...or maybe not...

A previously planned match for WWE WrestleMania 34 has reportedly been nixed according to Dave Meltzer, with a new direction being chosen instead.

It had previously been speculated that Braun Strowman would be getting a major Intercontinental Championship match against The Miz in New Orleans, but it appears that original idea has been nixed.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter discussed the direction of The Miz earlier today on the Observer Radio, which you can see below with a h/t to RingsideNews.com for the transcription.

“It’s pretty clear that they will be doing The Miz and Seth Rollins and probably Finn Balor in a three-way, which takes Strowman out and Strowman is obviously the backup plan in case something happens.”

The seeds for The Miz’s new storyline with Rollins and Balor were set on WWE Raw this week when he lost to both men in singles action, with Rollins showing his frustration towards Balor for interrupting his post-match celebration. It is currently unclear where Strowman fits on the WrestleMania card at this point.

he would get a massive pop at Mania if he beat Miz...

I hope I eat my words here, but I can really see Braun Strowman being the next Ryback.

-Gets pushed into the title scene after stomping everyone in his path.
-Gets a shot or two but doesn't win despite being mega-over because reasons.
-Does something else, eventually wins a mid-card title.
-People stop caring because despite stomping everyone in his path, he's suddenly losing matches now.
-Maybe forms a tag team for something to do.
-Never wins a World title.

I really hope I eat my words, I really do, because Braun deserves a World Championship win, but I can easily see this scenario playing out. At least with Ryback the World Champ was CM Punk. In this scenario the World Champ is Roman Reigns.

Watching Braun wreck people is fun, but if he never actually wins something (like a belt!) people will eventually grow bored of him. If not this, at least give it to him around Summerslam.

RT, I hate when you're right so I pray you are wrong.


What the fuck are they doing with Braun!?:

Feb 27, 2018 23:10:40 GMT Mistress said:

What the fuck are they doing with Braun!?:

I assume it's one of two things. Either they feel he doesn't need it or much like Ryback his overness is not enough to justify a change of plans (Rock/Cena II vs. Brock/Reigns II).

Braun vs Miz would be fun to watch.

It's like they don't want anyone to watch WM

Braun's fought everyone there is to face on Raw. He could do with a freshening up on Smackdown. Put him in an interpromotional match at Mania, smash one of Smackdown's top guys. Randy Orton is ideal. Then he goes to Smackdown, kills lower carders for a few weeks, then beats AJ or Nakamura in his first title shot, perhaps at Summerslam. Give him a decent run with the Smackdown belt. Go from there.

Come to think of it, maybe he hasn't faced everyone there is to face on Raw. Did he ever wrestle Cena one on one? That might be an even better Mania match than Orton, and at this point Strowman is high profile enough to be a good opponent for Cena. He's certainly more high profile than Rusev was a couple of years ago.

Shame too because that bit in the Chamber between the two was awesome. Lemme find the gif!



Guess they see him above the belt, but not worthy of big red over the big dog.

Feb 27, 2018 23:20:25 GMT Emperor said:

Braun's fought everyone there is to face on Raw. He could do with a freshening up on Smackdown. Put him in an interpromotional match at Mania, smash one of Smackdown's top guys. Randy Orton is ideal. Then he goes to Smackdown, kills lower carders for a few weeks, then beats AJ or Nakamura in his first title shot, perhaps at Summerslam. Give him a decent run with the Smackdown belt. Go from there.

Come to think of it, maybe he hasn't faced everyone there is to face on Raw. Did he ever wrestle Cena one on one? That might be an even better Mania match than Orton, and at this point Strowman is high profile enough to be a good opponent for Cena. He's certainly more high profile than Rusev was a couple of years ago.

But he hasn't held gold on Raw

Feb 27, 2018 23:20:25 GMT Emperor said:

Braun's fought everyone there is to face on Raw. He could do with a freshening up on Smackdown. Put him in an interpromotional match at Mania, smash one of Smackdown's top guys. Randy Orton is ideal. Then he goes to Smackdown, kills lower carders for a few weeks, then beats AJ or Nakamura in his first title shot, perhaps at Summerslam. Give him a decent run with the Smackdown belt. Go from there.

Come to think of it, maybe he hasn't faced everyone there is to face on Raw. Did he ever wrestle Cena one on one? That might be an even better Mania match than Orton, and at this point Strowman is high profile enough to be a good opponent for Cena. He's certainly more high profile than Rusev was a couple of years ago.

I hope they give him something. Murdering Orton, Cena, or even 'Taker at 'Mania would work for me. Or fuck, make him Ronda's partner against HHH & Steph... why not!

I'm quite surprised to see the sheets getting worked by Brock's absence last night.

I see Strowman winning the Andre Battle Royal now.

Feb 27, 2018 23:43:46 GMT @admin said:

I'm quite surprised to see the sheets getting worked by Brock's absence last night.

I see Strowman winning the Andre Battle Royal now.

Well, at least that's a better choice than Goldberg.

If it were up to me, Braun would face Cena. I think that match is 100x better than anything else either of them could do, Cena/Taker included.

We all know Cena/Taker should have happened 5 years ago. If they fight now the match will be awful and nobody will care because the streak is long over. Yeah, there's a good story there (Cena is desperate to get to Wrestlemania, isn't the man he once was, last ditch effort he calls out The Undertaker), but I think it would be an even better story if he decided he had to prove himself and decided to take on the man that has been wreaking havoc on Raw for the past 6 months, the man that could only be pinned when 5 other superstars beat the shit out of him for 20 minutes, the man everyone else is afraid to face one-on-one, Braun Strowman.

Cena wins (LOL) but it begins his road to redemption as he realizes he's not done, he's got some fight left in him still, and over the summer they build to Cena vs Reigns at Summerslam where Cena ties Flairs record (we all know it's happening, they might as well get it over with).

OR...Strowman wins and Cena realizes he's done on Raw. It's their flagship show, and Cena puts the roster over with a farewell speech that says "the true superstars are here, I'm going to try my luck on Smackdown." Shane and Daniel take offense to that, so to prove to Cena they're not the "B show" they put him to the test. Same "redemption" build over the summer, Cena vs (Styles/Nakamura/whoever) at Summerslam.

EDIT: My mistake. Cena breaks the record.

Cena already tied the record. The next one will break it.

Feb 28, 2018 2:02:27 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Cena already tied the record. The next one will break it.

Which will happen next year at Mania

Feb 28, 2018 0:16:21 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Feb 27, 2018 23:43:46 GMT @admin said:

I'm quite surprised to see the sheets getting worked by Brock's absence last night.

I see Strowman winning the Andre Battle Royal now.

Well, at least that's a better choice than Goldberg.

Oooo... I'd be down for the ATGMBR coming down to Goldberg vs. Braun as the final. Even with Goldberg winning, so long as Brain gets to lay him out afterwards.