Adam Joseph Scherr (born September 6, 1983) is an Americanprofessional wrestler,strongman andactor. As a wrestler, he is best known for his tenures inWWE where he performed under thering nameBraun Strowman.
Before professional wrestling, Scherr began his strongman career in 2010 when he won theNAS Amateur National Championships in 2011, and theArnold Amateur Strongman Championships in 2012. After his retirement from strongman athletics, Scherr transitioned into professional wrestling and signed a contract with WWE in 2013; he wrestled on itsNXTdevelopmental brand under the name Braun Strowman. Upon debuting on the main roster in 2015, Strowman became part ofThe Wyatt Family.
Adam Scherr was born on September 6, 1983, inSherrills Ford, North Carolina, nearCharlotte, to Sara and Rick "Crusher" Scherr.[5] His father is widely regarded as one of the greatest slow-pitchsoftball players of all time,[6][7][8] and is aUSSSA Hall of Fame member who still holds the All Time World Series records inhome runs (101),hits (166), andRBI (202).[9] Scherr has a younger sister named Hannah.[10] Growing up, he spent time inArkansas andTennessee. He attendedBandys High School, where he was on thefootball,track and field, andwrestling teams. He went through a significant growth spurt in high school; he was 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) during hisfreshman year and grew to 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) by the time he graduated.[11] After graduating in 2001, he "goofed off" until 2003, when he enrolled in acommunity college. He spent the next four years playing football semi-professionally for the Hickory Hornets, supplementing his income by working as adoorman and mechanic. Scherr attended theNFL Scouting Combine in 2007, but he ultimately did not turn professional. In the late 2000s, he began competing in amateur strongman competitions.[12][13][14]
As part of the2016 WWE draft, Strowman was drafted to theRawbrand while Wyatt and Rowan were drafted toSmackDown instead, separating himself from The Wyatt Family and beginning his singles career.[39] Over the following weeks onRaw, Strowman modified his appearance and defeatedJames Ellsworth and several other local wrestlers who put up no challenge.[40][41] On the September 5 episode ofRaw,Sin Cara challenged Strowman due to him disrespectingluchadores; Strowman defeated Sin Cara bycountout and bypinfall in the following weeks.[42][43] On the October 17 episode ofRaw, Strowman was confronted bySami Zayn aftereasily defeating three local competitors in aone-on-three handicap match.[44] Strowman was scheduled to compete against Zayn the following week onRaw, but the match never started as both men attacked each other before the bell rang.[45] On the October 31 episode ofRaw, Strowman won abattle royal by last eliminating Zayn for a spot on Team Raw for the traditionalSurvivor Seriesfive-on-five elimination match.[46][47] At the event on November 20, Strowman eliminated Dean Ambrose, but was the first man to be eliminated from Team Raw after being counted out due to interference by James Ellsworth, who was put through a table after being chased up the entrance ramp by Strowman.[48] Team Raw lost the match.[49] On the December 12 episode ofRaw, Raw general managerMick Foley announced a match between Strowman and Zayn forRoadblock: End of the Line on December 18,[50] being announced as a ten-minutetime limit match in which Strowman had ten minutes to defeat Zayn, which Strowman was unable to do.[51] The following night onRaw, Strowman demanded a match against Zayn, but Foley had given Zayn the night off which prompted Strowman to attack Sin Cara andTitus O'Neil during their match and later attackedSeth Rollins and Roman Reigns during their match against Chris Jericho andKevin Owens.[52] Strowman defeated Zayn in aLast Man Standing match on the January 2, 2017 episode ofRaw to end their feud.[53]
Strowman applying a lifting arm triangle choke onGoldust in 2016
