There has been a lot of love on these boards regarding a WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30. Most see this as a face-vs-face encounter that occurs because one of the men will win the Royal Rumble. While I wouldn't be opposed to that - and giving the crowd a chance to choose which guy to cheer for could lead to an explosive environment at 'Mania - I see this as being more of a traditional heel vs face showdown. And as C.M. Punk is as good a heel as the WWE has had since Triple H's heyday, I can better see him playing this role in a potential feud.
So how do you get there? Right now, CM Punk is feuding with Paul Heyman/Ryback and Daniel Bryan is in the midst of feuding with Triple H / Randy Orton. I think the perfect solution is to start this at Battleground.
Now Battleground will likely feature Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton squaring off for the vacated WWE Title and CM Punk squaring off with Ryback. The two keys are to continue both feuds moving forward - Heyman must screw CM Punk out of a win while there must be confusion in the WWE Title match:
Perhaps, Bryan has the advantage in the WWE Title match when the ref takes a bump. The Shield swarms the ring, each man on the apron ready to attack when The Big Show runs to make the save. Him and Bryan take out The Shield. As they're disposed of, Orton gets to his feet. Orton screams at Show to knock out Daniel Bryan, but he won't do it. He's had enough. He knocks out Orton instead, allowing Bryan to make the pin. The decision will be overturned, the belt once again vacated, and a WWE Title Tournament will be announced for Survivor Series (just like in 1998).
The McMahon's will continue to be disappointed in Randy Orton during the coming weeks. They're upset that he can't beat Daniel Bryan cleanly, and they will tell him to his face that he needs to find the old Orton - behind his back, they'll have doubts if he can return to that form.
Meanwhile, Paul Heyman will demand that Ryback be entered into the WWE Title Tournament - after all, he just beat "the best in the world." Triple H will tell Heyman "You can have a spot if Ryback wins a qualifying match." When Ryback wins the qualifying match, Triple H will announce that for winning the match, Paul Heyman has earned a spot in the WWE Title Tournament at Survivor Series - and that his opponent in the first round is C.M. Punk ... because, that's just good for business.
The first round matches will be:
Punk vs Heyman - This gives us the necessary blow-off to this feud as Punk finally gets his hands on Heyman. Ryback tries to save his new manager, but it's to no avail as Punk overcomes those odds and moves on to the second round.
Orton vs. Miz - The grudge between the two was set up nicely last night. It will be set-up by the McMahons to bring out the monster inside Orton, just as it did last night. Orton moves on.
Big Show vs. Bryan - Triple H will try to manipulate Show into "ending" Bryan by giving him a shot at the Title. After all, you make more money when you're the champ, right? Bryan, however, will slay the giant and move on. After the match, an angry Triple H tells Big Show to get his gear and to leave the arena.
Christian vs Damien Sandow - Sandow wants to become the first reigning MITB holder to win the WWE Title. Christian wants one more match for the belt. Christian moves on.
Seconds Round:
Punk vs Christian. In a face-vs-face match, the two vets put on a solid match. CM Punk ultimately prevails and moves on to the finals.
Orton vs Bryan. Once again, Bryan will continue to own Orton in the ring. As happened at Battleground, though, the ref will take a bump and the Shield will swarm the ring. This time, however, Big Show won't be around to make the save, and Bryan will take a vicious beating that allows Orton to get the win and move on to the finals.
Prior to the final match, Punk will do a backstage interview, talking about the odds are stacked against him - but that he likes it that way. He'll say how he's no different than Daniel Bryan, a former indies star that doesn't have the build or the look to be what the McMahon's want. But that tonight, he'll overcome those odds again and take down Orton.
Punk vs Orton. The crowd will be solidly behind Punk during this match, which will only make it more chaotic when Triple H ultimately turns on Orton, and aids CM Punk in victory. Upset that Orton can't beat Daniel Bryan on his own, the McMahon's have turned to C.M. Punk as their champion.
