Bleacher Report - Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan's Backstage Confrontation with Triple H Will Benefit His Career

Joe Johnson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:09:23 -0400

Triple H has changed a great deal during the last 25 years, as he's risen from unknown enhancement talent to WWE main event star and current WWE chief operating officer.

He's cleaned up his look and sought ways, from the boardroom, to lead the wrestling business into a brighter future. All of this—pardon the pun—evolution doesn't change the fact that Triple H is a hardcore wrestling fan at heart.

Having grown up in the old school, where it was common to show intestinal fortitude both in the ring and backstage, Triple H likely sees Daniel Bryan's blow-up backstage on Raw as a positive.

Most talents would never have the guts to step toe-to-toe with not only a legend but their boss and give them a piece of their mind. Bryan did it publicly, reportedly with great passion, which is a sign that Triple H most certainly found admirable.

On CM Punk's DVD documentary, he speaks of a time that he stood up to Vince McMahon backstage and how it earned him respect. He discusses writing out several months of storyline for his character and the Straight Edge Society, dropping it on Vince's desk and telling him this is where he is going. Punk, similar to Bryan, doesn't possess the quintessential WWE look that Vince desires from his superstars.

Nonetheless, Vince respects men with opinions and passion.

Now, don't get carried away by thinking that calling out Triple H or Vince McMahon is the best way to advance at WWE. Both men have been known to be vindictive and territorial. They'd probably spin it by saying they are "proud." Ultimately, challenging either man could lead to a pink slip or complete burial of a wrestler's character.

But in the right circumstances, a performer with enough recognized talent and momentum can pick the perfect time to challenge authority and it will win them a greater push.

Daniel Bryan is at a pivotal moment in his career. He's never been this popular with such a large and varied audience. He's white hot in the ring and on the mic. He's forcing WWE's hand, as they cannot discount the reaction from the crowd, even if he was not initially planned to receive a main event push.

With speculation stirring that Bryan may be in line for a WWE title match against John Cena at an upcoming pay-per-view, the Goat-Faced Gremlin himself knows that he cannot risk losing momentum due to a questionable backstage call to stop his match against Randy Orton.A pinfall or submission victory over Orton, a legitimate main eventer and perpetual title contender, would have been one of the biggest wins of his career. Instead, he was forced to stop the match.

Reports from sources such as PWInsider have noted that Bryan and Triple H came to a mutual understanding on the matter at the conclusion of their confrontation. Knowing the adrenaline rush a performer experiences during a hot match and the frustration Bryan must've felt, Triple H could certainly relate to his perspective. If Bryan conveyed anything in his spat, it's that he has a passion for the business, he wants to be great and he wants to excite the crowd.

All of these things mean dollar signs to Triple H and the WWE. It's the type of energy you want out of your top stars and your locker room leaders. I'm willing to bet that Daniel Bryan is probably now a "Triple H Guy," even if he wasn't before.

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WWE Money in the Bank 2013: Who Should Be in Each MITB Ladder Match?

Drake Oz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:02 -0400

If the WWE follows tradition, this year’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view will feature two matches of the same name—one for a WWE Championship opportunity and the other for a shot at the World Heavyweight title.

It’s a safe bet that we’ll get two of the highly-anticipated MITB matches at the PPV that bears its name. But what’s less certain is how many competitors will be in each match.

Throughout the history of the Money in the Bank match, whether it’s been at WrestleMania or at its own PPV, we’ve seen a wide array of competitors per match. There have been MITB matches with as little as four competitors and as many as 10, but also six, seven or eight participants.

Last year’s Money in the Bank PPV featured one MITB match with eight competitors, many of which had never competed in one before, and one MITB match that exclusively featured former WWE Champions, four of them in total.

The WWE should stay away from a “former champions only” MITB match this year because it takes away from the main purpose of the Money in the Bank match in the first place: Creating new stars.

Even though it remains to be seen what the WWE will do at Money in the Bank this year, it’s imperative that the company ensure that each match packs a certain amount of star power.

So, what should the WWE do with both Money in the Bank matches this year?

Have eight spots in the World Heavyweight title MITB match because that’s a bout that could be used as a stepping stone for an up-and-comer or one final chance at glory for a veteran. Opening up the field should make this match a quality one wrestling-wise, but also one that has the ability to create new stars.

As for the WWE Championship MITB match, that bout should feature six competitors—all big-named guys who we could feasibly see holding the most prestigious title in the company within the year.

