3 Reasons Why Braun Strowman Must Win the Universal Title at WWE Crown Jewel

In two weeks' time, at the WWE PPV Crown Jewel, former champion Brock Lesnar, former MITB holder Braun Strowman, and current Universal Champion Roman Reigns will all fight for Raw's top title in a Triple Threat Match that has the potential to not only tear down the house in Saudi Arabia, but also tear up the landscape of WWE as we know it.

Here's how we ended up with this colossal clash between three of Raw's top stars: it all began in the main event of the Hell in a Cell PPV in September. Reigns speared Strowman through a table, and though Strowman was able to just barely kick out, both men were left unmoving afterwards.

The rest of the Shield as well as Ziggler & McIntyre came out to brawl with on another on top and on the side of the cage. And right after Rollins and Ziggler crashed through the tables, Lesnar's music began to play.

The Beast and his Advocate marched down to the cage, where Lesnar proceeded to kick open the door to the cell. He laid out both Strowman and Reigns with shots to the back with a piece of wood and two F5s. The Beast left carnage in his wake, and Reigns & Strowman were unable to continue.

However, since the match had a false finish, Braun Strowman had technically not lost his MITB cash-in. Therefore, he was obligated to receive a rematch. At the same time, Brock Lesnar was slated to receive for the title he lost to Reigns at Summerslam. So, acting General Manger Baron Corbin decided to have Reigns defend the strap against both Lesnar and Strowman in a massive Triple Threat at Crown Jewel.

With that being said, Reigns is currently favored heavily by the betting odds to retain his title, and titles do not often change hands at international events. However, it would be a mistake for WWE to make that booking decision. Here are three reasons why it is Braun Strowman's time to claim the world championship that has so far eluded him.

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3. He can't afford to take a clean pinfall loss

Strowman is pinned for the first time at WWE Fastlane in 2017

You might be thinking that if Reigns is indeed going to retain the title, since it is a triple threat, he can simply pin the other opponent and Strowman will come out of the match without looking weaker or having his unstoppable character diminished.

However, recall that the other man, or rather beast, in this fight, is none other than Brock Lesnar. Many call Lesnar the most protected man in WWE. While he does not have matches as often as others, it is exceedingly rare to see him lose, let alone get pinned.

Lesnar's last truly clean pinfall loss came to Goldberg at Survivor Series 2016: Reigns's title win at Summerslam this year was marred by Lesnar being distracted by Strowman.

Ever if Lesnar is unlikely to win the Universal title or be a main focus of the company for the next few months due to his fight for the UFC heavyweight title, that does not mean he is going to simply take a pinfall loss, and there is little to no chance that his shoulders are pinned to the mat for a 3-count.

Strowman, on the other hand, is not nearly as protected: he has been pinned three times so far: first at Fastlane in 2017 By Reigns, then at No Mercy in 2017 by then-champion Lesnar, and finally at Elimination Chamber 2018 by Reigns again. If Reigns is to retain the title as the betting odds and rumors suggest, it is likely that Strowman will take the pin.

And that will significantly damage the Monster Among Men's in-ring character: recently, he has been painted as an indestructible force who can rip through everyone and everything. If Reigns pins him for a 3rd time during this match, Strowman will come out looking much weaker to the WWE Universe than he was before.

He has not taken a pinfall loss in the past several months, and suddenly doing so now would destroy the powerful persona he has built up in that time. WWE has put themselves in a difficult situation here with three protected competitors: however, if Strowman is to continue to be a top Superstar on Raw, he must not take the pin, or ultimately lose, here.

Such a loss would fully cement Reigns as the top dog but would ensure that Strowman cannot have the coveted top position.

2. To shine the spotlight on the Universal Title

Paul Heyman (as he usually does) probably put it best during his latest promo on Monday night Raw to promote the Triple Threat Match at Crown Jewel.

He stated that since both Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman were part of factions of their own, they did not have the best individual interests of the Universal Championship in mind.

Heyman was correct - and when we apply his logic to the non-worked aspect of this match, it makes perfect sense. Roman Reigns became part of the Shield once more after Summerslam.

However, this detracted from his ability to shine as an individual star. Instead, the vast majority of Reigns' time has been spent on winning matches with the Shield, fighting any combination of Strowman, Ziggler, or McIntyre, and resolving tensions between his workhorse brothers.

With the interests of the Shield and its matches being put first, the Universal Championship has been put on the backburner. Reigns has not defended it in a while, and it has been of little focus due to another feud taking precedence.

Reigns has been unable to make the Universal Championship the top priority on the red brand, being thought of more as a Shield member than a world champion at this point.

The same logic might apply to Strowman, as Heyman pointed out - that is, if Braun were still in a faction. As we witnessed on this past episode of Monday, Strowman's pack splintered into pieces.

After Ziggler was pinned by Dean Ambrose due to the Triple Powerbomb, Strowman was furious at the loss. He powerslammed Ziggler - but immediately turned into a brutal Claymore kick by Drew McIntyre, who might have either been looking out for Dolph or protecting his self-interests by standing tall. Regardless, it seems likely that Strowman no longer aligned with Ziggler & McIntyre, and has returned to being a top star by himself.

With Reigns still in a trio and Strowman out of one, it is clear that if Strowman wins the Universal Championship at Crown Jewel, he will be able to give it the undivided attention it has always deserved but never truly gotten.

Kevin Owens was often in the shadow of Jericho as the champion, Lesnar rarely showed up with the title, and Reigns has not been able to bring the prestige he promised. By shining a spotlight on the title in his feuds and defending it consistently, Strowman will look like a true champion.

But to be able to elevate the title, he must win it at Crown Jewel by defeating Reigns and Lesnar.

1. To end the seemingly endless Reigns-Lesnar cycle

Despite being a heel, if Strowman won the title, this would truly be one great moment for the majority of the WWE Universe both in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Out of all 3 of these Superstars, Strowman is essentially the most popular, as the 2 others are not very well-liked among the fanbase at WWE events.

Lesnar has recently become disliked by many due to his part-time status in the company and apparent lack of concern for the matches he competes in.

Reigns is the most polarizing figure in the businesses, often getting booed because many believe that he has been overpushed to the top far too quickly and that he has been handed much of what he has accomplished so far.

However, Strowman has neither of those issues: as a full-time wrestler who has powered his way to the top (much to the fanfare of the WWE Universe), he must end the monotony and frustration that has been the Reigns-Lesnar storyline for over three years.

Plenty of people are tired of seeing Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns fight: they have been in a total of 5 matches together (with Reigns taking the loss in all but 1) and both were ferociously booed at Wrestlemania and Summerslam this year.

And more want to see neither Lesnar nor Reigns hold Raw's most prestigious title, believing that the honors should go to someone else.

Strowman is just the right person to receive those honors. He has been chasing the Universal Title for over a year, and it would only be fitting if he would finally take down the two most controversial megastars in WWE today and claim his spot at the top of the Raw roster.

It would satisfy the WWE Universe: there is no logic in putting the title on a Superstar who the WWE Universe does not want to see hold that title. It is Strowman's time: not only to rightfully win the Universal title, but also restore the faith of the fans by finally ending the dominance of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.