Braun Still Not Cleared To Return To Action, WWE Protecting Him

As previously reported, WWE has had plans to do a Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Balor Match at The Royal Rumble PPV Event going back to November, despite the build to Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon reportedly started having second thoughts on Lesnar vs. Strowman coming out of Crown Jewel in November, according to Meltzer. The idea was to have Lesnar go over Strowman at The Rumble, building to Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 35. Vince felt at one point that Lesnar vs. Strowman was not a good idea because Strowman had started cooling off some. WWE had to do the injury angle with Strowman because he legitimately needed elbow surgery, but the feeling was that this hurt him some more. Vince also felt like they couldn’t afford to beat Strowman again and their choices were to have Strowman win the title, which was not an option, have a bad finish in the match, but they didn’t want to do that either, or not do the match at all, which is what they went with.

WWE continued to advertise Lesnar vs. Strowman to help move tickets, because this year’s Rumble PPV is taking place at a baseball stadium – Chase Field in Phoenix.

In regards to Strowman’s future, PWInsider noted that the move was done to protect him. There was an internal feeling that another loss for Strowman would have hurt his momentum and his long-term viability as a top star. There was also a feeling that Lesnar vs. Balor would make for a better story and a better match for The Rumble.

It is being reported that Strowman is still not 100% cleared for in-ring action and there is no word yet on if he will be put in The 30-Man Royal Rumble Match, if he is cleared in time for The PPV. Strowman’s last real match was on The November 19th, 2018 edition of Monday Night RAW, where he was written out of storylines after an attack by Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley & Drew McIntyre. He had elbow surgery the following week and it was believed at the time that he would be ready to return to action by The Rumble.