But which guys should be in each match? Let’s take a look.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a World Heavyweight Championship Opportunity

Antonio Cesaro

Cesaro is in the process of being repackaged as a client of Zeb Colter and supporter of the United States. That’s essentially the same exact gimmick as Jack Swagger, but hey, that gimmick took Swagger to a WrestleMania World title shot.

By the looks of things, the creative team may be getting behind Cesaro again. Throwing him in the MITB match could be a sign of that, and although he likely wouldn’t win it, he’d surely improve the match’s quality.

Rob Van Dam

RVD is a safe bet to be in one of the MITB matches, but does anyone really see him coming back and gunning for the WWE Championship?

No, what’s more likely is that the WWE throws him in the WHC MITB match for two reasons: (1) He might actually win that one, (2) but even if he doesn’t, the match could ignite his first feud upon his return.

Damien Sandow

Damien Sandow is still losing far too many matches these days, but looking on the bright side of things, he’s been getting a lot more TV time and feuding with a top guy in Sheamus.

Sandow hasn’t had a real shot at attaining singles superstardom yet, but a MITB win (yes, it’s a long shot) could help him get there. At the very least, it could further his feud with “The Celtic Warrior.”

Sheamus

Although Sheamus has accomplished enough in the WWE that he doesn’t need to win the MITB contract, the truth is that he’s a top guy and you never know if the WWE will have him do it anyway.

If Sheamus continues to feud with Sandow, expect these two to be revealed as participants in this match. As mentioned above, it will further their feud, but will also give a top guy (Sheamus) something to do on the PPV.

Christian

While Christian did make a shocking return to the WWE on this week’s Raw, it wasn’t in a major storyline. It was with an easy squash match victory over Wade Barrett.

Apparently, the WWE hasn’t decided exactly what it wants to do with Christian. But as a ladder match stud and a very reliable vet, he’s a logical choice as a MITB match competitor—even if his chances of winning it are next to zero.

Wade Barrett

Barrett just lost the Intercontinental Championship at Payback and then followed that up by jobbing to Christian the next night, but it’s classic WWE booking for a midcarder (no matter how much he loses) to lose a midcard title and then instantly make his way up the card.

Although that certainly may not be the case with Barrett, it appears as if Curtis Axel and The Miz are going to feud over the IC title in the near future. That opens up Barrett for a major opportunity to leave that belt behind (it’s pretty much ruined him) and potentially turn his career around with a MITB win.

Cody Rhodes

The creative team can’t seem to make up its mind with what to do with Rhodes these days, which is a shame because he’s a fantastic talent.

He has absolutely no direction whatsoever right now, and it seems as if he has no real shot at winning Money in the Bank match. But Daniel Bryan and Jack Swagger’s MITB wins came out of nowhere, which should give Rhodes hope.

Perhaps he will be randomly thrown into this match and follow suit by actually winning it.

Big E Langston

Admittedly, Langston as a World title contender already would be a bit of a stretch, but since its become clear that WWE officials are pretty high up on him, perhaps it isn’t that much of a stretch.

With Ziggler in the process of going babyface and potentially winning back the World title, an interesting scenario that could play out is Langston winning the MITB briefcase to challenge his friend (or former friend if they split).

That could be a really entertaining story that solidifies Langston as a top talent and helps the face turn of Ziggler go a little more smoothly.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a WWE Championship Opportunity

Dean Ambrose

The Shield has had such a big presence in the WWE’s top storylines—and more specifically, the WWE title picture—recently that it would certainly be logical to give them one slot in the WWE Championship MITB match.

Who’s that spot go to? Ambrose.

Ambrose has clearly been positioned as the group’s biggest star, and even though he’s currently the United States Champion, we’ve already seen someone (The Miz) win the MITB match while holding the US title.

It would make so much sense for The Shield—which has essentially taken over the WWE—to have the power that comes with the MITB briefcase while also holding two other titles.

Daniel Bryan

Many are surprised that Bryan isn’t challenging John Cena for the WWE Championship at this PPV, but just relax—Bryan’s time is coming.

He’s the most over guy in the company right now, and it would be absolutely asinine on the WWE’s part to not put him in the WWE Championship picture sometime soon.

Bryan should be there just because of how popular is, but maybe he’ll have to win his second MITB match to get there instead.

Randy Orton

Orton has had a lot of beef with Bryan as of late, so if the WWE wants to continue with that story, then having one guy screw the other out of the MITB briefcase would be an easy way to make that happen.