On January 27 at theRoyal Rumble, Strowman interfered during Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns' title match, helping Owens retain theUniversal Championship.[54] Later that night, Strowman entered the Royal Rumble match at #7, eliminatingMojo Rawley,Big Cass,Kalisto,Mark Henry,Big Show, James Ellsworth andTye Dillinger before being eliminated byBaron Corbin.[55][56] On the January 30 episode ofRaw, Strowman challenged for his firstworld championship when he took on Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship as he was granted the match by Foley after video proof of Owens promising Strowman a title match, which Strowman won by disqualification after Reigns interfered and attacked him.[57] Strowman then continued to demand better competition, easily defeating four local competitors and then being granted a match with Reigns atFastlane[58] who also had attacked him in his match againstSamoa Joe, causing Joe to win.[59] At the event on March 5, Strowman lost to Reigns, marking his first loss by pinfall.[60] AtWrestleMania 33 on April 2, Strowman competed in theAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which was won by Mojo Rawley.[61]
On the April 10 episode ofRaw, Strowman continued his feud with Reigns, attacking him andkayfabe injuring his shoulder.[62] Despite playing a villain, Strowman received a very positive fan response, partially due to thenegative fan reaction of Reigns.[63] AtPayback on April 30, Strowman defeated Reigns.[64] During a match against Big Show on the April 17 episode ofRaw, Strowman performed a superplex on Big Show off the ropes, causing the ring to implode and collapse; the match subsequently ended in a no contest.[65] After the May 8 episode ofRaw, WWE claimed that Strowman had a legitimate injury with a shattered elbow and would therefore be sidelined for about six months.[66] This also caused a change in the schedule, with the planned match between him and Brock Lesnar atGreat Balls of Fire having to be scrapped. Strowman underwent surgery three days later on May 11.[67] However,Dave Meltzer of theWrestling Observer Newsletter reported that while Strowman's elbow injury was indeed legitimate, it was minor, scheduled to sideline him for only two months, with WWE exaggerating it in order for him to make a surprise return "four months early".[68] On the June 19 episode ofRaw, Strowman returned from injury, attacking Roman Reigns.[69] This led to an ambulance match at Great Balls of Fire on July 9, which Strowman won.[70] AtSummerSlam on August 20, Strowman challenged for Lesnar's Universal Championship in a fatal-four-way match also involving Reigns and Samoa Joe in a losing effort.[71] Strowman faced Lesnar for the championship atNo Mercy on September 24, but was unsuccessful once again.[72]
Strowman later became involved inThe Miz's feud with the reformed stableThe Shield,[73][74] leading to a five-on-three handicapTLC match atTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on October 22, where he, Miz,Cesaro and Sheamus, andKane faced Dean Ambrose,Seth Rollins andKurt Angle.[a][76] During the match, Strowman's teammates turned on him by throwing him into the back of a garbage truck, turning Strowmanface in the process. His team lost the match.[77] Strowman returned toRaw the following week, attacking Miz and The Miztourage (Curtis Axel andBo Dallas).[78] AtSurvivor Series on November 19, Strowman was a part of Team Raw, defeating Team SmackDown as Strowman andTriple H were the sole survivors of the team.[79] On the December 11 episode ofRaw, Strowman fought Kane to a double countout in a match to determine the #1 contender to the Universal Championship on January 28, 2018 at theRoyal Rumble, leading to the match being changed to a triple threat match involving also Kane and Lesnar.[80] At the Royal Rumble, Strowman failed to win the title.[81] The next night onRaw, Strowman defeated Kane in Last Man Standing match to qualify for theElimination Chamber match at thetitular pay-per-view to determine the #1 contender for the Universal Championship.[82] At Elimination Chamber on February 25, Strowman eliminated The Miz,Elias,John Cena,Finn Bálor and Seth Rollins (setting the new record for the most eliminations in a single Elimination Chamber match), but was the last man eliminated by Roman Reigns.[83]
Strowman performing the Running Powerslam onCurt Hawkins in February 2018
