How Braun Strowman Became WWE's Best Modern Day Monster
Benching Reigns as few had even tried to in the past, Braun himself became the catchword for chaos. A Raw main event with The Big Show shortly after saw the ring explode in a redo of the famous Brock Lesnar/Mark Henry superplex spots, whilst a time-filling mini-feud with Kalisto resulted in the Mexican star taking a ride off the show's stage in a dumpster. He traded wins with Roman upon the former WWE Champion's return from injuries, but found himself briefly shelved shortly before a planned Universal Title skirmish with fellow commotion-causer Lesnar at the aptly named Great Balls Of Fire supershow. Recovery from the knock allowed him to compete one final time with Reigns, in a winning Ambulance Match effort that resulted in partial revenge for Roman after the Samoan locked him inside the vehicle after the match and reversed it hard into a truck. Strowman not only survived it largely unscathed, but staggered off under his own power in the aftermath.
It was a fitting end to their (current) rivalry. Reigns was forced to embrace a destructive dark side, and still couldn't leave a major mark on the impenetrable 'Monster Among Men'. Earning his spot in SummerSlam's instant classic, Strowman didn't just belong with former World Champions Lesnar, Reigns and Joe, he was the biggest threat in the match. The havoc and tumult that enveloped the brawl was shaped entirely around him, not the trifecta of experienced foes. It was another night of unimpaired mayhem that now feels more associated with Braun than any other star on the roster. Rather than playing fast and loose with defeats, WWE have carefully curated a force of nature in Strowman. Beatable and yet seemingly indestructible, he now effortlessly carries that air of unassailability into each encounter, with few (if any) stars credible able to overcome his wrath by themselves.
It's quite a spot to be in, and exactly what Braun himself deserves for his phenomenal work since his 2016 reinvention. The epitome of taking a ball and not just running with it but scoring a perfect touchdown after sending every opposing player careering into Row Z, Strowman's one-man crime spree shows no sign of calming down, not least until he's reached WWE's summit as Champion and most dominant full-timer since Brock Lesnar's original 2002-2004 tenure. There's little evidence to suggest anyone or anything can stop him. He's looked primed to literally supplant 'The Beast' as 2017's biggest behemoth every time the two have shared the screen, and could be the perfect choice if the company wish to dethrone Brock slightly earlier than planned. Yet another physical dissection of Lesnar on the post-SummerSlam edition of the flagship show to set up their No Mercy clash saw WWE show their hand early in an effort to sustain as much of his ever-important momentum following another evening of pure pandemonium.
Indeed, he may have almost all of the industry's finest performers under his employ in this unthinkable modern age, but Vince McMahon goes where he knows, and he still knows how to push a big guy. For a change, his fractured and fragmented 'WWE Universe' have never been happier with the decision.