Even if the WWE chooses to go a different route, however, it’s time for Orton to make his presence felt in the WWE title scene for the first time in a few years now.

Other than Bryan, Orton is the most over guy in the WWE right now. It would be silly not to capitalize on that.

Kane

We’ve all seen the story between Bryan and Kane play out over the last year-plus, and now, it’s come down to this: As revealed on this week’s Raw, they both want to win the WWE Championship.

In that sense, this story could easily come full circle by having both Kane and Bryan as competitors in the WWE title MITB match—with one ultimately costing the other the match.

Kane may not actually win the briefcase, but story-wise, it more than makes sense for him to be in this match along with Bryan and even Orton.

Ryback

Ryback’s lost so many major matches that it’s almost silly to think that he deserves yet another shot at winning the WWE Championship.

But the WWE doesn’t always follow logic, and being that Ryback has spent the last eight or nine months chasing the WWE title, it’s safe to assume that he still wants to win it.

Although Ryback’s days as a legitimate title contender are over (did they ever really start?), the WWE probably doesn’t think that.

Chris Jericho

After what transpired at Payback and on Raw, it’s apparent that Chris Jericho doesn’t have much of a direction right now.

Yet, he’s credited as the inventor of the Money in the Bank match, but he’s yet to win one. Maybe that changes this year.

Y2J really needs something to do, and a MITB victory could take him there while a MITB loss could ignite his next feud. Either way, he’s going to instantly improve the quality of this match because he’s one of the best ladder match competitors in history.

Final Thoughts

There’s no real way to guess what the WWE will do with either Money in the Bank match this year, but ultimately, the goal of both bouts should be three-fold.

One, the WWE should want to create new stars. Two, the WWE should pick the match’s competitors based on what it wants to do with future storylines. Three, the company should ensure that most of the bout’s competitors have a legitimate shot at winning it.

That way, both matches will seem important while also avoiding feeling predictable.

We want to see great wrestling at Money in the Bank, but we also want the match to make sense and benefit the WWE in both the short and long-terms.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

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Daniel Bryan Will Be a Part of WWE's Next Five-Star Match

Ryan Dilbert — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:21:09 -0400

Daniel Bryan's energy, popularity and unique mishmash of skills will lead to him having WWE's next five-star match.

As much as Dave Meltzer's match ratings are debated and scrutinized, folks pay attention when he gives a match five stars, especially one from WWE. Sean Hathaway compiled a list of every bout Meltzer has deemed worthy of a five-star rating. Only five WWE clashes appear on the list.

The next time a WWE battle achieves perfection and stirs the heart and the gut enough to have Meltzer award it the elusive five-star rating, Bryan will likely be involved.

The World's Toughest Vegan has helped compose some of the company's best matches in the last two years.

Among those that had an extremely high rating include Bryan's battle at Extreme Rules 2012 against Sheamus, the match against The Shield at TLC 2012 and his two classics opposite CM Punk at last year's Money in the Bank and Over the Limit.

Considering how good these matches were, it feels inevitable that a future Bryan match will be just a touch better in Meltzer's eyes and join the exclusive WWE five-star club. Looking back at Punk vs. Bryan at Over the Limit shows off what Bryan is capable of against a top-level performer.

Great chemistry led to the two men being in sync, with smooth, gorgeous transitions from move to move and the ability to maintain momentum from bell to bell.

As with all of Bryan's work, he combined high-flying, submission and striking in a symphony of violence. Beyond the moves, though, there was a sense of drama in Punk vs. Bryan that made the match seem momentous, that winning or losing had great magnitude.

Bryan's surging popularity is going to give multiple opportunities in the spotlight against WWE's best. In that situation, magic is bound to happen.

Meltzer's five previous WWE five-star matches have all featured not only great performers, but rivals with crackling chemistry.

That is true of Steve Austin and Bret Hart, Bret and Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, Michaels and Undertaker, as well as John Cena and Punk. Bryan, like Michaels before him, seems to have good chemistry with just about anyone he faces.

To garner a perfect rating, though, Bryan will have to clash with someone who he gels with at a tremendous level.

So far, it's clear than Bryan has that kind of relationship with Punk, but he's also shown glimpses of that against Dolph Ziggler, John Cena and Seth Rollins. A huge part of why matches involving Team Hell No and The Shield have been so successful has been the spark created when Rollins and Bryan collide.

