Braun Strowman has discussed his current condition and the plan for 2024.
Former Universal Champion Braun Strowman has been absent from WWE since he unfortunately suffered a neck injury over the summer. He had to undergo level one fusion surgery on his C4 and C5 vertebrae in June and has yet to re-emerge on either Raw or SmackDown as he continues his recovery.
To provide the latest on his condition, Braun has given an interview to News18.com, saying that he’d recently had his five-month review post-surgery and that he’d begun lifting weights again. For now, it seems as if the star is focused on regaining the weight he had lost while inactive.
“So I just recently had my five-month check-up, with Dr. Cordoba, at the world-famous Andrews Medical Centre, where WWE graced me to have my surgery with the number one surgeon in the world. So I did my five-month check-up and got medically cleared to start lifting weights. So the bones are fusing nicely in my neck. So I had a cervical fusion on my C4 and C5. So they put a metal plate and four screws in my neck. I had four screws and a metal plate put it in my neck. Doc cleared me to start lifting weights again, which was a major blessing because I was going crazy sitting around eight weeks of doing nothing. I lost 35 pounds just sitting around for eight weeks because I wasn’t eating like I normally do since I wasn’t lifting. So I didn’t need all those extra calories. So now we’re trying to put the weight back on. The goal for 2024 is to continue this. As I said, I go back after the first year to have another check-up and then get back in the ring, getting back into shape and then getting back to passing these hands out.”
-Braun Strowman
Braun indicated that, in an ideal world, he’d like to make a comeback in time for next year’s Royal Rumble, however he acknowledges that this is unlikely as his return is entirely in the hands of his doctors and their advice.
“You know when I’m back. Just know that. I don’t know yet; if I could be back in Rumble, that’d be great. But like I said, I’m at the mercy of the doctors and what they say. I’m listening to them because this was a very serious injury that I had. So slow and steady as the process on the company is so supportive behind me and stuff. I’m staying busy now. Normally, I probably wouldn’t be here right now doing this if it wasn’t for that. You always take the glass half full line, find your blessings and everything. So now that I’m out with the surgery, I’ve gotten cleared to be able to travel and stuff. So now they’re going to send me around doing all the media stuff. So that’s why I’m here. So it’s an unbelievable blessing to be able to continue to work, do what I love, and get the output, and reaction on people’s faces.”
-Braun Strowman
Prior to getting hurt, Strowman was part of a popular tag team with Ricochet. While his return date isn’t certain, it will be interesting to see whether WWE choose to continue this pairing once the Monster Among Men is able to make his in-ring comeback or if they will opt to focus on a singles run for both men instead.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on Braun Strowman’s condition and any return plans as we hear more.
