Daniel Bryan: What could have been

[Psykohurricane55]

Today, i was talking with some of my friends that loved wrestling and we we're discussing why Daniel Bryan wasn't push when he came back from injured and that's we're it hit me, It's not because WWE wanted Roman Reigns to be the next guy because it really wasn't that since they we're making money with him. It was because they we're fearful that he could injured himself again if they tried to push him to far and they really didn'T want to take the risk of putting the future of the company on a guy that had all the mileage and injury like he did.

But this got me thinking, what if Bryan would have comeback fron his neck injury and change his style? What if what he did was less high impact and wouldn't have gotten that career ending concussion? Where would Bryan fitted in the plans of WWE? I know near the end of his career, they wanted to use the fact that he was the number 2 guy behind Cena to elevate the I.C title like they we're doing with Cena and the U.S. Title. But after that, would he had gotten a second reign as WWE champion? i kinda feel that he would have gotten a second chance if he would have stayed healthy and change his style to a safer style of wrestling. The guy was making them so much money in the end that it wouldn't have been smart on their part to push that aside just to help somebody else.

The fact is, we will never know since what would have happens because Bryan decided to continue with his high impact style and that pretty much ended his career. But it fun to just fantasize about how much more bryan could have gotten if he just wrestled a safer style. But he truly seem to have made peace with this now and i really hope he did because the last thing i would want to see is him coming back to the ring on a indy show and get an even worst injury.

 

[HeenanGorilla]

Had he not gotten hurt, his popularity would have plummeted after his ManiaXXX win and he would be gone by now anyway. Before that Mania, I said that his underdog story deserved a happy ending/YES chant to close the show and that he would have nothing left afterwards. He is a classic example of a guy whose climb is much more interesting than his reign. That Mania was what, 2014 I believe? My prediction was that he would be gone by the following Rumble. We'll never know, of course, but I think the injury gave him a nicer exit and spared him his star falling on its own. He seems like a helluva guy and I am glad he has this role now. I just think he would have gotten boring really fast if he didn't get injured. In fact, while you may wonder what might have been if he didn't get hurt, I think perhaps (and I never want to see anyone get hurt) his injury may have been a blessing in disguise for his career and his family. Health-wise and earnings-wise.

 

[HBKperfect23]

I think he would have dropped the title to Lesnar at Summerslam and then brought up the IC title. That role would have been perfect for Bryan, if healthy. Matches with Styles, Zane, Neville, Owens, etc could have really elevated the IC title.

Royal Rumble 2015 would have been different. There was no closure to Bryan’s title run. He was stripped and never got beat. The fans still wanted the title reign that he never really got. If he stayed healthy and has a typical WM-Summerslam reign, I think the fans don’t shit all over Reigns at this royal rumble and that could change a lot for Roman Reigns.

I compare DB to Steamboat. A better chaser then champion. Possibly another world title reign as a transitional champion but I think this would have been it.

 

[akathelaw]

Bryan's retirement was the result of one doctor's diagnosis, even though other physicians had cleared Bryan to return to wrestling. If the WWE doctors had cleared Bryan for release and management ordered him to change his style, I think his IC run after 'Mania 31 would have been really memorable.

One weird thing that people may have forgotten is right before 'Mania there was that weird moment where Ziggler and Ambrose called Daniel Bryan a "turd" on Smackdown. I was always wondering if that was the beginning of Bryan doing a gimmick similar to Owen Hart's "nugget" joke from years ago. A comedic heel run with Bryan insisting he's not a turd could have been funny. Bryan has been really good at doing absurd comedy in WWE. In the end I'm glad we didn't have to see it though as I prefer when he's taken a little more seriously.

 

[Kyphael]

You guys are crazy, there were no signs of Bryan's popularity waning. He was booked against the worst possible opponent ever (demon Kane) and people were still interested in his program despite how badly booked it was.

In a perfect world, Bryan should have feuded against The Shield after Wrestlemania XXX (they were not ready to be broken up then) and Evolution before dropping the title to Lesnar I guess, but not in a bloody squash unless his popularity had waned, which I don't think it would have.

 

[HeenanGorilla]

Correct. There were no signs spelled out for us on TV. However, in my opinion as a long-time viewer, he would have gotten stale once him chasing the title and defeating the Authority was over. I know I was in the minority--or even alone--in thinking this, but I still believe he would have come back to Earth within a year and, again in my opinion, much less than a year.

 

[Psykohurricane55]

I think, if it wasn't for him not telling them that he had a neck injury before they gave him a wwe title and he would have been healthy to defend the title. I feel his popularity would have died down a little bit during his title reign, similar to how punk's popularity died down during hos long title reign.

The reason he remain as popular as he was, was because they never got their resoultion to his wwe title reign. In a way, being forced into retirement was a blessing in disguise because he stayed super over because of it.