On the March 12 episode ofRaw, Strowman, despite lacking a partner, won a tag teambattle royal to determine the #1 contenders for theRaw Tag Team Championship atWrestleMania 34. Raw general manager Kurt Angle allowed Strowman to challenge for the titles, under the provision he choose a partner at WrestleMania.[84] At WrestleMania on April 8, Strowman chose a young fan in attendance named Nicholas to be his partner (in reality, son of refereeJohn Cone).[85] The duo defeated champions Cesaro and Sheamus, winning his first championship in WWE and making Nicholas the youngest champion of any kind in WWE history.[86] The following night onRaw, Strowman and Nicholas relinquished the titles due to Nicholas' "scheduling conflict" (school).[87] On April 27 at theGreatest Royal Rumble inJeddah,Saudi Arabia, Strowman won the namesake match and in doing so broke the record for most eliminations in a Royal Rumble match with 13, beating Roman Reigns'previous record of 12.[88][89] Strowman then entered into a feud with Kevin Owens. He andBobby Lashley defeatedKevin Owens and Sami Zayn atBacklash on May 6,[90] and won theMoney in the Bank ladder match at thenamesake pay-per-view on June 17.[91] AtExtreme Rules on July 15, Owens defeated Strowman in a steel cage match after Strowman performed a chokeslam off the cage through an announce table on Owens, giving Owens the win as his feet touched the floor first per the rules.[92] AtSummerSlam on August 19, Strowman defeated Owens with his Money in the Bank contract on the line in two minutes, ending their feud.[93] Later that same night, Strowman announced he would be cashing in on the winner of the main event and challenging them after the match. However, then-reigning Universal Champion Brock Lesnar attacked Strowman during his match with Roman Reigns, leaving Strowman unable to cash in when Reigns won the title after pinning Lesnar.[94]
Strowman attempted another cash-in on Reigns the next night onRaw, but was stopped by The Shield, who attacked Strowman before the match became official.[95] Strowman formed an alliance withDolph Ziggler andDrew McIntyre by helping them attack The Shield, turningheel.[96] AtHell in a Cell on September 16, Strowman cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Reigns, but due to interference from Brock Lesnar, the match ended in a no contest.[97] AtSuper Show-Down on October 6, Strowman, Ziggler and McIntyre lost to The Shield,[98] but defeated them two days later onRaw.[99] On the October 15 episode ofRaw, Strowman, Ziggler and McIntyre lost to The Shield again after McIntyre accidentally kicked Strowman during the match. Afterwards, Strowman powerslammed Ziggler before being attacked by McIntyre, dissolving their partnership and turning face again.[100] AtCrown Jewel on November 2, Strowman lost to Lesnar after a pre-match attack by Raw general managerBaron Corbin and five F-5s, in which Strowman kicked out of four F-5s.[101] On November 18 atSurvivor Series, Strowman was again attacked by Corbin, along with McIntyre and Bobby Lashley, after Team Raw defeated Team SmackDown in the traditional tag team elimination match.[102] The following night onRaw, Strowman was again attacked by Corbin, Lashley and McIntyre, which was used to write him off television, as WWE revealed that Strowman was suffering alegit elbow injury, which would require surgery.[103] Strowman returned atTLC on December 16, defeating Corbin in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to earn a Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar at theRoyal Rumble and Corbin was stripped of all authoritative power.[104] On the January 14, 2019 episode ofRaw, he was removed from the Universal Championship match after damaging Vince McMahon's limo after chasing Baron Corbin, and refusing to pay for the damages.[105] However, he instead participated in the Royal Rumble match on January 27, replacing John Cena, who wasn't medically cleared to compete. He was the last man eliminated by eventual winner Seth Rollins.[106] Strowman continued his feud with Corbin, leading to a no-disqualification match atElimination Chamber on February 17, which Strowman lost after interference from McIntyre and Lashley.[107] The following night onRaw, Strowman defeated Corbin in a tables match, ending their feud.[108]
