Braun Strowman says he lost 36 pounds in one week due to ‘very bad flu’

Braun Strowman is starting to feel better after a bad case of the flu derailed his start to the new year.

In an Instagram post, Strowman (Adam Scherr) wrote that he lost 36 pounds in a week while battling the flu, which caused him to miss SmackDown last Friday and Raw’s Netflix premiere. Strowman believes he’s finally getting over the illness but will miss SmackDown again this Friday night.

Strowman stated that he had a fever of 102 degrees or higher for three days due to the illness and spent four days laying in a hotel room. Despite the rough start, he’s determined to make 2025 one of the best years he’s ever had.

“2025 has been off to a ruff start for me. I picked up some kind of a bug last week and it had absolutely whipped my ass,” Strowman wrote. “I laid in a hotel room for four days three with a fever of 102 or higher for the first three days. A week later I am finally over what I think is the hump. My sever body aches are finally easing up. Today is the first day I have been able to move around and really do anything. I have lost 36lbs in this week. Had test taken and all they could determine is that it was a very bad Flu thankfully. I hate I have had to miss last weeks smackdown the premier of Raw on Netflix and I will miss tv again this week. This is yet another speed bump in the road. I will be back bigger stronger and badder than ever!!!

“There hasn’t been anything this life has thrown at me that I haven’t been able to able to OVERCOME and this sure as hell isn’t gonna stop me in having one of my best years to date!!!!!”

Strowman, 41, is a member of the SmackDown roster and most recently competed on the show two weeks ago. He was reportedly scheduled to team with Jimmy Uso & Sami Zayn against Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga last week before being replaced by Jey Uso.