Also, if I had to choose between the opinion of the top specialist in ctc or other doctors especially somebody from the nfl, I would take the opinion of the top specialist. The fact is, dr. Maroon, is the top specialist in concussion and ctc in the u.s. The fact that he's the wwe doctor is a plus. He tested for stuff that the other doctors especially those working for the NFL won't even bother to check. So I don't blame him like so many other for not clearing bryan because he diagnosed something that other doctors couldn't diagnosed so he did that for the well being of bryan.

 

[Kunztown]

Daniel Bryan got to Go Out on Top. That's the Best way to Go Out. It's just that it was short-lived and shocking because he finally made it to the Main Event Status and we all thought that he was going to carry the company for the rest of the decade. The positive is that he still receives massive pops, and will have that until he retires. He doesn't have to "Evolve" or Change his Character Any More. Bryan was Built up perfectly, and WWE is Having Difficulty Building Anyone Else Up Like This. There is no more B+ Players as they all feel like B Players on the Roster. Daniel Bryan is a smaller guy though, so his speed/risky wrestling is the only way for him to wrestle. The only model for him to follow would be that of CM Punk. He can't wrestle the way guys like Stone Cold/Rock/Foley Wrestle. CM Punk had a slower pace, but even Punk Had to Suicide Dive and do a Flying Clothesline off the Ropes. There's a guy I wouldn't mind see make peace with wwe and could really use a return right about now... Punk vs Styes for Next Years Wrestlemania is Money! The best Talent on the roster right now is Styles...hands down. Why do you think he was brought over to a Raw PPV for absolutely no reason. lol.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

If reports are true, then Bryan would've dropped the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam in the same manner we saw with John Cena: he would've been completely destroyed by Lesnar after hardly getting in any real offense. I don't know if they're accurate, but I think it's a strong possibility when you consider how John Cena, WWE's golden boy since the mid 2000s, was jobbed out. Considering how much Vince loves wrestlers who have the whole alpha male type of look and build, and considering that's how Cena generally looks when you take away all the colorful gear he wears, I think Bryan would've been eaten alive by Lesnar.

The notion of Bryan's popularity waning is one I find pretty ridiculous seeing as how there's no evidence to back it up. To this day, despite not being an active wrestler, Bryan gets bigger pops than just about anyone else on the roster.

I said this a lot of times while he was in the middle of his big run, I think Bryan would've been inserted into a Chris Jericho type of role in which he's a frequent face in the upper mid-card scene and would make a trip into the main event picture every now and again. I could see him with a number of IC title runs, possibly a top contender to have been the first Universal Champion, maybe another run or two as WWE Champion. I don't know that Bryan would've been any bigger than his big push heading to WrestleMania XXX, I kind of doubt it, but he'd be a major player that'd keep fan interest up.

 

[HeenanGorilla]

The notion of Bryan's popularity waning is one I find pretty ridiculous seeing as how there's no evidence to back it up. To this day, despite not being an active wrestler, Bryan gets bigger pops than just about anyone else on the roster.

"Despite not being an active wrestler"...in my opinion, it is BECAUSE he is not an active wrestler.

Also, given that mine was a prediction, admittedly based on nothing but a history of watching wrestling, a lack of "evidence to back it up" is the only ridiculous notion here. I'm surprised at you, Jack-Hammer. You seem to be a long-time viewer. Surely you do not necessarily need things spelled out for you to see them coming. Your experience as a viewer must give you an ability to sense things coming every once in a while, no? Obviously you have every right to disagree with my prediction here. I could have been dead wrong. Like I said, I knew I was in the minority or even alone in my stance at the time. But to dismiss it--or any such prediction--simply because of a lack of evidence (evidence of something that cannot be known) is preposterous.

As for his big pops today, I'll believe you because I don't watch Smackdown. My theory--which can never be proven or disproven, since he got injured shortly after his title win--was that, as a wrestler, he would become stale after climbing the mountain. I'll admit that in today's world of fans wanting to be more involved in the show, a guy with a Yes chant could have stayed popular. That entrance shtick did wonders for Enzo and Cass, among others.

...actually, given that the stupid "What?" chant still lives over 15 years later, I could be very wrong about what today's fans will get tired of...

But, either way, we'll never know how Bryan would have held up had he been on the air the whole time, without the layoff or early ending to his in-ring career, no matter how much "evidence" of something that never happened one may find.

 

[FromGlasgow]

Quite bad luck as he worked hard for years to get to that position then as soon as he got there it was over.

 

[FromGlasgow]

I don't think the WWE had any intention of ever making Daniel Bryan their number one face of the company guy, Around that time the fans were so vocal for Daniel I got the feeling the WWE had no choice but to put the title on him at Wrestlemania as the fans in attendance would have crapped all over the whole event if he wasn't challening and became champion at the end of the night. I do believe his reign wouldn't have been a long term plan and more of a transitional one, I would loved to have found out what happened after his win as I liked Daniel Bryan but I guess we will never now, Perhaps part of the reason they are preventing him returning is his vocal fanbase of wanting him as the number one guy when thats not what the WWE has in their plans.