Strowman was then involved in a storyline withColin Jost andMichael Che ofSaturday Night Live (SNL) fame. On the March 4 episode ofRaw, theSNL duo appeared and were announced as special correspondents forWrestleMania 35; in a backstage segment later that night, Jost questioned the legitimacy of professional wrestling, resulting in Strowman attacking him.[109] On the March 18 episode ofRaw, Strowman announced his participation in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.[110] He challenged the duo to also enter the battle royal, which was made official by WrestleMania 35 host Alexa Bliss.[111] The match, which took place on the kickoff show on April 7, saw Strowman emerge victorious after last eliminating Jost. Strowman broke another record, of most eliminations in that particular match as well with 14 eliminations overall.[112] On the April 29 episode ofRaw, Strowman was announced as one of the entrants in the Money in the Bank ladder match at thetitular event on May 19.[113] However, on the May 13 episode ofRaw, Strowman lost toSami Zayn, who had the help of Corbin and McIntrye, forfeiting his spot in the match to Zayn in the process.[114] On the June 3 episode ofRaw, Strowman defeated Bobby Lashley in an arm wrestling match, but was then attacked by Lashley, setting up a match atSuper ShowDown on June 7[115] which Strowman also won.[116] On the July 1 episode ofRaw, Strowman faced Lashley in aFalls Count Anywhere match which ended in a no contest after Strowman crashed Lashley through the LED boards on the stage where Strowman suffered akayfaberuptured spleen.[117] Strowman defeated Lashley in aLast Man Standing match atExtreme Rules on July 14 to end the feud.[118]
Strowman in July 2019
In August, Strowman entered into a storyline with Universal Champion Seth Rollins after saving Rollins from an attack byThe O.C. (AJ Styles,Luke Gallows andKarl Anderson).[119] Strowman and Rollins defeated Gallows and Anderson to win the Raw Tag Team Championship on the August 19 episode ofRaw.[120] AUniversal Championship match between Strowman and Rollins was subsequently arranged forClash of Champions, with the duo also having to defend the tag titles against Dolph Ziggler andRobert Roode at the event.[121] At the event on September 15, Strowman and Rollins lost the tag titles to Ziggler and Roode in the opening match, and in the main event, Strowman lost to Rollins.[122] Strowman then started an on-air feud with boxerTyson Fury. This led to a brawl on October 7 episode ofRaw, due to neither man wanting to offer an apology.[123] Strowman lost to Fury atCrown Jewel on October 31 after he was counted out, and after the match, Strowman laid out Fury with a Running Powerslam to end their feud.[124]
As part of the2019 draft, Strowman was drafted to theSmackDown brand.[125] AtSurvivor Series on November 24, Strowman was a part of Team SmackDown in the 5-on-5-on-5 Survivor Series match between Team Raw, Team SmackDown and Team NXT, which Strowman's team won.[126] AtRoyal Rumble on January 26, 2020, Strowman entered at #14, but failed to win the match.[127] On the January 31 episode ofSmackDown, despite interferences from Sami Zayn andCesaro, Strowman defeatedShinsuke Nakamura to win theIntercontinental Championship for the first time in his career, marking his first singles title in WWE.[128] However, atElimination Chamber on March 8, Strowman lost the title to Sami Zayn in a 3-on-1 handicap match also involving Nakamura and Cesaro; in which Zayn pinned Strowman.[129]
In April, it was announced that Strowman would replace Roman Reigns atWrestleMania 36, facingGoldberg for the Universal Championship, after Reigns opted to pull out of the event amid concerns surrounding theCOVID-19 pandemic that had already affected the pay-per-view.[130][131] On the first night of WrestleMania on April 4, Strowman returned after a month-long hiatus and defeated Goldberg to win the Universal Championship, his first world championship.[132][133] He then began a feud withBray Wyatt, leading to a title match atMoney in the Bank on May 10, which Strowman won.[134] After retaining the title againstJohn Morrison and The Miz atBacklash on June 14,[135] Strowman rekindled his rivalry with Wyatt, who challenged him to a non-title "Wyatt Swamp Fight" on the June 26 episode ofSmackDown, which Strowman accepted.[136] AtThe Horror Show at Extreme Rules on July 19, Strowman lost the "cinematic-style" match after being dragged down into a lake by Wyatt, who used multiple illusions in the match.[137] On the August 14 episode ofSmackDown, Strowman, now sporting a shaved head, acted more sinister as he showed no compassion towardsAlexa Bliss and physically attacked her with a gorilla press, turningheel for the first time since 2018.[138] AtSummerSlam on August 23, Strowman lost the Universal Championship to Wyatt in aFalls Count Anywhere match, ending his reign at 141 days, after which both he and Wyatt were attacked by a returningRoman Reigns.[139] AtPayback on August 30, Strowman failed to win back the title after he was pinned by Reigns.[140]
