Why Braun Strowman Doesn’t Have A WrestleMania 34 Opponent Set Yet

We’re one month away from WrestleMania 34 and plans for Braun Strowman, who is perhaps WWE’s hottest wrestler at the moment, are still up in the air. However, there’s a big reason for that.

According to Dave Meltzer in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is a lot of concern among top WWE brass over what might come out of filmmaker Johnny Bravo’s investigation into Roman Reigns and his apparent relationship with jailed steroids dealer Richard Rodriguez, who has named Reigns as one of his customers. There is also concern over his WrestleMania opponent, Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, whose contract with WWE is due to expire shortly after the event. The fear is that Lesnar could “blow up” over contract negotiations and refuse to work. Apparently, Lesnar has fulfilled all of his contractually obligated appearances for WWE.

As a result of these potential issues, Strowman is not into a figured into a program or scheduled for a WrestleMania match since he’s the designated backup in case something happens with Lesnar and/or Reigns.

“Braun Strowman, is not in a program nor at this point even scheduled in a match because he’s the designated backup if Lesnar blows up or Reigns becomes a P.R. issue if Johnny Bravo releases his long-teased tape and depending on the media legs of the story, if there is a legitimate story,” Meltzer wrote.

“The concern is enough that rather than put him in a match and change the card if something bad happens, they are not scheduling a few key players until they are sure the issues with the main event is settled.”

Strowman was originally scheduled to challenge The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, but WWE pulled him from the match in case they need him for the Universal Championship Match.

Meltzer adds that there’s a possibility Strowman could be added to the Universal Championship Match even if Lesnar and Reigns are good to go, thus making it a Triple Threat Match. Although if he’s not involved the match, the backup plan is for him to do a “non-wrestling gimmick thing.”