WWE's Braun Strowman expected to miss up to six months after elbow surgery

'The Monster Among Men' will be out of action for awhile, which is bad for WWE

Braun Strowman's feud against Roman Reigns and continued ascension as a main event superstar will need to press pause for the moment after WWE confirmed Monday that "The Monster Among Men" will be out for up to six months following surgery to repair an elbow injury. 

Strowman appeared on Raw last week in London with his left arm in a sling following reports of the legitimate injury that was reportedly going to keep him out 4-8 weeks. Reigns interrupted his match later that night against Kalisto to dish out a storyline attack, focused on Strowman's injured shoulder and elbow. Strowman flew back to the United States last Wednesday, according to WWE, and underwent surgery the next day in Birmingham, Alabama. 

The operation was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas of Andrews Sports Medicine, who has worked in recent years on the likes of John Cena and Seth Rollins. It was revealed during surgery that Strowman's elbow had been shattered. 

Strowman, 33, whose real name is Adam Scherr, made his main roster debut in August 2015 as a member of The Wyatt Family. But since going solo last summer, the native of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, has progressed up the card at a rapid pace, becoming a featured main event performer on Raw thanks to a pair of impressive matches against Big Show. 

The feud with Reigns elevated Strowman's character to a whole new level, but the injury has now shelved what has become the WWE's best feud in recent months.

Strowman and Reigns have combined for one violent encounter after another, showcasing their combined athleticism and physicality. The pair had a strong main event match at Fastlane in March before WrestleMania and reconnected in April, with Strowman handing out a series of violent beatdowns -- twice involving an ambulance -- while proving he can carry an entire episode of Raw virtually on his own.

Many believed Reigns and Strowman were headed for an ambulance match in what would have been the main event of Raw's Extreme Rules pay-per-view on June 4.

The loss of Strowman forces WWE to shift gears earlier than normal in terms of Reigns, their top babyface. With neither Finn Balor nor Bray Wyatt formally tied up in a current feud, it will be interesting to see which direction the company goes.