WWE Money in the Bank Victory Is Next Step in Braun Strowman's Ascent to the Top

Braun Strowman's status as a mega fan favorite in WWE can not be denied. Although he has fallen short of capturing the Universal Championship on multiple occasions in recent months, a victory at WWE Money in the Bank on June 17 would be a logical next step in his ascent to the top.

Truth be told, Strowman should have been the one to dethrone Lesnar as universal champion back at August's SummerSlam pay-per-view considering the hot streak he was on. Not only did he come up short that night, but he also lost to Lesnar in decisive fashion at the next month's No Mercy pay-per-view.

A third loss to Lesnar at January's Royal Rumble wasn't enough to kill his momentum, however, as he remains one of Raw's most beloved babyfaces.

From winning the Raw Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 34 to reigning supreme in the 50-man Greatest Royal Rumble match in Saudi Arabia, Strowman's recent roll is a sign officials are still hopeful he can be a top star for the company.

That said, the longer he goes without winning a marquee match on pay-per-view, the less of a chance he has of being viewed as a main event player in the fans' eyes. It's clear the company hasn't given up on him yet, but he needs to avenge his string of defeats to The Beast Incarnate.

If WWE is adamant about not having Lesnar lose in a normal one-on-one situation, a Money in the Bank cash-in would be the best way to take the title off The Beast. Furthermore, Strowman would make more sense than anyone to beat Brock considering their history.

Truth be told, the singles match Strowman and Lesnar had against each other at No Mercy was far from stellar. They didn't seem to have any in-ring chemistry, so a quick clash via a Money in the Bank cash-in would allow them to work around wrestling a full-length matchup.

Before that, though, Strowman must first capture the briefcase in Chicago. The Miz, Rusev and Finn Balor are among those who have been confirmed for the contest, but Strowman should take precedence over those performers given his popularity.

It's possible Strowman waits a while before cashing in the contract, but Raw desperately needs a world champion fans can get behind. Therefore, he should capture the championship sooner rather than later.

Needless to say, WWE's experiment with Roman Reigns as the guy has backfired in a bad way. Despite his recent shortcomings against Lesnar at WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble, he hasn't come any closer to winning over the audience than he was before.

WWE's best bet with Reigns would be to remove him from the spotlight for a period of time and allow Strowman to step into his place. The wave of momentum he has been riding for months should see him take that next step to superstardom by emerging victorious from the MITB ladder match, giving fans what they want in the process.

If The Monster Among Men doesn't obtain the briefcase, there's no telling when he will get another shot at the strap he should have held long ago.

Credit: WWE.com

It isn't a guarantee Strowman would win a world title soon after becoming Mr. Money in the Bank. Damien Sandow and Baron Corbin both failed to turn their MITB contracts into championships, but unlike those individuals, Strowman is ready for prime time.

His entertaining matches, succinct promos and ability to control a crowd make him the perfect person to build a brand around. Aside from maybe Seth Rollins, no one is a better candidate to dethrone Lesnar than Strowman, and winning MITB would provide him with a one-way ticket to the title.

After what has already been a breakout year for Strowman, WWE would be foolish to not run with him as Mr. Money in the Bank and inevitably the universal champion.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is an Endicott College alumnus and aspiring journalist. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.