Who else is going to challenge for the title? There's only four credible challengers at this point in time for Bryan's title. Orton, Batista, Triple H, and Kane. Cesaro, Ziggler, Sandow, and all the others are just plain not ready. It makes sense for Bryan to keep feuding with the authority, and as time goes on you start to introduce new names into the mix. With a few months build, Cesaro will be a fantastic contender. I think if they reinvest in Sandow, he could no doubt be a real contender. Fact of the matter is, they don't have many options. Kane can still go. He's as good as he's ever been in the ring. And in the almost 20 years (including pre-Kane Glenn Jacobs characters) that he's been around, I don;t think he's ever been out injured. He's a very good hand to keep around, and is useful in drawing money. WWE only has a few options, and since Evolution is facing The Shield, and CM Punk ain't coming back anytime soon, there's only one choice, and it's a perfectly fine choice to make. And that's Kane.
Why Is Kane Challenging For The Title In 2014?
- Thread starter MMK
- Start date
Logisticalbooker86
Pre-Show Stalwart
My problem is not so much with Kane challenging for the belt again, but rather the lazy way it came about. HOLY CRAP, HIS MASK IS BACK ON! HE'S A MONSTER AGAIN!
Call me a party pooper, but I just don't buy it. As much as I love Kane, and the man behind the mask for busting his ass for so long, there is nothing left to be done. Either keep the mask after Extreme Rules, or retire it for good. To act as if the mask has demonic powers is just too ridiculous for me.
All of that said, Kane was pretty much the only option for Extreme Rules. I hope it's a one match deal.
Call me a party pooper, but I just don't buy it. As much as I love Kane, and the man behind the mask for busting his ass for so long, there is nothing left to be done. Either keep the mask after Extreme Rules, or retire it for good. To act as if the mask has demonic powers is just too ridiculous for me.
All of that said, Kane was pretty much the only option for Extreme Rules. I hope it's a one match deal.
I can't, for the life of me, see who challenges for the title until Summerslam. Batista is out, HHH won't keep wrestling until maybe Summerslam against Reigns, so that leaves Orton v. Bryan for THREE Special Events until Lesnar v. Bryan at Summerslam?
And then, where does it go? Bryan v. who after Lesnar at Summerslam? I mean, it looks like Kane is going to have like 7 title chances between now and next year's Royal Rumble. Putting the belt on Bryan was such a mistake, because he can only be booked at the underdog, and there aren't that many monster heels anymore. And even worse, there are like ZERO monster heels coming up in the program.
I can almost even see Bryan dropping the belt to Kane, which would be horrible for Bryan, but it's best long term for the WWE.
And then, where does it go? Bryan v. who after Lesnar at Summerslam? I mean, it looks like Kane is going to have like 7 title chances between now and next year's Royal Rumble. Putting the belt on Bryan was such a mistake, because he can only be booked at the underdog, and there aren't that many monster heels anymore. And even worse, there are like ZERO monster heels coming up in the program.
I can almost even see Bryan dropping the belt to Kane, which would be horrible for Bryan, but it's best long term for the WWE.
Logisticalbooker86
Pre-Show Stalwart
Saying that Daniel Bryan can oly be booked as the underdog is untrue and short-sided. That is how WWE has been booking him thus far, but it doesn't mean they can't change it up. Bryan's reign can last as long as fans are behind it. There are a number of creative options available for the less important of the special events.
There is no way Kane wins at extreme rules.
There is no way Kane wins at extreme rules.
Orton. Since it's been speculated Batista is leaving, he can take Kane's place as # 1 contender. Bryan has never got Orton to tap or pinned on a pay per view.
There's also Sheamus. He isn't doing anything major. He's in the same position Orton was a year ago. They could easily do a two pay per view series. Bryan has never beat Sheamus at a pay per view and Sheamus could bring up how he beat him in 18 seconds at WM 28.
That's assuming that Orton doesn't have a program with Rollins or Ambrose, or that Orton isn't occupied with Reigns while HHH takes off until Summerslam, which is what I see happening. And as of this second, Sheamus is still a vanilla face, and still acting very face-ish. There would have to be an immediate turn in order for it to make sense going into the summer.
I see Kane v. Bryan happening for the next several Special Events this summer. Payback and MitB without a doubt. Battleground, I don't know, because I don't know what they play on doing at that Special Event. And Summerslam I assume it will be Lesnar v. Bryan.
So, until we get another heel that isn't involved with the Shield, I think Kane is the man going into a full length summer program with Bryan.
That being said, Payback is in Chicago...and I HATE to be the one to bring it up...but just maybe...