Like with Punk, Bryan's rivalry with Rollins goes back to their Ring of Honor days.

Watching them lock horns in their ROH match in 2008 is mesmerizing. Bryan's size allows Rollins to use a full range of moves and not limit him to being a high-flyer. Their wrestling acumen, athleticism and storytelling abilities create an enthralling, multifaceted viewing experience.

This is a feud that could eventually involve a major WWE title.

Should Rollins and Bryan face off at the culmination of a long rivalry with a championship on the line, it's not hard to imagine a 20-minute or longer masterpiece between them giving Meltzer no choice but to give them five stars.

Otherwise, the goat-faced one may end up achieving that honor against Cena, with whom he had a fantastic match on WWE Raw, or against Ziggler, whom he's had great bouts with including a memorable fight at Bragging Rights 2010.

Considering how well he works against all these guys and others, the smart money for WWE's next five-star match is on Bryan.

Every time he straps on his boots, he is on the verge of his magnum opus.

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Why Have Long WWE TV Matches Shifted from Main Event to Raw?

Drake Oz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:15:01 -0400

When WWE Main Event started airing in October 2012, it quickly developed a reputation as a must-watch show for one main reason: It featured lengthy matches.

Although not all lengthy matches are good matches, Main Event thrived early on in large part because it featured quality TV matches that lasted 20 minutes or more. Long, PPV-like TV matches did, in fact, become the mark of the show.

Even to this day, we’re still treated to long, well-wrestled Main Event matches here and there. But Main Event is no longer where WWE fans go to get a taste of PPV-quality matches.

That honor now belongs to the WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw.

Recently, we’ve seen a big increase in the number of Raw matches that go 15 to 20 minutes or more, and not surprisingly, that’s resulted in the overall quality of Raw matches improving as well. The more long matches we’ve gotten on Raw, the better the show’s wrestling has been. Period.

Just over the past few months, we’ve been able to witness a number of incredible matches on the WWE’s “A show.” Some that jump out right off the bat are the amazing CM Punk vs. John Cena bout from back in February, a number of contests involving The Shield and Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins in arguably the third-best match of 2013 so far.

On what seems like a weekly basis, we’ve been getting at least one—and sometimes two or three—incredible displays of wrestling, which is the way that Raw should have always been and should always be. After all, as the overall quality of the WWE’s in-ring action picks up, the overall quality of the show does, too.

The question we have to consider, however, is: Why? Why has Raw replaced Main Event as the WWE’s go-to show for lengthy, quality matches?

The answer is rather simple. The WWE has finally figured out this whole three-hour Raw thing.

Although it took a while (Raw has been three hours each week for nearly a year now), it’s clear that the company has finally figured out the best way to utilize the extra hour of time: Give us longer matches between superstars who should be wrestling longer matches.

It’s never been a difficult concept. Unfortunately for the WWE, they’ve had a difficult time grasping that concept.

For the first five or six months after Raw transitioned to a three-hour format, the quality of the show was rather poor. Heck, even to this day, some three-hour Raw shows are really hard to sit through.

The common factor in those shows? Too many short matches.

When we are forced so sit through short match after short match on Raw, it hurts everything about the show—its flow, our ability to pay attention to it, the ability of those superstars to get over, etc.

But as of late, we’ve seen fewer short matches that do nothing for either guy involved, and in Main Event-like fashion, we’ve seen longer matches that go a long way in helping superstars get over.

Want to know why Daniel Bryan is ridiculously over right now? Because he tears the house down in lengthy matches on Raw on a weekly basis now.

Want to know why The Shield seems like such a big deal? Because the trio gets to steal the show with 15-to-20-minute matches instead of five-minute ones.

Raw now feels a lot more like Main Event once felt in terms of in-ring quality, and the WWE is reaping some major benefits as a result.

Superstars are getting more over. Matches are getting better. The show’s overall quality is improving.

That’s what happens when you finally find the right formula for making a three-hour Raw as good as it can be—a formula that involves a blend of both entertainment and wrestling as entertainment.

Now that Raw is defined by Main Event-like matches, the show is much easier to sit through for 180-plus minutes week after week.

It no longer feels like work. It feels like entertainment.

Drake Oz is a WWE featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

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Was Mark Henry's 'Retirement' Postponed Due to a Daniel Bryan Injury?

Bill Atkinson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:20:56 -0400

So much for retiring.

