WWE Royal Rumble 2017: 10 Big Mistakes They Can't Afford To Make

Few wrestlers have benefited more from the Brand Split than Braun Strowman. Many thought the unseasoned giant would struggle when he was split from the Wyatt Family, but Strowman has excelled. He finished 2016 as one of the year’s most improved superstars, and if the first few weeks are anything to go by, he’s set for a gigantic push in 2017.

WWE have always known how to build a convincing monster, but they haven’t had a prospect like Braun in years. He’s fantastic in his role, and while his skillset is still incredibly limited, his surprising athleticism and genuine intimidation factor make him one of Raw’s most compelling performers.

Strowman’s upsurge has been so dramatic that he’s now considered among the favourites to win this year’s Rumble. As much as WWE need to create new main event stars, however, making this decision on Sunday would be a huge mistake, particularly given Strowman’s lack of experience.

Braun is fantastic as destroying smaller opponents, but he remains relatively untested in lengthy singles matches. Even his Roadblock: End Of The Line showdown with Sami Zayn was broken-up by Mick Foley’s involvement, and there’s no telling how he’d hang in a long, competitive match at this stage in his career. For all the improvements he has made, Strowman has only been wrestling for two years, and his weaknesses are still very apparent.

Asking him to work a 20-25 minute Universal Title match is a step too far. He’ll be in contention soon enough, but if WWE want to make the most out of their rookie monster, they must wait until he’s truly ready.