I see Kane v. Bryan happening for the next several Special Events this summer. Payback and MitB without a doubt. Battleground, I don't know, because I don't know what they play on doing at that Special Event. And Summerslam I assume it will be Lesnar v. Bryan.
So, until we get another heel that isn't involved with the Shield, I think Kane is the man going into a full length summer program with Bryan.
That being said, Payback is in Chicago...and I HATE to be the one to bring it up...but just maybe...
Funny you mentioned 1997 because that's the year Kane debuted. That was 17 years ago! Kane fighting for the title in 2014 would be the equivalent to King Kong Bundy fighting for the title 17 years after his WWE debut which would have been in 2001. Fans in the attitude era would never have stood for The Rock vs King Kong Bundy.
"Who would you have him wrestle?" You ask that question as though there were no other options than Kane. That's because you can't see anything other than what WWE puts in front of you. Just because they chose Kane to attack Bryan, doesn't mean that was the only choice. Your lack of imagination astounds me. So I'll help you out.
The perfect opponent would have been Wade Barrett. Barrett attacking Bryan on RAW would have brought his career full circle back to when NEXUS debuted and destroyed Cena and the entire ring. After Barrett attacks Bryan, he could have cut a promo on how everything that is Bryan's should be is. He was the leader of the Nexus. He kicked Bryan out of the group and out of WWE once, and now he'll do it again. That could have made Barrett an instant heat magnet and took his Bad News gimmick to a whole new level. Bryan is the most beloved babyface they've got right now, the guy who attacks him will instantly gain major heat. It would have been a great opportunity to elevate one of the current midcard heels ESPECIALLY seeing as how this is a throw away May PPV where they have nothing to lose. But instead they chose Kane.
I can't believe just how many fans are actually OKAY with watching a re-run they've already seen a thousand times before. I'm guessing the same folks who are excited about that will be happy when Big Show get's his obligatory May/June heel turn and is next in line for the title.
To those saying Kane attacking Bryan makes sense, YOU'RE WRONG. Kane has been walking around in slacks the last few months and now he's suddenly a monster again just because he puts on a rubber mask and a wig? A storyline they've already done at least 10 times. You're conflating "making sense" with "something familiar". The reason you feel it makes sense is because you've seen it before. I for one don't like reruns, especially when they're were so many other more interesting paths to take.
But they are ready. Thats what fans don't realize. You mentioned how "once Bryan defeats the old guard he can move on to the younger talent". But he already defeated the old guard at Wrestlemania. He beat Hunter, Orton, Batista. I say move on. Orton can always get a rematch because that's standard of any former champion.
The time is now for the new guard. Cesaro, The Shield, Wyatt, and yes, even Dolph are all ready. I do not want to see Bryans title run be hijacked by the old timers. He beat the old guard. It's done. They're literally is no reason for him to have to face any of them other than Orton getting his rematch.
I don't mind Triple H being the Vince to Bryan's Austin. But Triple H should be lining up the NEW young talent to dethrone Bryan each month. He should be sending the likes of Cesaro, Wyatt, and Barrett to take out Bryan. NOT Kane, Batista or god forbid Big Show.
As Mark Madden said, Evolution is SO 2003. And Kane, well he is SO 90's. If fans can't see that, then I feel sorry for them.
Barrett would have been a perfect choice to attack Bryan. It would have brought his career full circle to when NEXUS debuted and destroyed Cena. Then Barrett could have cut a promo on how everything that is Bryan's should be is. He was the leader of the Nexus. He kicked Bryan out of the group and out of WWE once, and now he'll do it again.
That could have made Barrett an instant heat magnet and took his Bad News gimmick to a whole new level. But instead we got Kane. Yawn. Re-run.
I take it then that you have the WWE network? If so, then you can go watch Kane vs RVD, or Kane vs Shane, or Kane vs Cena/Ryder. If you do you'll realize how unoriginal the current Kane storyline is. You're defending a rehashed storyline when there were so many more original paths to take.
The Dragon Saga
Whale in a Teardrop
Because he's Kane. His age is irrelevant, he can still go, he still has size, in fact every trait he had in 1997 he has now, although the mystique is no longer there but it hasn't been there since 2003. He has a history with Bryan, an instant background that can and is being implemented. His attack on Bryan on Raw was great, their matches on Smackdown and Raw in 2012 and 2013 were very good, there's little reason not to do Bryan/Kane at Extreme Rules. It's a throwaway title match. There's nobody else better that I can see available to do it.
Bret Hart fought Lawler in 1993 but it WASN'T for the title. That was AFTER he dropped the title to Yokozuna.
