On the April 10 episode of "Raw", Strowman continued his feud with Roman Reigns, attacking him and kayfabe injuring his shoulder. Despite playing a villain, Strowman received a very positive fan response, partially due to the negative fan reaction of Reigns. The two had a match at Payback, where Strowman defeated Reigns. Facing Big Show during "Raw" on April 17, Strowman performed a superplex on Big Show off the ropes, causing the ring to implode and collapse. The match ended in a no contest. After the May 8 episode of "Raw", WWE claimed that Strowman had a legitimate injury with a shattered elbow and would therefore be sidelined for about six months. This also caused a change in the schedule, with the planned match between him and Brock Lesnar at Great Balls of Fire having to be scrapped. Strowman underwent surgery three days later on May 11. However, Dave Meltzer of the "Wrestling 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". On the June 19 episode of "Raw", Strowman returned from injury, attacking Roman Reigns. This led to an ambulance match at Great Balls of Fire, with Strowman winning. At SummerSlam, Strowman would challenge for Lesnar's Universal Championship in a fatal-four-way match also involving Reigns and Samoa Joe in a losing effort. Strowman faced Lesnar for the championship at No Mercy in September, but was unsuccessful once again.