Pros and Cons of Braun Strowman as Universal Champion Following WWE SummerSlam

When Braun Strowman debuted in August 2015 as the newest member of The Wyatt Family, just two years after signing with the WWE and beginning his first training as a professional wrestler, no one expected much of the 6'8" monster of a man. He was following in the footsteps of other failed WWE big men including Mason Ryan and Ezekiel Jackson.

Now four years into his career with no prior experience, Strowman is about to main event SummerSlam 2017 alongside Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe, three seasoned veterans with impressive legacies. Not only has he proved himself worthy of that spot, he is going into the match with a real shot to become Monday Night Raw's new WWE universal champion.

Should he, though? World championships are important in the WWE, signaling the top stars of the brand. Particularly given Raw's status in the WWE, the world champion is considered the current top draw of the promotion. To put the Universal Championship on Strowman is a major decision that needs to be heavily considered.

The pros and cons of such a decision are worth weighing long before SummerSlam 2017 as analysis only makes it more clear just how important a moment it would if Strowman were to win the Fatal 4-Way at SummerSlam and become universal champion.

Pro: Strowman will be around every week while playing the same role as Lesnar.

Lesnar won the championship at WrestleMania 33, back in April. Since then, he has defended his championship once, stretching the limits of the established rules for title defenses. Raw has spent too long without a top champion and had too many events without a world championship on the line.

Strowman is a similarly dominant beast, who could go a long time as champion before a hero emerges to take him down. He would be able to take over Raw while being around to compete each and every week. A transition of the title to The Monster Among Men would be effortless and allow Lesnar to take time off without it distracting from the product.

Con: Lesnar remains one of the biggest attractions in the WWE and elevates the championship by holding it.

Mainstream media can only promote a few names in the WWE as major stars with Lesnar on that list. As a former top draw for UFC, Lesnar has made his name in multiple promotions and has become an elite attraction. Strowman cannot match up to that status. In fact, he will likely never be that big a star.

By having the championship in Lesnar's hands, he elevates the title, making it clear that everyone wants to hold the title. Even if he is not defending it, everyone is vying for the title and willing to go up against perhaps the most fearsome force in the company because they want to be the world champion of Raw.

Strowman as champion carries less prestige and will likely take the championship out of mainstream headlines particularly when promoting the biggest WWE events.

Pro: It would be a major moment, solidifying Strowman for years to come.

Strowman deserves a true moment to award what has been an impressive run lately in the WWE. He was shockingly cut out of WrestleMania this year, left to a filler role in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and he also went down early in the Royal Rumble this year. Winning at SummerSlam would make up for him being underutilized at other Big Four shows.

Strowman standing tall over multiple long-time legends and future WWE Hall of Famers would be a lasting memory, standing as the night he rose to prominence. The Monster Among Men would be made for certain with this victory, becoming the top big man in the business perhaps for the next decade.

Con: Winning the championship in a Fatal 4-Way would take away from the build up to someone defeating The Beast Incarnate.

This story has been told before. Lesnar won the WWE Championship and dominated everyone in his path. Reigns looked to be the man to finally overcome the Beast, but Seth Rollins instead snuck in and stole the title. No one had managed to overcome Lesnar, just outsmart him.

Strowman would likely not be pinning Lesnar if he won the championship, and even if he did, Joe and Reigns would have assisted him along the way. Strowman is imposing enough that he could be sold as the man who did defeat Lesnar on his own, but it would need to be set up past SummerSlam.

If he wins the title at SummerSlam, Strowman will be made, but he won't get the rub he could have gotten if he managed to overcome The Beast Incarnate one-on-one.

Con: Despite impressive moments, Strowman is still new to wrestling and would be asked to take a massive step up as world champion.

Strowman is one of the least experienced wrestlers on the entire roster. Others who debuted on the roster after him had years of wrestling experience on the independent scene. Strowman has cut some solid promos and put on good matches, but it is possible he will struggle against lesser competition.

Moreover, he has no experience promoting big events. He could be built more gradually into the role of top man in the company, testing the waters on his marketability and ability to put on quality matches every night at the top of the card. While he looks like a safe bet now, nothing is ever certain in wrestling.

Pro: Strowman has been arguably the best part of Raw for months now.

Reigns vs. Strowman has been the best feud in the WWE with the Mountain of a Man showing impressive chemistry with the Big Dog. Strowman has made every appearance entertaining. Whether he was throwing Reigns into walls or declaring himself great with every victory, he has been the MVP of the first half of the year for Raw.

No one expected much when he was paired with Reigns and certainly not when he was fighting Big Show, but he has proved his worth and elevated the product. He should only do that more as champion, main eventing Raw often with his feats of strength and cocky promos.

It is rare that a wrestler is at the top of their game and holding the top championship. There is often a disconnect where the best performers are not the true main eventers, but Strowman has been the most fun performer to watch and is ready to become a top star as well. It is the perfect moment to crown Strowman and let him reign over Raw.

Is Strowman ready for this mantle? Should he take such a massive step into the spotlight at SummerSlam? The answers to these questions are not simple. The pros and cons balance each other out, leaving the debate up in the air.

For now, it is just a matter of waiting to see what Strowman will do next and what the WWE has planned for him. If he is slated to become universal champion, he will have a long road ahead to prove himself though it would not be an unwelcome move by the company.