WWE not too long ago launched Braun Strowman throughout a stunning firing spree. (Credit score: Ethan Miller/Getty … [+]
Getty Photos
Braun Strowman is trying to money in on the celebrity he present in WWE.
In keeping with a report from PWInsider.com (h/t Wrestling Inc), the previous Common Champion, who was surprisingly launched by WWE simply over every week in the past, is looking for a giant payday to look for impartial wrestling promotions: “Former WWE Famous person Braun Strowman is reportedly charging a 5 determine reserving payment for his post-WWE appearances on the indies. Indie promoters who’ve reached out to Strowman about attainable bookings report that the asking value is presently within the 5 determine vary.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Oh, the irony right here. In March 2020, Strowman grew to become the goal of widespread criticism for professional wrestling followers after he bashed out-of-work impartial wrestlers in a put up on Instagram, posting: “When you can’t afford to pay your payments perhaps you must change professions.” Now, simply 15 months later, Strowman is an ex-WWE star who’s looking for work on the identical indie scene he took purpose at—albeit solely loosely on the lookout for bookings.
PWInsider provides, “Phrase is that Strowman is fairly set financially, and doesn’t want to right away begin reserving indie appearances. Nevertheless, it was stated that if a promoter comes alongside and meets the best value, Strowman would have an interest.” Strowman was reportedly launched by WWE due to the large contract he signed in 2019, one which paid him $1.2 million yearly however didn’t have a “no-cut clause” that many high superstars have written into their WWE offers.
Strowman’s WWE launch, largely a cost-cutting transfer, was one of the vital stunning releases in firm historical past, however in response to the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer (h/t SEScoops), there was another excuse behind Strowman being let go: “The choice was made due to the sensation he was two years previous his peak and he had develop into out of date because the roster big due to Omos on Uncooked, Commander Azeez on Smackdown, and maybe Shanky on Uncooked.”
In different phrases, Strowman was not the lone or most must-see big in WWE, which paved the best way for WWE to maneuver on from his exorbitant wage even if he was not too long ago feuding over Uncooked’s high title, the WWE Championship.
As a former world champion who was squared off with the likes of Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Goldberg and Tyson Fury, nonetheless, that may seemingly make Strowman one of many hottest free brokers in all of professional wrestling. But it surely’s unclear the place he would slot in in the meanwhile, particularly on condition that indie wrestling isn’t as scorching because it was simply a few years in the past—largely as a result of Covid-19 pandemic—whereas there isn’t an apparent match for him in different main firms, like AEW, Influence or New Japan Professional-Wrestling.
Two-time WWE Corridor of Famer Booker T stated on his podcast that he believed Strowman may have been let go due to a scarcity of credible opponents in WWE, which is sensible on condition that WWE had just about exhausted all of his main feuds lately and he’s restricted within the ring as a giant man. Booker T additionally identified (h/t Wrestling Inc) the difficulties AEW may need in reserving the gargantuan famous person: “That’s the factor, Braun Strowman runs by way of that complete roster…There’s like two matches over there for him.”
ADVERTISEMENT
With AEW largely prioritizing smaller, extra athletic wrestlers, it will be a stretch for these stars to believably defeat Strowman even within the scripted world of professional wrestling, which—to go together with his large wage—may make Strowman-to-AEW a lower than splendid match regardless of Strowman’s apparent abilities. It additionally stays to be seen simply how coveted he might be on the indies, the place lots of the world’s high impartial promotions could not be capable to afford his five-figure payday at a time when the indies have been hit laborious by the consequences of the pandemic.
Thus, Strowman finds himself caught between a rock and a tough place: A fast return to WWE probably isn’t an possibility—not less than with out taking a large paycut—whereas his choices on the indies may be restricted. On that very same word, Strowman could possibly be a precious asset to an organization like NJPW or Influence if the financials could possibly be labored out for either side.
Irrespective of the place he lands, although, Strowman’s subsequent step in professional wrestling could possibly be a game-changer for whichever firm brings him in.