WWE pulled off one of its patented swerves Monday night when it led the WWE Universe to believe that Mark Henry was retiring, only to have him hit WWE champion John Cena with his World’s Strongest Slam.

Shortly after the Cena-Henry confrontation, WWE tweeted the following:

JUST ANNOUNCED: @WWE Champion @JohnCena defends the title vs @TheMarkHenry at #MITB July 14! #RAW
— WWE (@WWE) June 18, 2013

However, given the events that transpired earlier in the night, WWE may have had no choice but to put Henry up as Cena’s next pay-per-view opponent.

In an earlier match between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton, Bryan appeared to get injured when he dived out of the ring after Orton and wound up striking his head and neck against the ringside barrier. He lay at ringside for several moments and tried to continue, but the WWE medical staff finally stepped in and got the match stopped.

Instead of the usual histrionics associated with Bryan’s character over the past few weeks, he quietly and stiffly walked away from ringside accompanied by WWE personnel.

Later on in the broadcast, Michael Cole reported that Bryan may have suffered a stinger, and his status for this week’s SmackDown tapings would be evaluated.

It’s quite possible that this is all to build up what is looking like a major WWE title defense at August’s SummerSlam between Cena and Bryan, and that Henry is nothing more than a transitional opponent for Cena at the next PPV.

Big men have not fared well against Cena at recent PPVs, so it’s highly unlikely that Henry will walk out of Philadelphia with the WWE belt.

On the other hand, Henry has been one of WWE’s more solid workers over the years, and WWE might decide to reward that service with a successful shot at the company’s top title. If that were to happen, Henry would be nothing more than a transitional champion because he would turn around and drop the belt to Bryan at SummerSlatm.

We will know more about this in the coming days as events start to unfold and more details about Bryan’s injury—real or storyline—are released.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

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WWE News: Daniel Bryan Potentially Injured During Raw

Colin I. McAndrew — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:48:56 -0400

On Monday night, fans witnessed Daniel Bryan duke it out against Randy Orton in a No DQ match.

All seemed to be going to plan until Bryan charged at Orton and "The Viper" countered by slamming Bryan into the barricade head first. As the match continued, it was evident that Bryan was not fully utilizing his left arm.

After that spot, Michael Cole and crew played up the fact that the referee had called out a WWE doctor to check on Bryan's status. After the staff physician arrived, he attempted to call the match several times to no avail. Eventually, Bryan was tossed out of the ring and succumbed to the doctor’s call to stop the match.

Once the match was called, Bryan appeared to be annoyed but was no way acting in his usual TV character. Instead, he appeared a bit stunned by the situation and walked off stage with no dramatics. Overall, the injury seems legit; however, this could also play into the "weak link" angle the WWE has been playing up for a few weeks now.

As of this article, the WWE is still saying that Bryan has suffered some form of injury, as Michael Cole revealed during Raw that Bryan was still being evaluated and may have suffered some sort of nerve damage.

Unfortunately, the company can't afford to have another wrestler, let alone main eventer, shelved. The fact is the WWE has lost roughly eight wrestlers to injury since WrestleMania. Three of those injuries were confirmed concussions, two of which happened within a week of each other.

In the end, if Bryan is injured, we can only hope that it's not too serious and that he has a speedy recovery. Let's face it; he is currently the hottest star the company has right now and appears to be skyrocketing toward John Cena and the WWE title. Sadly, as we all know, if he misses any time at this point, it could kill any momentum that he has.

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WWE Payback: The Shield vs. Bryan and Orton Is Predictable, but Will Be Great

David Levin — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:02 -0400

Sometimes, knowing what will happen is as exciting as how it will happen. In the case of Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan's coexistence in the match with The Shield members Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, will their "inexperience" be their undoing?

I'm not sure I really care because I know this match could be the one that steals the show. Regardless of the outcome (which we all know The Shield will win), there are four game-changers in the ring who could ultimately reign supreme in the WWE.

I love matches that mean something, that have passion and lead to other angles. And in this case, there should not be a slow moment to speak of. If Bryan has anything to say about it, each member of The Shield will feel his wrath throw the cross face or with kicks to the midsection, the chest or any where else wrestling's toughest vegan sees fit.

Orton, who is just as "crazy" as Bryan (he hears voices in his head, you know) could use the "loss" to springboard his "heel" turn we have all been waiting to happen. This is not about winning tag team titles (and for the record, Michael Cole said on SmackDown that Kane wasn't sure Orton and Bryan could beat The Shield in the tag team match.

