10 Early Wrestling Predictions For 2018
2. Braun Strowman Will Rule Over SmackDown
Braun Strowman is the perfect interface between Vince McMahon's platonic sports entertainer ideal and his audience's reception to it. Eternally cast as the supporting player to marquee star Roman Reigns on RAW, Strowman has done more than enough to carry the lesser brand.
Bray Wyatt was considered the heir to the Undertaker's throne, once upon a time, when he possessed genuine mystique and menace. Braun Strowman is the real new 'Phenom'; an indestructible, no-selling storyline force with an act teetering close to farce - but one pulled back from the brink with a portrayal of astonishing conviction.
It's therefore likely that Strowman will assume the role of his spiritual antecedent, and dominate SmackDown throughout 2018 as his yard. The interminable heel title run is passé; the reigns of the anonymous Jinder Mahal and the invisible Brock Lesnar have antagonised audiences into non-attendance. To rectify this, Strowman will batter all comers to his WWE Heavyweight Title well beyond the summer months as a nominal babyface with, one hopes, the same indiscriminate hunger for destruction.
His character exists to chew up and sh*t out the easy opportunities handed out by Shane O'Mac - who would love a match against the man, incidentally.