Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane Title Match Set for WWE Royal Rumble

Raw general manager Kurt Angle confirmed what many had speculated Monday night when he announced Brock Lesnar will defend the WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble on Jan. 28 in a Triple Threat match. 

Braun Strowman and Kane will challenge for the title, per WWE:

Angle's decision comes after Strowman and Kane wrestled to a double-count-out in a No. 1 contender's match on Raw on Dec. 11.

On one hand, the idea that Kane could earn a world title shot in 2017 is emblematic of WWE's reliance on aging stars who are past their prime. Kane turned 50 in April and was far enough removed from his wrestling career he started running for mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

No fan believes Kane will actually win the Universal Championship, and an extended title run for The Big Red Machine carries limited appeal beyond the initial shock of seeing him as a world champion.

With all of that said, the Royal Rumble is the one event where WWE can pull off a title match that includes Kane.

Most in the WWE Universe watch the pay-per-view for the Royal Rumble match, which can lessen the significance of everything else on the card.

Since that's the case, WWE has a lot more leeway with regard to whom it includes in what would otherwise be prominent matches. Hardcore Holly's WWE Championship match against Lesnar in 2004 is the most famous example of that.

Lesnar is basically in a holding pattern until WrestleMania, so WWE shouldn't exhaust what is the company's dwindling number of realistic matchups for The Beast at an event where he won't be in a headlining match.

Including Kane in what would otherwise be a great rematch between Strowman and Lesnar shouldn't detract all that much from the Royal Rumble as a whole.