That's confidence, I tell you.

Way to back up and support your former tag team partner. But it's all part of the plan. At some point, Orton needs his heel turn, and claiming he was put in a match with a partner who was the "weaker" link.

For The Shield, this is just another stepping stone. The WWE does not want the three monsters to lose their momentum this early, so you are almost guaranteed that the belts stay around the waist of Rollins and Reigns (and Dean Ambrose in his United States title match with Kane).

After seeing the six-man tag match Friday night, where Bryan made Rollins submit and celebrated with with Orton and Kane in the ring, we all knew what would happen come Sunday.

Predictable? Yes. Is that a good thing? Maybe. Whatever the outcome, it will be a match we might talk about as the best of the night. Having knowledge of the outcome in this case is something that helps build the match even more.

Remember what they say about Payback? We are about to see it happen.

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WWE Payback: So If Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan Win The Tag Titles, Then What?

Chris Featherstone — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:53:28 -0400

Over the past few weeks, Daniel Bryan has garnered more support from the WWE Universe. Constantly proving that he is not the "weak link," more than ever before. His "yes" chants from the audience are resounding, his ring work finally gets to be spotlighted and his self-constructed path to the main event scene permanently looks brighter than ever.

As Daniel Bryan's stock continues to rise, surprisingly, so has the stock of Randy Orton. Most of the WWE Universe has labeled him as stale for the past couple years as a babyface, and it is nearly unanimous that a heel turn is needed to revive his career. However, ever since his match with the Big Show at Extreme Rules, his reaction from the crowd has been louder than it has been in quite some time.

WWE is capitalizing on these two crowd reactions by having Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton for a tag team match against The Shield for the tag titles. Similar to his most recent partner, Kane, Daniel Bryan finds himself in another dysfunctional alliance.

Also similar to his pairing with Kane, it is providing an interesting dynamic.

All throughout this year, The Shield has earned a reputation that any high-quality match that they are involved in as a trio is quite predictable—they win (minus the lame DQ loss before Extreme Rules). Moreover, at PPV events, they are undefeated in six-man, tag team and singles competition. Seemingly, we will not see this streak end come Sunday.

But what if it does?

What if Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan win the tag team titles? Then what? Well, it sure is not likely that we will see a title run similar to Demolition or Paul London/Brian Kendrick. Instead, liken it to the Miz and John Cena.

If Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan win, it will used as no more than a prop to turn one of them heel during a rematch on Raw. This will lead to a match at Money in the Bank between the two. Although I am totally against titles being used as props, this scenario could possibly gain momentum for the potential Orton/Bryan feud, especially if one of them turn.

Although recent reports suspect Daniel Bryan to be the most likely heel by the end of Payback, this will be a dampering decision. As we saw from Daniel Bryan's first heel turn, his mediocre charisma (at the time) eclipsed his phenomenal in-ring work. Heels are more known for accentuating their character, and Randy Orton would exceed in that category more than Daniel Bryan. This is totally fine, because babyfaces are more known for highlighting their in-ring work. Daniel Bryan is superior in that category.

Randy Orton has what it takes to be a main-event heel. He has done it before, and he can do it again. It will freshen up his character, which is in need of an overhaul much more than Daniel Bryan, currently. Additionally, Randy Orton—although still no John Cena in terms of level of popularity—still can afford to put someone like Daniel Bryan over and help him gain steam for a SummerSlam showdown with John Cena.

Could it even be a triple threat match at SummerSlam? Yes. However, let this be Daniel Bryan's time. He deserves it.

Sound off, respectfully, below.

Chris Featherstone is a writer for WrestlingInc.com. Continue to show your support on Facebook, Twitter, and the PandP Show Tues. at 11p ET.

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WWE Payback 2013: Is Daniel Bryan or Randy Orton More Likely to Turn Heel?

Seth M. Guttenplan — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:57:33 -0400

At WWE Payback, Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton will team up to challenge WWE tag team champions Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns of The Shield, but will either Superstar turn heel?

Just prior to WrestleMania 29, I questioned who was more likely to turn heel between John Cena and Randy Orton. Neither one did make the move to the dark side, but this Sunday could be different. In order to determine who is more likely to turn, let’s discuss each Superstar’s situation.

Randy Orton

It seems as though a regular conversation WWE fans are having is about whether, or rather when, Orton will turn heel again. The Viper has experienced a lot of success as a babyface, but he was the top heel of the company in 2009. In that year, he won the Royal Rumble and led the successful group known as Legacy.

