4 Reasons why Bronson Reed lost the Last Monster Standing Match on WWE RAW

WWE Monday Night RAW aired on the USA Network last night and the show was memorable and important for a handful of reasons. For starters, this was the final three-hour edition of the red brand until RAW moves to Netflix in January.

In addition to that important detail, the show also had other key moments. The Miz shockingly turned heel on R-Truth, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance made their returns and CM Punk had an intense face-off with Drew McIntyre.

The highlight of the night, which also happened to be the main event, was an intense Last Monster Standing Match. Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman went toe-to-toe in the bout, which eventually saw Seth Rollins' comeback. The Visionary then cost Reed the win.

Many fans were shocked to see Bronson lose, as it seemed all but guaranteed that he'd go over Braun to end their rivalry. This article will take a look at a handful of possible explanations for Reed's disappointing defeat and what it might mean going forward.

Below are four reasons why Bronson Reed lost the Last Monster Standing Match on WWE RAW.

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#4. Braun Strowman could be getting prepped for Gunther

The first reason why Bronson Reed may have lost the Last Monster Standing Match on WWE RAW could have to do with plans for his opponent: Braun Strowman. The Monster Of All Monsters may be getting primed for a major role soon.

Gunther is the current World Heavyweight Champion. He won the prestigious title at WWE SummerSlam when he defeated Damian Priest. Now, he is set to put the title on the line against the incomparable Sami Zayn on RAW next Monday.

After that, there is no clear indicator as to who Gunther will feud with. There is a chance Braun winning over Reed could be due to Strowman potentially being Gunther's next challenger. The Ring General and The Monster Of All Monsters have met before, but this time it could happen with the biggest belt on RAW on the line.

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#3. This helps develop the Rollins-Reed storyline

As noted, the main event of WWE Monday Night RAW saw the return of Seth Rollins. The Visionary showed up after an insane superplex spot that broke the ring and he delivered a vicious stomp to Bronson on the steel steps.

This allowed Strowman to get up to his feet before the referee counted to 10 and thus gave the former WWE Universal Champion the win. More importantly, however, it further developed the Seth Rollins-Bronson Reed storyline.

Bronson Reed's recent push came thanks to destroying Seth Rollins on Monday Night RAW and injuring the former world champion with numerous Tsunami splashes. Now, Seth has gotten a measure of revenge, which inevitably means this feud will really be taking off moving forward. Reed's failure to get the win was likely done for the sake of their feud.

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#2. Bronson Reed is a heel and this allows fans to go home happy

There is an old cliche in pro wrestling that goes, "Send the fans home happy." The statement is somewhat self-explanatory, but it goes back to the logic that a live show should end in a manner that excites WWE fans, makes them happy they spent their money on tickets and encourages them to come back.

Sometimes that philosophy can be difficult to follow, especially if a top heel act or champion needs to get heat. As a result, sometimes Vince McMahon used to sacrifice the heat of a top heel to make sure a babyface stood tall for the sake of the audience in attendance.

Triple H could have gone with the same philosophy. Bronson has often stood tall lately, so sacrificing a bit of his heat to have a babyface victorious may have been The Game's plan.

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#1. Seth Rollins' return to WWE will overshadow the outcome of the match

Seth Rollins has had an incredible run in WWE. In addition to memorable rivalries with the likes of Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Triple H, he is a multi-time world champion and a WrestleMania headliner.

The Visionary's return on WWE Monday Night RAW shocked and captivated fans. The audience rushed to social media to express their delight in seeing the former Shield member back, which is exactly why Bronson likely lost.

As noted, the loss only serves to benefit their rivalry, but more importantly, Seth's return works as a distraction. Fans aren't upset over Bronson losing because they're instead focused on the return of the former multi-time world champion. Triple H was smart to book Reed to lose when it wouldn't actually hurt his legitimacy moving forward.