As part of the2020 Draft in October, Strowman was drafted to theRaw brand.[141] At Survivor Series on November 22, Strowman was a part of Team Raw, who defeated Team SmackDown in a clean sweep.[142] AtRoyal Rumble on January 31, 2021, he entered at #30, eliminating Sheamus, Cesaro, andAJ Styles but was eliminated by eventual winnerEdge.[143]
On the March 1 episode ofRaw, Strowman would team with WWE officialAdam Pearce and face the Raw Tag Team ChampionsThe Hurt Business but they were unsuccessful afterShane McMahon would get up on the ring apron and force Strowman to tag Pearce in, causing Benjamin to roll up Pearce and get the win.[144][145] The next week, Strowman would demand an explanation and apology from Shane McMahon. However, McMahon would instead play a prank on Strowman by mocking him and pretending to flee the arena, before calling him "stupid" behind his back, thus turning Strowman face.[146] McMahon was scheduled to face Strowman atFastlane, but McMahon would suffer a left knee injury preparing for the match, instead havingElias take his place in the match; Strowman defeated Elias nevertheless.[147] AtWrestleMania 37, Strowman defeated McMahon in a steel cage match.[148]
On theRaw after WrestleMania, Strowman faced Drew McIntyre andRandy Orton in a triple threat match for a WWE Championship match atWrestleMania Backlash but failed to win after McIntyre pinned Orton.[149] On the April 26 episode ofRaw, Strowman defeated McIntyre to gain entry into the WWE Championship match following interference fromMace andT-Bar.[150] AtWrestleMania Backlash, Strowman failed to win the title from Bobby Lashley in a triple threat match also involving McIntyre.[151] This would turn out to be his final match for the company as he was released on June 2, 2021.[152]
Control Your Narrative and Ring of Honor (2021–2022)
Scherr debuted atFree The Narrative 2: The Monsters In Us All, defeating the show's creatorEC3.[153] In January 2022, it was announced that Scherr would team with the former Erick Rowan (now Erick Redbeard) in a match againstBully Ray &nZo, which took place at Northeast Wrestling's WrestleFest XXVI on January 22, with Scherr and Redbeard winning the match.[154] It marked the first time Scherr and Redbeard had teamed together in five years.[155]
Scherr debuted at theROH pay-per-viewFinal Battle on December 11, 2021, where he, EC3 &Westin Blake formed the new Control Your Narrative stable and attacked Eli Isom, Dak Draper and Brian Johnson.[156] On February 17, 2022, Scherr along with fellow professional wrestlerEC3, revealed the formation of their own wrestling promotion, Control Your Narrative (CYN).[157] The company started tapings for their impending TV deal in March; taking inspiration fromFight Club, the promotion featured talent booking their own storylines in a way that resembles the early stages ofFight Club's "Project: Mayhem".[158]
On September 1, 2022, Scherr was reported to have re-signed withWWE.[159] On the September 5 show ofRaw, Braun Strowman returned to WWE and attacked every competitor in a fatal four-way tag team match.[160] On the October 14 show ofSmackDown, Strowman was confronted byOmos, starting a feud between the two.[161] AtCrown Jewel on November 5, Strowman defeated Omos.[162] Strowman entered into theSmackDown World Cup with the winner earning an eventualIntercontinental Championship match againstGunther. He defeatedJinder Mahal in the first round[163] before losing to Ricochet in the semifinals after interference fromImperium.[164] Strowman formed an alliance with Ricochet and feuded with Imperium, where Strowman and Ricochet emerged victorious against them in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight on the Christmas Eve edition of SmackDown.[165] Strowman challenged Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship on the January 13, 2023 show ofSmackDown, where Strowman lost.[166]