On a recent episode of SmackDown, Orton and Bryan squared off against the tag team champions. Bryan accidentally dropkicked Orton instead of Rollins. As a result, Orton delivered an RKO to Bryan after the match.

This could have been seen as the start of a heel turn for Orton. He could finalize it at Payback in a number of ways. Orton could desert Bryan during the match or attack him. Then again, Orton could have just been getting back at Bryan for that one miscue.

Daniel Bryan

Bryan turned heel in late 2011 when he cashed in Money in the Bank on the Big Show to become the new World Heavyweight champion. Throughout 2012, Bryan’s heel status helped him get over with the WWE Universe as he would continuously have shouting matches with fans at ringside.

However, his popularity and dysfunctional partnership with Kane quietly turned him back to a babyface. He and Kane enjoyed an eight-month reign as tag team champions until last month.

When they lost the titles, Bryan began to show different emotions. He became more hostile and angry, believing Kane and others see him as the weak link in Team Hell No.

This rising anger could lead to a heel turn like it did in 2011-12 or perhaps he will continue to be an aggressive babyface who gets a push.

Conclusion

It is completely possible that both Bryan and Orton, or neither of them, will turn heel at WWE Payback, but if only one is going to do it, Bryan should be the choice.

Orton’s heel turn is not going to surprise anyone and he is not going to be the same heel he was in 2009. WWE has become more PG, meaning Orton can no longer use the punt, except at Extreme Rules.

With the direction WWE is going, Bryan’s heel turn will make a bigger impact.

Bryan will be popular whether he is a babyface or heel so it really doesn’t matter. As long as he continues to entertain, he will be a future world champion again. Orton may be a more logical choice, but Bryan is a bigger part of the future in WWE.

Who do you think is more likely to turn heel at WWE Payback? Daniel Bryan or Randy Orton? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can continue the conversation by following me on Twitter (@sethgutt), and check out my site, guttwrenchpowerblog.com.

Like GuTTWrenchPowerBlog on Facebook here.

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Daniel Bryan: Where Does He Rank Among the Cruiserweight Wrestlers of All Time?

David Levin — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:27:06 -0400

When I think of the great cruiserweights I have seen over the years in the ring, I can’t help but make a short list of whom I consider “great.”

The Great Muta, Dean Malenko, Ultimo Dragon, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit top my chart. There are others who have dazzled us over the years with their antics, ability and skill. Cruiserweights are and have been a huge part of the success of professional wrestling over the years, adding segments to programming and creating a different dimension of competition.

Today, the lines are skewed and we often see the likes of a Rey Mysterio in the ring with someone like Ryback.

Such is also the case of Daniel Bryan and most of the men he faces nightly.

The more I watch Bryan in the ring, I am reminded of Benoit and his “bulldog” mentality and tenacious assault in the ring. While we don’t “talk” about Benoit because of the way he ended his career and life, that does not take away from the fact that when he was at the top of his game, he was the “best in the world,” and Bryan’s accomplishments in the ring and his intensity are unmatched by any of the recent WWE competitors.

The two have a connection. Actually, Bryan has a connection to all the wrestlers I mentioned in the opening of this story. While fans today want more action and “intensity,” Bryan is the consummate “tweener” who is great on the mat and great in the air. And when the mood strikes, he is as crazy as a Japanese buzz saw named Tajiri.

Don’t confuse that last statement—Bryan is much better than Tajiri.

To put Bryan in context with a Benoit or a Guerrero, the former World champion is mentally and physically dominant for his size and is a relentless worker. Competing against The Shield. Getting hammered by Ryback (which is a Match of the Year candidate in my book). Letting Sheamus pound his chest over and over again.

Bryan comes back for more. I’d like to see how Bryan would do against Muta or Mil Mascaras or even Benoit. The last would be possibly the greatest cruiserweight challenge of all time. Today, seeing a match between Bryan and Chris Jericho or his rival CM Punk is worth its weight in gold (and possibly titles).

To say Bryan is a “top-10” cruiserweight of all time seems fair. To place him higher is undecided. But based on his predecessors, it is a good bet the longer he remains in the WWE, the higher the ladder he will climb. If I have ranked someone like Benoit as one of the best ever and I compare the two positively, then it stands to reason in the end, Bryan could be the best ever.

