Braun Strowman made his highly anticipated return from injury on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown. The return marked his first televised match since being sidelined with a torn groin, an injury he sustained during a Last Monster Standing Match against Bronson Reed on the October 1st episode of Raw.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis played a pivotal role in setting up Strowman’s return. Earlier in the show, Aldis spoke with Carmelo Hayes, who requested an opponent for the night. Fans quickly began speculating who the mystery challenger might be, with Chris Featherstone reporting ahead of the show that it would be none other than the returning Strowman.
As expected, Strowman stepped up as Hayes’ opponent, wasting no time in making a statement. The Monster Among Men dispatched Hayes in dominant fashion, securing a victory in under 90 seconds.
Strowman’s Post-Match Impact
Following his quick win, Strowman also made his presence felt later in the night. During a match pitting Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee against WWE World Tag Team Champions JD McDonagh and Finn Balor, chaos erupted when Carlito interfered, causing a disqualification. Strowman stormed the ring to even the odds, leading to the match being restarted as a six-man tag team bout.
Teaming with Mysterio and Lee, Strowman helped secure a crowd-pleasing victory over McDonagh, Balor, and Carlito, capping off an action-packed evening on SmackDown.
Strowman’s Road Back to the Ring
Before his official return to television, Strowman tested the waters in a SmackDown dark match on November 15th, marking his first in-ring action since recovering from his injury. Now back in full force, Strowman’s dominating performance on SmackDown signals his readiness to reclaim his spot as one of WWE’s most imposing forces.