 

[Psykohurricane55]

I don't think the WWE had any intention of ever making Daniel Bryan their number one face of the company guy, Around that time the fans were so vocal for Daniel I got the feeling the WWE had no choice but to put the title on him at Wrestlemania as the fans in attendance would have crapped all over the whole event if he wasn't challening and became champion at the end of the night. I do believe his reign wouldn't have been a long term plan and more of a transitional one, I would loved to have found out what happened after his win as I liked Daniel Bryan but I guess we will never now, Perhaps part of the reason they are preventing him returning is his vocal fanbase of wanting him as the number one guy when thats not what the WWE has in their plans.

The problem with Bryan at the time and Bryan will be the first to tell you this is while fans where clamoring for Bryan to get that number one spot, it wasn't translating into money. His merchandise wasn't selling, ratings where going up while he was on top the first time they tries. So I didn't blame them for not going with him or being scared of trying with him again.

In the end, crowd respond is one thing but what really help somebody getting a push is how much money they can make the company and while the whole yes movement was fine and good if they didn't start buying Bryan's merchandise during that push going into mania, they would never have went with him.

I truly feel that the reason they are scared of letting him climb back into the ring as everything to do with his safety because like many other that worked with Vince over the years have said, if he can make money with somebody, Vince won't turn it down and Bryan's return would be huge money for them. So all the conspiracy theory about wwe not wanting Bryan to comeback for this or that reason, is just that conspiracy theory,

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

Bryan would have been squashed by Brock Lesnar and guess what.. fans would have been furious. They would have rallied behind Bryan to get the title back or get a proper rematch. Bryan would have gotten that rematch and have a great match with Lesnar. After that, who knows? One thing is for sure is that Roman wouldn't have been booed against Lesnar at Wrestlemania.

WWE would probably however do a Reigns vs Bryan programm down the line, and Reigns would start getting booed at that point. I think Bryan would have turned into something like Chris Jericho.

WWE would also try to turn him heel but that wouldn't work.

One thing is for sure. We would have gotten great matches with Rollins, Owens, Zayn, Styles, Nakamura, Balor. Bryan would turn into the main guy for all NXT alumni to face off against.

 

[Psykohurricane55]

Bryan would have been squashed by Brock Lesnar and guess what.. fans would have been furious. They would have rallied behind Bryan to get the title back or get a proper rematch. Bryan would have gotten that rematch and have a great match with Lesnar. After that, who knows? One thing is for sure is that Roman wouldn't have been booed against Lesnar at Wrestlemania.

WWE would probably however do a Reigns vs Bryan programm down the line, and Reigns would start getting booed at that point. I think Bryan would have turned into something like Chris Jericho.

WWE would also try to turn him heel but that wouldn't work.

One thing is for sure. We would have gotten great matches with Rollins, Owens, Zayn, Styles, Nakamura, Balor. Bryan would turn into the main guy for all NXT alumni to face off against.

I feel like you wrote that everything that happened with Reigns and his rush push was pretty much because of Bryan being on the shelf and the insecurities that it brought. They put a lot of money being Bryan and was one of the top star at the time and he lied to them about how seriously injured he was going into mania which lead to his injury become even worst. If it wasn't for that, he would have been put in the Cena spot at summerslam, would have had a small feud with Lesnar that he would have lost like Cena did and then would have been move the the midcard to try the elevate one of the mid card titles. The guy would have stayed somewhat over and it would have given time for reigns to slowly getting build up as this main event guy instead of being rush into that position.

Now they don't need him as much because they actually have somebody that's as good has him and is actually healthy in AJ Styles plus they have the benefit of AJ not hiding stuff from them if he's injured like Bryan did.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

I feel like you wrote that everything that happened with Reigns and his rush push was pretty much because of Bryan being on the shelf and the insecurities that it brought.

I think the plan all along was for Reigns to headline WM31 vs. Brock. I plan was, afterall, for Daniel Bryan to drop the title to Brock Lesnar then for Reigns to take title from Lesnar at WM31 as his coronation.

Remember WWE didn't even want Bryan winning the title at WM30 it was supposed to be Batista vs. Orton. In the hopes that Batista can plug in the WWE while promoting Guardians of the Galaxy.

What could have been for Daniel Bryan it's quite hard to predict but he would probably have been regulated as a mid/upper mid card guy after he dropped the title. To be honest though that isn't really a bad thing if you think about the possibilities of a Daniel Bryan feud with the likes of Jericho, AJ Styles, Cesaro, Rollins, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor and Sami Zayn.