WWE wrestler Braun Strowman has been on the sidelines for much of 2023 after undergoing neck fusion surgery in early June. During an interview with News 18, Strowman provided the following update on his recovery progress:
“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.”
The only time Braun appeared on WWE TV since his surgery was for the Bray Wyatt memorial show in late August. When asked about his relationship with Wyatt, Strowman emphasized that whenever he does return to a WWE ring, he’ll be doing it for Bray:
“Oh, I wouldn’t be where I am in my career or life without that man. He did so much for me as far as in the business of teaching me to navigate my way through this crazy industry. He taught me how to be a better performer in the ring. But the most that I take away from my time with Bray Wyatt and the eight years that I got to spend with him was to be a better person. He’s one of the greatest human beings that has ever stepped foot on this earth. When you see this scary character and stuff like that, the ‘FIEND’ and everything that Bray Wyatt’s done, if you get to meet the man that was behind the mask — to say, a family man, never met a stranger, and kind to everyone, and something that I aspire to be.
Now, I’m a godfather to this son, so I know that I have this big responsibility and things like that that I never dreamed that I pray that I never would have to step into. But I’m honoured at the fact that I was chosen by him to lead if something were to happen to him. So it’s a truly humbling honour knowing that I have that weight put on my back and I carry it proudly. So especially with my return to WWE, like I have, I’m not only coming back for me, I’m coming back for him.
…the Wyatt family was such a near and dear part of my family with four brothers who taught me the ways of the business with Eric Rowan, Luke Harper, and Bray and the amazing thing that we were able to capture on television, on film. And knowing that two of those guys are never going to be able to step foot in the ring again, I have that pressure that I carry, that weight that I carry proudly knowing that I’m continuing on the legacy of what we had started 10 years ago.”
Strowman admitted that he doesn’t know if a potential return to WWE at Royal Rumble 2024 in late January is plausible. That sounds too soon to me given the kind of surgery Braun had, but I’m just some guy on the internet who is definitely not a doctor, so I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
Are you looking forward to Braun Strowman’s WWE return in 2024, Cagesiders?
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