The Match-up:

Roman Reigns faces Braun Strowman in an Ambulance Match at the WWE Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view (PPV) tonight (Sunday, July 9, 2017) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. This will be the first Ambulance match for both.

The Road to Great Balls of Fire:

The issue between Reigns and Strowman has been so good mere words will not do it justice. Fortunately, WWE has every highlight documented for our viewing pleasure. Things began in earnest during the build to the Royal Rumble show earlier this year, on the very first episode of the Kevin Owens Show on January 2:

The double spear to Strowman, as well as KO subtly promising the big guy a championship match of his own, was the catalyst for him attacking Reigns during a No Disqualification match for the Universal Championship. Since that night, the Monster Among Men has gone out of his way to beat the living crap out of the Big Dog whenever he sees fit.

In the middle of all of this, Reigns retired (allegedly) the Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. Eight days later, this happened:

This, I believe, is when Strowman found a catchphrase for himself: “I’M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!”

Subsequently, Reigns would go on the lose to Strowman in a one-on-one match, their second on PPV, at Payback. But Reigns was not done, as Strowman had wrongly assumed:

Because of this assault, Strowman was injured and would be out, according to those liars at WWE, six months after recovering from elbow surgery. Lo and behold, after six or so weeks, this happened:

For those unaware, an ambulance match is an anything goes encounter where the only way to win is to throw your opponent into an ambulance and close the door shut.

The next week, Braun bounced Roman’s body off the ambulance. No, really. That’s legit what happened.

Reigns, taking a page out of his nemesis’ playbook, was not done with Strowman just yet.

It has been six long and violent months.

The Stakes:

Well, other than the fact that somebody might die? Reigns recently called himself the number one contender for the Universal Championship and called his shot at Summerslam this year. A defeat by Strowman will certainly raises doubts about that and leave a spot wide open for the big man to take as his.