Who's Next After Kane?

[Jack-Hammer]

While the streak ending has definitely given the impression that nothing is no longer set in stone in WWE, I think it's safe to say that Daniel Bryan will retain against Kane this Sunday. Taking the title off Bryan would be a huge surprise, but one that would NOT be happily accepted by most fans. So who goes up against Daniel Bryan after he exorcises The Devil's Favorite Demon?

Reports from last week indicate that Batista will be taking time off after Extreme Rules, the assumption at this time is he's doing so in order to start promoting Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result, it's possible that Evolution loses this Sunday and their generally alliance falls apart. With Payback being the next ppv, I could see WWE going the route of putting Bryan in a triple threat match against Triple H and Randy Orton. Triple H is the C.O.O. after all, so he can insert himself into a title match while Orton has an automatic rematch against Bryan as the former WWE WHC. Triple H was "embarrassed" at WrestleMania, Orton lost his title and both are looking for "payback." A triple threat match could ultimately result in Trips & Orton getting in each other's way, thereby allowing Bryan to ultimately retain.

I don't expect Bray Wyatt to be finished with his feud with Cena, at least not unless he loses at Extreme Rules. If he loses, then I think he'll lose a good amount of steam. I'm thinking he wins at ER, setting up a rubber match for Payback with him possibly moving into the MITB match at the MITB ppv.

Brock Lesnar is always a possibility, but it's highly unlikely that we'll see him again before SummerSlam. Even then, there could be more money in holding Lesnar off as challenger for the title until the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania season. Since SummerSlam could be his last match of 2014, there'd be little trouble in WWE finding a "filler feud" that doesn't feel like filler. Lesnar's beaten Triple H, CM Punk, Big Show, he broke Taker's streak at WrestleMania XXX and the only guy he's faced since his return that he hasn't defeated is John Cena. Lesnar goes over Cena at SummerSlam, tying up the one loose end tainting his dominance since coming back and then sets his sights on the title in the new year.

 

[laodaron]

With Extreme Rules really being the first Special Event in the "WWE Season" per se, I think we're going to get swerved alot.

Daniel Bryan will probably beat Kane, but that feud can't be over until there's another heel contender. I think there's going to be a "Good guy has a choice" moment where Bryan has to choose between Brie and the WWEWHC. I think he'll choose the title, Brie will get "kidnapped," or hurt, or something stupid along those lines which keeps the Bryan v. Kane program going through the summer. Probably ending at MitB. I think Battleground will see Daniel Bryan in some group/stable gimmick match, and probably Lesnar v. Bryan at Summerslam. The real issue with this is the lack of believable main event heels that the WWE has on full time status.

Evolution v. Shield ends with Evolution winning because of a Flair swerve. The dirtiest player in the game cut a promo stating that Evolution was no longer the top of the food chain, and so he helps to get them back to that level by cheating against the Shield. This gives some singles matches some chances to happen over the next few Special Events. I think Seth Rollins wins MitB, and Roman Reigns gets into a Triple Threat with Orton and HHH at MitB, ending with Reigns v. HHH at Summerslam, probably with a gimmick like NHB or Street Fight and Orton v. Rollins. I'm hoping that Ambrose is in a feud with the US title, maybe even with Cesaro by then.

Cena v. Bray Wyatt has to end at Extreme Rules. There isn't anything left in the feud. Cena has fought all three members several times over, in different numbers of tag matches and handicap matches and singles matches. This is the payoff match in a cage. There is no more gas in this feud. After ER, look for the Wyatts to probably drop down the card a little than the number one guy in the company. Here's a gigantic problem, who does Cena go to next? Another filler feud with Mark Henry? Wade Barrett? Anyway, Cena won't be involved with Wyatt through the summer.

So, in my estimation, HHH, Orton, Batista, Rollins, Reigns, and Ambrose are all going to be committed through the Summer. Cena and Bryan won't work, mainly because it's face v. face, and in the current product, that kills steam. So, really, I could POSSIBLY see Bray v. Bryan over the summer, but we already saw this. They did, however, have a GREAT match at the Royal Rumble, so maybe there's a few Special Events worth of work in those two.

TL;DR version: My guess is that the chance of it being Kane until MitB, 75%. Bray Wyatt 15%. Someone else 10%.

 

[Mongoose McQueen]

The next PPV is Payback in Chicago, my guess would be a triple threat match between HHH, Orton and Bryan. You cannot do Bryan vs Orton again, HHH vs Bryan was already done and so that leaves a triple threat. These three have been going at it for months now, Batista is going to be gone and you don't want John Cena back in that title picture anytime soon because you that rematch to be huge.

Money in the bank is in Boston, MA and I would not be surprised if WWE built it around the Bryan/Cena rematch in Cena's hometown for the WWE World title.

 

[Wally Dangerously]

Orton seems most likely for me. Orton and Bryan could have a one-match blowoff simply because of Orton's rematch clause and because he wasn't pinned or forced to submit at Mania.

I wouldn't be very excited to see Bryan/Orton again, but it makes sense. I'd rather see a Bryan/HHH/Orton Triple Threat.

 

[MCMG]

Running through the Evolution gauntlet is always an option. Orton, Batista, HHH could all have singles matches with Bryan where he wins; thus ending the storyline. I'm ok with that.

I think there is potential for Bryan to feud with some of the upper-mid carders. The Shield and Evolution are feuding. Lesnar is gone. Cena/Bray still has legs. Why not let Bryan face The Miz, Cesaro or Barrett. Give us something fresh which is what Brayn is about. Taking on all comers and that crap.

