WWE Survivor Series 2016: 10 Reasons To Be Concerned

9. The Braun Strowman Conundrum

Braun Strowman
WWE.com

What can be done with Braun Strowman?

Eliminating him too early is senseless. WWE has invested considerable time into the project. If he's one of the first men pinned, we might as well all go home. The last few months of RAW will have been for nought. But, if he's one of the last, WWE will have to commit to his push in the long term. But what good can come of that? His giant destroyer role is passé; in this era, wherein workrate is more emphasised than it has ever been, even the wider audience will not accept him as a WrestleMania-calibre headliner.

It's hard to envisage an outcome that doesn't involve tiresome chicanery. Strowman seems destined for a count-out elimination or, worse still, an intentional disqualification. WWE can't not push Strowman - but equally, they can't push him, either. He's a bad fit for the match - but logically, why wouldn't Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon put him in there?

He might be deceptively agile, but he's nowhere near good enough to headline. If fire exists beneath the smoke, he's set to tussle with Big Show at the turn of the year. That logical (if unappealing) prospect would have capped off his "competition" storyline perfectly. A few more squash matches could have been forgiven.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!