Bryan and Hart ARE EXACTLY ALIKE. And you're right, this is 2014, which begs the question why is Bryan facing the same man Hart faced in 1993 (Isaac Yankem-Kane)?
Whoa...there is not a single talent in the WWE ready to step up to main event status and fill in for a Batista, Orton, Cena, or HHH. There's Show and Kane, there's Mark Henry even who is better suited for a Main Event title shot than Barrett or Cesaro.
I like both of those guys, but they have years of work ahead of them. Barrett's really lucky he hasn't been left on the side of the road by WWE yet, with his injuries and his inability to sell gimmicks.
The reason you can't see anybody else available to do it is because like most fans you are unable to imagine any scenario other than the one WWE gives you. Like many others on here, your lack of imagination is confusing.
As I said earlier, the perfect opponent would have been Wade Barrett. Barrett attacking Bryan on RAW would have brought his career full circle back to when NEXUS debuted and destroyed Cena and the entire ring. After Barrett attacks Bryan, he could have cuts a promo on a fallen Bryan that goes something like this....
Barrett: I got some Bad News for you Bryan. You're title run...is over. I'm ending this little fairy tale and taking what should have been mine years ago. Everything you have was supposed to go to me. I'm the guy they wanted to be the breakout star. Not you. I lead the Nexus. Not you. I kicked you out of WWE once before and now I'll do it again. Oh...and you'r father's dead. (Drops mic and walks off with a smirk)
That would have skyrocketed Barrett into heel superstardom. He's had momentum lately, why not run with it? But what about the IC tourney? Barrett's already had that title. Been done before. Cesaro should be the won to win that title.
Honestly, if a month ago I had presented you with that Barrett option OR the option of Kane putting the mask back on to face Bryan in a rehash of a storyline that Kane has done a thousand times before would you seriously pick the Kane path? Are fans capable of having minds and imaginations of their own?
George Steele's Barber
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That is a huge jump in logic. Accepting the decision is not the same as not being able to come up with quality alternatives.
You think Kane is a horrible option and this is your alternative? Where is the logic in completing separating The Authority from DB at this point? What has Barrett done in the last two years or in his career to warrant a title feud? I'm not entirely against rehashing Nexus but this sounds awful. Who wins in the end of this feud? Whoever loses is going to come out looking terrible. Either Bryan comes out losing to someone mostly insignificant or Barrett looks like a guy they just through in to fill a spot much like Ryback.
You're coming off like a Barrett mark.
The Dragon Saga
Whale in a Teardrop
It's less me, and more-so because you're a mark. Barrett doesn't deserve it over Kane, for starters. Right now is the most relevant Barrett's been since The Nexus on the week to week show. And that is only because they gave him a gimmick most people said was stupid but others found funny. So no, Barrett shouldn't be challenging over Kane, because Barrett should win the Intercontinental Championship tournament and then hopefully win the Intercontinental Championship, which gets him more places then having a three week feud with Bryan, losing at Extreme Rules, whereas we could get a continuation of an aspect in the Authority/Bryan feud, and even when Kane loses at Extreme Rules, he still retains credibility because he's a legend.
Issue isn't anybody in this thread, issue is you.
chicagokmc
Getting Noticed By Management
I think the problem with the re-hash of Kane is an uncontrollable monster storyline we saw with Kane/Cena not too long ago. I agree that the flow of the storyline makes Kane a logical opponent. But all of this drama and push to make Kane a credible foe could have been done with him as Corporate Kane. That would have at least made it different than what we've seen before. I liked it when Kane first unmasked but all of this mask on, mask off is getting tiresome. Retire the mask already.
I'm fine with Bryan facing guys like Kane. It helps him further establish himself as the top guy to be facing stars of the past. In Kane's case the two of them have a lot of history. They were in Team Hell No together before Kane joined The Authority, so there's that. Kane can still work a good match too, which is the important thing. If Bryan can get a strong title retention in a good match against an established name, then we should not be against seeing said match. Matches with future stars of tomorrow can still happen down the line, we just need to be patient. If he faces guys like Kane, Trips, Batista, Orton, Big Show, etc it will help him more in the long run than facing Cesaro, Ziggler, Del Rio, Swagger, etc. Those guys can provide better matches, but in the long run it will be looked back on as a bigger deal due to Bryan retaining against bigger names, and more fans might be interested in the match if the challenger is (kayfabe) more of a threat.
Ace Amoeba
Occasional Pre-Show
Kane works well with Bryan, they have a history and mostly Kane deserves the match. I'm looking forward to it but don't see Kane winning. It's just a great way to showcase Bryan as the WWE World Champion in his first PPV defense.
