Major Update On Braun Strowman’s Royal Rumble Status, Currently Not Cleared To Wrestle

That’s cutting it quite short. As we approach the Royal Rumble, we have a lot of things already set for the show. In addition to the show’s namesake matches, there are several title matches that can help fill out the card. One of these matches is Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Braun Strowman, but there might be one heck of a big roadblock holding things back.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Strowman is currently not medically cleared to compete after undergoing elbow surgery back in November. Strowman hasn’t wrestled since, save for a non-physical role in a match at Tables Ladders and Chairs. He and Lesnar appeared in a segment on Monday Night Raw, with nothing suggesting that Strowman wouldn’t be ready for the match.

That meeting on Monday was, uh, interesting. Check out this really awkward moment that isn’t done justice with words:

Braun Strowman & Brock Lesnar meet face-to-face before their Royal Rumble battle: Raw, Jan. 7, 2019

Opinion: There’s a very good chance that Strowman could be cleared in time for the match, but if he’s not, my goodness I don’t even want to imagine how badly it’s going to be received. Lesnar hasn’t exactly been a popular champion so far and to have the match, which has been built up for more than two months now, canceled for any reason wouldn’t go over very well.

Who do you think leaves the Royal Rumble as champion? If Strowman can’t wrestle, what should happen? Let us know in the comments below.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 50,000 wrestling matches. He has also been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 full shows covered. You can find his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his Amazon author page with 28 wrestling books. His latest book is the the Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews.

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