Brock Lesnar to battle Braun Strowman for the vacant Universal Championship

Following Roman Reigns’ announcement that he would relinquish the Universal Championship to battle his returning leukemia, the two Superstars he was scheduled to defend it against will still battle for the vacant title at WWE Crown Jewel.

Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman will contend for the title at the Crown Jewel event, bringing a titanic rivalry back to the forefront. Though both Superstars had lately been drawn into Reigns’ orbit — The Big Dog defeated Lesnar for the title thanks in part to Strowman’s presence as the Money in the Bank contract-holder; The Beast then retaliated by crashing Strowman’s attempted cash-in at WWE Hell in a Cell — the two goliaths have plenty of scores to settle on their own.

Strowman unsuccessfully challenged Lesnar for the title last year at WWE No Mercy, then made a second attempt at the prize in a Triple Threat Match at the 2018 Royal Rumble event that also involved Kane. Lesnar retained by pinning The Big Red Machine in that contest, a development that prompted Strowman to proclaim, loudly, that Lesnar had not beaten him.

If The Beast Incarnate wants to regain the prize he lost and resume his goal of becoming a two-sport champion, he’ll have no such out this time around. And for Strowman, the opportunity to hold Raw’s crown jewel in his hands has never been closer. All he has to do is the one thing he has never accomplished.

WWE Crown Jewel streams live on the award-winning WWE Network Friday, Nov. 2, and will be available on pay-per-view outside of the Middle East with regional broadcast information forthcoming.