I'd love for The Miz and Bryan to have a feud. The Miz needs to get back on top as his old self. I think he is currently working on The Marine but thereafter that has potential. Barrett is another good option with their history in Nexus. Hell, let Bryan face Barrett for the belt in the UK in a few weeks. Cesaro would be another tremendous choice and these two would put on classics.

The danger of Bryan wrestling mid-carders is that it makes him look like a weak champ and it doesn't do much for these guys losing. However, it would be something a little different and I'm happy watching Cena/Bray and Evolution/Shield for another few months.

A prediction: Kane (again), Batista, HHH, Wyatt before dropping the belt to the MITB winner who could well be Batista himself.

 

[Softcore Holly]

Orton should be next, although I wouldn't complain about a triple threat since they went to the Orton/DB well too often already. Get the rematch clause out of the way and if Batista's back and in good shape he can go next, with HHH going last. This makes DB go through the Authority/friends so we can finally put that to bed and move on to other things. You can even have Reigns+the Shield keep DB from getting screwed over by HHH again during their match, which would led right into the rumored 1on1 match between Reigns and HHH at Summerslam. So basically

ER: Kane
Payback: Orton
MITB: Batista
Battleground: HHH
Summerslam: A non-Authority/Evolution related person such Cena or Brock

 

[theblasterkid]

@MCMG, a gauntlet match for title, genius! On the other hand, Batista will be gone though. Maybe a new member could take his spot as the first in the gauntlet? If they do add a new member, hopefully it's Rhodes because he was once apart of Legacy so it makes sense.

 

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

SHEAMUS. Why not? He's not doing anything, he's a former WWE and WHC title holder, he could REALLY use a character re-boot/heel-turn, he beat Bryan in a blink of an eye at WM 2 years ago so they have past issues, and he would be a viable threat to Bryan who is believable as a challenger even if nobody really thinks he would take the title.

Orton still hasn't had a rematch for the title, so he'll get it at one of the PPV's I'm thinking. Triple H is an option obviously. Batista is leaving for a while. Cena-Bryan is not happening now. Wyatt-Bryan was done less than 6 months ago and I think they should be kept apart for a while. Cesaro is a definite possibility, but I don't think they want to push him w/ Heyman and within a couple of months have him come up short in a title match. I see Cesaro winning MITB and not cashing in for a while.

I think this is a perfect time to turn Sheamus and have him feud w/ Bryan. Although I get a weird feeling that someone else is going to creep back into the title picture, someone who the WWE can put in there w/ no risk, but no reward either. Del Rio. Hoping I'm wrong.

 

[Creepy Old Man]

Please god not Orton. We really never need to see that match again. Michaels and Undertaker shared a locker room for 7 years before they touched; Bryan and Orton have shared for 4 and met more times than my wife has cheated.

Triple H would be a great challenger for Payback, based on what he and Bryan pulled off at WM, although Trips' ego might not allow him to compete at a B event. I believe Bray Wyatt is ready to challenge Bryan as well (their Rumble match was very good).

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

My personal bet is Wyatt or Triple H. Orton would make the most sense given the rematch and the fact that he didn't take the fall at WM but we've seen that match so many times in the past year, I'm hoping for a break from that. Triple H was a great match, and you could see his ego making him want to take out Bryan and take the title. Wyatt is obviously on the horizon though. Bryan has yet to get a win over him, and now that he's champ, it just makes too much sense.

 

[A11oftheLights]

Please god not Orton. We really never need to see that match again. Michaels and Undertaker shared a locker room for 7 years before they touched; Bryan and Orton have shared for 4 and met more times than my wife has cheated.

Triple H would be a great challenger for Payback, based on what he and Bryan pulled off at WM, although Trips' ego might not allow him to compete at a B event. I believe Bray Wyatt is ready to challenge Bryan as well (their Rumble match was very good).

He has to get a shot he has a rematch clause

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Cena or Wyatt if that feud ends.

I hope for some fresh meat. CM Punk? KENTA? Who knows.

My theory is that Evolution realizes all other options have been exhausted and goes the hired hand route to lure someone into beating DB.

 

[GOOZEKING]

I don't understand people saying that shield and evolution will still be fighting. I honestly don't know what is going to happen to the shield after ER. But I do know for bryan. Since he is the champion and the money fued is easily authority angle. Why doesn't triple h just say mark my words I will do anything in my Power to get that title off bryan. So he sends people to fight bryan.

ER- Kane
Payback- triple h and orton/ or just orton
Money in the back- cena
Battleground- maybe Wyatt or triple h
Summerslam- batista or lesnar

 

[MINISTRYrising]

Origianlly I would have said a Fatal Four way match, bettween Triple H, Randy Orton, Batista and Bryan would have been the way to go, But with Batista taking time off after Extreme Rules, That no longer looks possible, Unless of course WWE decide to add Roman Reigns to the match which would not only allow the match up to remain a Fatal Fourway and add soembody fresh to the main event scene, But would also allow The shield to continue feuding with Evolution after Extreme rules.

As for other possible challengers, I can see HHH turning to the Wyatts at some point to terrorize Bryan once again with Cesaro more then likely getting a chance before Summerslam, which is where I can see Lesner getting a shot at the Title and if the WWE can finally come to some agreement with a certain Phil Brooks and get him back on TV, then I would have Bryan carry the Title until Wrestlemania where I would have him drop the title to Punk in the Main Event.

 

[TDFG]

My guess would be a rematch with Kane or Bray Wyatt, I don't see them going for a triple threat match a couple of months after WMXXX.