10 Things We Learned From WWE Raw In The UK (May 8)
1. Lucky Break
With his Kalisto distraction swatted away, the injured (real) Braun Strowman readied himself for the similarly crocked (kayfabe) Roman Reigns as 'The Big Dog' stormed the ring for his own first appearance since their chaotic Payback brawl.
Reigns' dominance was a first for the angle, with Roman leading an assault on Braun previously unseen in their matches and segments since WrestleMania.
The motivations for his physical dominance were twofold and a rare case of the company making good use of a minor setback. Along with regaining some heat after weeks of kickings, Roman's onslaught was delivered to afford the 'Mountain of a Man' recovery time from an elbow injury sustained around their pay-per-view struggle.
The torn rotator cuff will see Strowman shelved for between four and eight weeks, which would ordinarily spell disaster for a performer in the middle of the biggest push of his career. However, WWE have repeatedly shown their inability to sustain momentum for even the strongest superstars, and a brief rest from television will almost certainly harness fresh heat for Braun and garner renewed interest in another Reigns match when he's fit to return.
Roman is an equal beneficiary, with his slice of revenge marking the first time since WrestleMania he's been able to stake a claim to the 'Yard' he allegedly stole from The Undertaker after their tepid clash. Some brief breathing room from Braun will hopefully gift him his own time to shine before Strowman's inevitable return.