This settles a few things. 1) This sets up Punk/Orton for TLC and possibly the Rumble, which would keep Bryan and Punk from wrestling prior to 'Mania. 2) It gives Bryan another hurdle to jump in order to get the WWE Title, which he eventually jumps over by winning the Royal Rumble. 3) It possibly sets up friction between Vince McMahon and Triple H since CM Punk clearly wouldn't be a VKM choice for champion.
Thoughts?
So how do you get there? Right now, CM Punk is feuding with Paul Heyman/Ryback and Daniel Bryan is in the midst of feuding with Triple H / Randy Orton. I think the perfect solution is to start this at Battleground.
Now Battleground will likely feature Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton squaring off for the vacated WWE Title and CM Punk squaring off with Ryback. The two keys are to continue both feuds moving forward - Heyman must screw CM Punk out of a win while there must be confusion in the WWE Title match:
Perhaps, Bryan has the advantage in the WWE Title match when the ref takes a bump. The Shield swarms the ring, each man on the apron ready to attack when The Big Show runs to make the save. Him and Bryan take out The Shield. As they're disposed of, Orton gets to his feet. Orton screams at Show to knock out Daniel Bryan, but he won't do it. He's had enough. He knocks out Orton instead, allowing Bryan to make the pin. The decision will be overturned, the belt once again vacated, and a WWE Title Tournament will be announced for Survivor Series (just like in 1998).
The McMahon's will continue to be disappointed in Randy Orton during the coming weeks. They're upset that he can't beat Daniel Bryan cleanly, and they will tell him to his face that he needs to find the old Orton - behind his back, they'll have doubts if he can return to that form.
Meanwhile, Paul Heyman will demand that Ryback be entered into the WWE Title Tournament - after all, he just beat "the best in the world." Triple H will tell Heyman "You can have a spot if Ryback wins a qualifying match." When Ryback wins the qualifying match, Triple H will announce that for winning the match, Paul Heyman has earned a spot in the WWE Title Tournament at Survivor Series - and that his opponent in the first round is C.M. Punk ... because, that's just good for business.
The first round matches will be:
Punk vs Heyman - This gives us the necessary blow-off to this feud as Punk finally gets his hands on Heyman. Ryback tries to save his new manager, but it's to no avail as Punk overcomes those odds and moves on to the second round.
Orton vs. Miz - The grudge between the two was set up nicely last night. It will be set-up by the McMahons to bring out the monster inside Orton, just as it did last night. Orton moves on.
Big Show vs. Bryan - Triple H will try to manipulate Show into "ending" Bryan by giving him a shot at the Title. After all, you make more money when you're the champ, right? Bryan, however, will slay the giant and move on. After the match, an angry Triple H tells Big Show to get his gear and to leave the arena.
Christian vs Damien Sandow - Sandow wants to become the first reigning MITB holder to win the WWE Title. Christian wants one more match for the belt. Christian moves on.
Seconds Round:
Punk vs Christian. In a face-vs-face match, the two vets put on a solid match. CM Punk ultimately prevails and moves on to the finals.
Orton vs Bryan. Once again, Bryan will continue to own Orton in the ring. As happened at Battleground, though, the ref will take a bump and the Shield will swarm the ring. This time, however, Big Show won't be around to make the save, and Bryan will take a vicious beating that allows Orton to get the win and move on to the finals.
Prior to the final match, Punk will do a backstage interview, talking about the odds are stacked against him - but that he likes it that way. He'll say how he's no different than Daniel Bryan, a former indies star that doesn't have the build or the look to be what the McMahon's want. But that tonight, he'll overcome those odds again and take down Orton.
Punk vs Orton. The crowd will be solidly behind Punk during this match, which will only make it more chaotic when Triple H ultimately turns on Orton, and aids CM Punk in victory. Upset that Orton can't beat Daniel Bryan on his own, the McMahon's have turned to C.M. Punk as their champion.
This settles a few things. 1) This sets up Punk/Orton for TLC and possibly the Rumble, which would keep Bryan and Punk from wrestling prior to 'Mania. 2) It gives Bryan another hurdle to jump in order to get the WWE Title, which he eventually jumps over by winning the Royal Rumble. 3) It possibly sets up friction between Vince McMahon and Triple H since CM Punk clearly wouldn't be a VKM choice for champion.
Thoughts?