Braun Strowman's 5 greatest moments in WWE

Braun Strowman has grown into WWE's most compelling character. He has become the backbone of Raw by leaving a trail of devastation in his wake, during his stellar run in the past year or so. He didn't follow the standard route to stardom, but instead gave us moment after moment of hurting his opponents and destroying anything within reach.

The past year has somewhat been the year of Braun Strowman. By overturning an ambulance and laying waste to wrestling rings, The Monster Among Men has become more than a wrestler. He has become a larger-than-life figure, a mythological being, an overwhelming force one simply can't look away from.

From one of his early collisions with Roman Reigns to an act of vengeance on a Beast, the following is a look at the moments that propelled Strowman into super stardom.

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#5 Strowman Breaks the Ring with Reigns' Back

WWE's contract signings turning violent is as reliable an occurrence as the leaves turning brown in the fall. Ahead of Strowman's bout against Reigns at Fastlane in March 2017, though, the trope took an unexpected turn.

The Monster Among Men didn't just flatten his opponent, he wrecked the ring, too. Strowman hurled The Big Dog into the turnbuckle and it broke, sending the ring ropes snapping and flying into the air.

As the Goliath towered over his enemy, he did so in an arena damaged by his own hands.

Strowman not only looked like a monstrous force capable of downing a powerhouse such as Reigns, the wreckage in the ring made sure this created a lasting image.

#4 Strowman vs an Ambulance

Steve Austin will be forever associated with the night he drove a beer truck into Raw and sprayed his bosses with a hose. The same will be true for Strowman overturning an ambulance with a human being inside.

During his intense feud with Reigns, The Monster Among Men beat his opponent and then told him he wasn't finished with him. The truth of that statement soon became clear. After officials loaded Reigns into an ambulance, Strowman went ahead and tipped the ambulance over on its side.

Some strategically placed hydraulics probably helped the giant perform the feat, but it still made for impressive viewing. Strowman looked like an absolute beast here.

#3 The Monster Destroys the Ring

In a throwback to Big Show and Lesnar obliterating the ring underneath them in 2003, The World's Largest Athlete again caused the canvas to collapse. This time it was Strowman who played the colossus opposite him.

This proved to be a star-making night for The Monster Among Men.

Strowman wiped out The Golden Truth and Kalisto backstage earlier in the night, and he then traded shots with Big Show until a superplex caused the ring to implode.

The referee tumbled out to the floor and the ring ropes fell limp around the two giants while the crowd roared. Amidst all the ruin, Strowman eventually stood tall, with his arms raised in victory.

#2 Strowman Sends Reigns off in an Ambulance

The ambulance's sirens served as a harbinger of doom. The emergency vehicle sat parked in the arena on Raw ahead of the Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view and Reigns approached it the way one does a dark basement in a horror movie.

Strowman emerged from out of nowhere and destroyed The Big Dog.

In a scene that would help set up their eventual Ambulance match, The Monster smashed Reigns and flung the 265-pounder against the side of the ambulance with little effort. And in a preview of what he planned to do to him during the bout, he stuffed Reigns inside the vehicle.

Strowman's energy and power elevated this beatdown scene.

#1 The Monster Lays out The Beast at SummerSlam

Even during a stretch where WWE has protected, hyped and elevated Lesnar at an all-time level, Strowman matched up to The Beast in one of SummerSlam's biggest moments.The Beast Incarnate defended the Universal Championship against three men that night—Samoa Joe, Reigns and Strowman.

During the bout, the two behemoths clashed at ringside. Strowman lifted all 286 pounds of Lesnar onto his shoulder like a knapsack and with a running powerslam, left the announce table flattened and a Beast stunned.

Another slam soon followed, splintering a second announce table. To follow up, The Monster flipped a third announce table onto Lesnar's body. Officials soon carried the Champion away on a stretcher.

SummerSlam proved to be a star-making night for Strowman, who looked like the apex predator among all his fellow competitors.