Braun Strowman stole the show last week when he threw Roman Reigns from pillar to post in the backstage area, before shoving him off a loading bay while he was on a stretcher and then flipped over the ambulance The Big Dog was supposedly inside of.

It was a brilliant segment, and fans loved it.

INJURIES

The WWE achieved what they set out to do – it makes The Monster Among Men look unbeatable while it shows that Reigns would stand no chance of recovering in time to overcome his rival.

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Despite that, Monday Night RAW general manager Kurt Angle revealed that Reigns would be competing in a singles match against Strowman at the Payback event next Sunday.

However, WWE was quick to provide fans with an update on the condition Reigns was in following Strowman’s unprovoked and vicious attack, where they claimed he suffered from cracked ribs and a separated shoulder.

The WWE tried to sell those ‘severe’ injuries as he was kept off RAW last week, but still appeared on the live events to face off against the former Wyatt Family member.

According to a report from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there’s a reason why WWE is moving ahead with the match with Reigns’ advertised injuries.

It’s been speculated that Strowman will be Brock Lesnar’s next challenger for the Universal Championship, and for that to happen he needs to defeat Reigns at Payback.

EXCUSE

At the same time, though, WWE doesn’t want Reigns to lose this match clean or without an excuse, so the idea is that they’ll be using his rushed return as an excuse for his loss so he doesn’t lose more credibility as a top threat.

He claimed: “So [Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns] is the main event.

“The idea is that Reigns comes back quick, so he’s got his excuse when he loses, and then he loses, then Strowman gets Lesnar.”

It makes sense to go down this route, as WWE is trying to keep Lesnar as far away from Reigns as possible as rumours indicate the two are set to do battle once more in the main event of WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans.

There has also been talk that the match will eventually face a stipulation change, rather than keeping it as a singles match.

So far, a stretcher or ambulance match looks to be the way they will go down as that means Reigns won’t be pinned clean in the middle of the ring, and that along with the injury excuse they have planned means it won’t make him look weak compared to Strowman.

WWE probably isn’t doing themselves any favours here by using this excuse, as this is just another reason for fans to boo him.

What do you make of WWE’s ready-made excuse for Roman Reigns’ potential Payback loss? Have YOUR say in the comments section below and the second episode of GiveMeSport’s WWE podcast is here! Check out the inside info from our coverage in Orlando. https://soundcloud.com/user-818579649/givemesport-inside-wrestlemania-33

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