WWE forgot to book a credible opponent for Braun Strowman this month

Universal championship handicap match

Braun Strowman (c) vs. The Miz & John Morrison

Braun Strowman defeated Bray Wyatt last month at Money in the Bank. Wyatt has been off television since that match, tending to more important matters.

As a result, Strowman needed a new challenger this month for his Universal championship. It looks like Bruce Prichard forgot to book anyone else on the SmackDown roster as a credible threat to Strowman, so the Monster Among Men is defending the title at Backlash in a handicap match against a tag team. It’s really not all that different from what Strowman was doing earlier this year when he was dealing with Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Sami Zayn.

It’s also not the first time that WWE has decided to sacrifice a top team in their tag division at the hands of the Strowman, assuming Braun wins this match. But maybe that’s not a safe assumption, because this is exactly how Braun Strowman lost the Intercontinental championship to Sami Zayn three months ago at Elimination Chamber.

So how did we get here? Well, Miz and Morrison thought it was ridiculous that Otis won the Money in the Bank contract, so they challenged him to a tag team match on the May 15 episode of SmackDown. Otis asked Braun to be his partner, and the night ended with Strowman pinning Morrison after a powerslam.

One week later, Miz & Morrison mocked Strowman by using Dookie the Diaper Boy. Sadly, I am not making that up. This led to a singles match between Strowman and Miz, and it ended with Miz eating a powerslam and being pinned by Braun.

Miz & Morrison then challenged Strowman to a handicap match for the Universal title at Backlash, because wins and losses don’t matter in WWE. Strowman accepted their proposal, perhaps looking to redeem himself after failing in a similar match against Zayn’s crew three months earlier.

Miz & Morrison were determined to make Strowman’s life a living hell. On the June 5 episode of SmackDown, they tried pouring Nickelodeon slime on him, and then smashed up his car. Strowman was irate and tipped over the unmarked creepy white van that they were hiding in.

One week later, Strowman was victorious over the heels yet again, this time in a 6-man tag team match where Dolph Ziggler took the fall.

There’s your entire build for the Universal championship match at Backlash. It’s a storyline straight out of a one-sided mid-card feud, but it’s at least better than giving us Braun Strowman versus Baron Corbin.

Find out who wins by tuning into Backlash 2020 and keeping it right here at Cageside Seats!