Braun Strowman is back in the ring. The former WWE Universal Champion made his in-ring return at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling’s Blizzard Brawl, teaming with Kal Herro to beat Tony Evans, Drew Hernandez and Tommy Boy in a handicap match.
It was Strowman’s first match since his WWE contract expired in July 2025, and his first time in the ring since April 18, 2025, when he teamed with LA Knight on SmackDown to defeat Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa.
WWE informed Strowman in May 2025 that his deal would not be renewed, and it lapsed at the end of July. Since then, he has hosted the food and travel series “Everything on the Menu,” which airs on the USA Network after SmackDown and has been renewed for a second season. He has also dealt with health issues over the past year, including a knee infection that led to a hospital stay.
Strowman had been noncommittal about a comeback. In May, he answered a fan on social media who asked when he would wrestle again.
“For everyone asking when I’m getting back in the ring. When a dump truck of gold blocks get dumped on my porch!!!!” Strowman wrote.
This was not Strowman’s first time with the Wisconsin promotion. He wrestled several GLCW shows between his WWE runs in 2021 and 2022, and he served as a guest referee at Blizzard Brawl in December 2024. The handicap match was his first independent match since 2022.
