed on Raw the following night.

Stay tuned.