In the2023 WWE Draft, Strowman was drafted to theRawbrand.[167][168] He went on hiatus soon thereafter due to undergoingneck surgery, but he made a brief return during the opening segment on the August 25 show ofSmackDown which was a segment to honour his friendBray Wyatt, who died due to aheart attack the previous day.[169][170] Strowman returned from injury on the April 29, 2024 episode ofRaw.[171] In mid-2024, Strowman feuded with 'Big' Bronson Reed, in which they destroyed a variety of WWE property (including cars, backstage equipment and more), eventually culminating in aLast Monster Standing match on September 30. Strowman won after Seth 'Freakin' Rollins performed The Stomp on Reed, allowing Strowman to get to his feet. During the match, Strowman suffered a torn groin injury, putting him out of action for some time.[172]
Strowman then returned from injury on the December 13 episode ofSmackDown, where he moved to the SmackDown brand and defeatedCarmelo Hayes.[173] On the December 20 episode ofSmackDown, Strowman became a guest onThe Grayson Waller Effect withA-Town Down Under'sGrayson Waller andAustin Theory, until Carmelo Hayes interrupted the interview session, culminating in a match between Strowman and Hayes, which Strowman lost via count-out.[174] Around this time, Strowman began a feud withJacob Fatu along with his fellow members ofThe Bloodline,Solo Sikoa andTama Tonga. AtSaturday Night's Main Event XXXVIII on January 25, 2025, Strowman faced off against Fatu in a match, where Strowman won by disqualification after Fatu shoved the referee. At theRoyal Rumble on February 1, Strowman eliminated Fatu before being eliminated byJohn Cena.[175] On the April 4 episode ofSmackDown, Strowman faced off against Fatu in aLast man standing match to determine the number one contender for theWWE United States Championship atWrestleMania 41 held byLA Knight, at which Strowman would lose in what would be his final full-time WWE match.[176]
On May 3, 2025, WWE informed Scherr that his full-time performer's contract will expire on July 31.[177] While Scherr's release from his contract is due to a higher salary, according toBill Apter, the WWE has considered bringing Scherr back in a part-time capacity between six months to a year despite wrestling with his left leg 15% paralyzed throughout his second tenure.[178] Despite no longer competing inside a WWE ring, Scherr is expected to host his TV series,Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman onUSA Network, this coming fall.[179]
He was formerly in a relationship withRaquel Rodriguez.[182] They became friends and eventually dated after having met at a gym in 2019.[183] He also dated fellow professional wrestlerKamille.[citation needed]
On June 17, 2023, Scherr appeared in an episode ofDestination Polaris alongsideAndreas John Ziegler. The two showed host Alexa Score how to wrestle.[184][185]
^"WWE Superstar Braun Strowman talks with Lance Allan". March 5, 2018.Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. RetrievedMarch 18, 2018 – via YouTube.Funny story, I wanted to meet Ryan Braun 'cos that's a big influence on where the Braun came from...we were sitting 'round in the Performance Center andSportsCenter was on, and they were talking about Ryan Braun. I was like "Braun, Braun...that sounds pretty good." I mean look at me, I'm 6'8", 385 pounds, I mean Braun's pretty fitting!
^"WWE Raw live results: World Cup qualifiers".WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. October 15, 2018.Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. RetrievedOctober 16, 2018.
^"WWE Superstar Braun Strowman talks with Lance Allan". March 12, 2018.Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. RetrievedMarch 18, 2018 – via YouTube.I'm a Green Bay Packers fan. My sister and I are the only ones in our family born out of the state of Wisconsin, so it's still...it's home to me. I have two different homes, and yeah, if I'm gonna pull for anybody, I'm gonna pull for the Packers.
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