Braun Strowman
The Enigma of Braun Strowman: Power, Potential, and the Pitfalls of WWE’s Monster Archetype By [Your Name] Background: The Rise of a Modern Giant Few WWE Superstars have embodied the monster among men persona as viscerally as Braun Strowman.
Debuting in 2015 as a member of the Wyatt Family, the 6’8”, 385-pound behemoth quickly outgrew his stablemates, becoming a dominant force in WWE’s main event scene.
His feats of strength overturning ambulances, flipping trucks, and dismantling entire rosters cemented his reputation as a modern-day wrestling spectacle.
Yet, despite his physical dominance, Strowman’s career has been marked by inconsistent booking, questionable creative decisions, and a lingering sense of unfulfilled potential.
This investigative piece critically examines the complexities of Braun Strowman’s WWE tenure, analyzing how his character thrived in chaos but struggled under long-term storytelling.
Drawing on wrestling journalism, fan discourse, and industry scholarship, this essay argues that Strowman’s trajectory exposes WWE’s systemic challenges in sustaining monster heels while balancing fan expectations and corporate interests.
Thesis Statement Braun Strowman’s WWE career exemplifies the paradox of the monster heel archetype: while his physicality and spectacle-driven performances made him a short-term draw, WWE’s inconsistent booking and reluctance to fully commit to his dominance ultimately limited his legacy, revealing deeper flaws in the company’s approach to long-term character development.
Evidence and Analysis 1.
The Monster’s Ascent: A Masterclass in Physical Storytelling Strowman’s initial push was a textbook example of WWE manufacturing a monster.
His 2017-2018 run featured jaw-dropping stunts: - The Ambulance Flip (2017): After losing to Roman Reigns at, Strowman flipped an ambulance with Reigns inside, a moment that went viral and solidified his menace.
- The Get These Hands Catchphrase: A simple, crowd-chantable slogan that made him an antihero rather than a pure villain.
Analysis: These moments worked because they leaned into spectacle over psychology a hallmark of WWE’s most successful monsters (e.
g., Kane, Big Show).
However, unlike those predecessors, Strowman’s booking lacked long-term vision.
2.
The Creative Stumbles: From Dominance to Diminishment Strowman’s momentum was repeatedly undercut by baffling decisions: - 2018 Universal Title Loss: After winning the briefcase, he cashed in on a weakened Brock Lesnar only to lose due to interference.
Fans perceived this as WWE protecting Lesnar at Strowman’s expense.
- Feud with Bobby Lashley (2019): A poorly received rivalry involving a tug-of-war segment and a nonsensical arm-wrestling match, exposing WWE’s struggle to book monsters in nuanced feuds.
- 2020 Universal Title Reign: While his pandemic-era run had moments (e.
g., the with Bray Wyatt), it lacked the sustained dominance fans expected.
Scholarly Perspective: Dr.
Travis Vogan () notes that WWE often sacrifices long-term storytelling for short-term shock value, a pattern evident in Strowman’s booking.
3.
Fan Reactions: The Push-Pull of a Monster’s Popularity Strowman’s appeal was paradoxical: - Pro: His sheer physicality made him a must-see attraction.
- Con: His lack of mic skills and repetitive feuds led to diminishing returns.
Critical Perspective: Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer () argued that Strowman needed a manager or stronger character work to evolve beyond the ‘big man who wrecks stuff’ gimmick.
Broader Implications: What Strowman’s Career Reveals About WWE 1.
The Monster Heel Dilemma: WWE struggles to book unstoppable forces without making them either too dominant (hurting the roster) or too vulnerable (hurting their aura).
2.
Corporate Reliance on Part-Timers: Strowman’s losses to Lesnar and Goldberg highlight WWE’s preference for established stars over homegrown talent.
3.
Fan Fatigue with Spectacle Over Substance: While Strowman’s stunts were memorable, they couldn’t compensate for weak storytelling.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Unfulfilled Potential Braun Strowman’s career was a microcosm of WWE’s strengths and weaknesses.
His physicality and spectacle-driven moments made him a star, but inconsistent booking and a lack of character evolution left him short of legendary status.
His 2021 release and subsequent return further underscore WWE’s cyclical struggles with monster characters.
Ultimately, Strowman’s story is a cautionary tale: in an era where fans crave both spectacle and substance, even the most imposing giants can falter without a coherent creative vision.
For WWE, the challenge remains can they build the next unstoppable force, or will they repeat the same mistakes? Sources Cited: - Vogan, T.
(2019).
- Meltzer, D.
(2020).
- WWE Network archival footage (2017-2021).
- Fan sentiment analysis via Reddit and Twitter trends.