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Daniel Bryan Is the Best All-Around Performer in WWE Right Now

Drake Oz — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Once upon a time, CM Punk was widely recognized as the best all-around performer in the WWE.

Not anymore.

The best all-around performer in the WWE isn’t Punk, Randy Orton or Dolph Ziggler. It’s Daniel Bryan.

It’s rather funny to think that the biggest knock on Bryan was once that, although he was a good wrestler, he lacked the charisma to ever truly succeed on the biggest stage in pro wrestling.

Ha. So much for that.

Ever since Bryan was first thrust into the main event picture when he won the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE TLC in 2011, all he’s done is prove the haters and doubters wrong.

The second that he was given his first real shot at succeeding in the WWE, he took the ball and ran with it, immediately becoming one of the most entertaining performers in the company during his heel run in early 2012.

Then, Bryan got too popular, so he turned babyface last summer. Since that time, the man who supposedly had no charisma has evolved into the most charismatic performer in all of pro wrestling.

His run as the overly excited heel in early 2012 worked really well, but it was when his partnership with Kane began toward the end of last summer that his abilities outside the ring really began to shine through.

We always knew that Bryan was a great in-ring performer. He proved that on the independent scene and in Ring of Honor, and his 2010 Bragging Rights match against Ziggler gave WWE fans a taste of what to expect from him down the road.

But it wasn’t really until about a year ago that Bryan became a huge focal point of the WWE’s storylines. That’s when he feuded over both the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships, put on great bouts with Sheamus and Punk and then started his fantastic run with Kane as Team Hell No.

A year later, the verdict is in: Bryan has replaced Punk as the best overall performer in the WWE.

That’s not a knock on Punk by any means. Rather, it’s a true testament to the amazing abilities of Bryan.

Bryan has shown some superb range as a talker over the last year-and-a-half, cutting promos successfully as a serious heel, a goofy babyface and everywhere in between.

Of course, he’s also given us some fantastic matches during that span. He’s put on a number of great TV singles matches against the likes of Cena, Ziggler and even Ryback, and on Monday’s Raw, he absolutely tore the house down in a phenomenal singles match against Seth Rollins.

We also can’t overlook all of the excellent tag and six-man tag team matches that Bryan and his partner Kane have participated in against The Shield. Those bouts extend all the way back to WWE TLC 2012, and still to this day, Team Hell No continues to blow the roof off the building any time that it steps into the ring with The Shield.

We could probably sit here all day and talk about Bryan’s in-ring greatness. But that’s not even what truly makes him so great.

What has turned Bryan into the most over babyface in all of the WWE (yes, even more so than Cena) is that he is perhaps the only man on the roster who consistently generates a genuine reaction from the crowd—and a deafening one at that.

When Bryan simply enters the arena these days, the volume of the crowd is almost unbelievable. “Yes” chants ring throughout the building so loudly that you would swear that the fans in attendance are witnessing the greatest thing ever.

Bryan may not be the greatest thing ever, but his incredible rise in popularity is certainly impressive.

At no point in recent history has there been a guy who can make the crowd go absolutely berserk night in and night out whenever he gets the hot tag during a tag match or is on offense during a singles match.

The fans react to everything that he does in the ring—whether it’s a simple kick, a diving headbutt or a perfectly executed submission. That’s something that not even the biggest babyfaces in the WWE like Cena and Sheamus can say.

Bryan has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand right now, a result of its appreciation for his great in-ring ability as well as its love of him as a performer.

It’s nothing short of amazing to see Bryan’s magical run continue because it’s a run that has taken him to a spot that hardly anyone expected him to ever be in: The best all-around performer all of pro wrestling.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

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WWE: A Chris Jericho Heel Turn Makes Sense, but Daniel Bryan, Too? No! No! No!

Bill Atkinson — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:39:44 -0400

Top-tier faces in WWE, already small in number, could be further depleted with news of not one but two possible face-to-heel turns.

And no, Randy Orton is not among them.

F4WOnline.com (via WrestleZone.com) reports that heel turns may be in the works for Daniel Bryan and Chris Jericho. According to the report, the turns could come much sooner than later:

It's very possible that we could see heel turns from both Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan at Payback this Sunday night. If Bryan does indeed turn, it would setup an eventual feud between him and John Cena for the WWE Title.

Bryan already could be facing Cena for the WWE title at this year's SummerSlam. But with the possibility of two faces going after each other for the top title at a major pay-per-view—again—WWE obviously feels that a character turn for one of them is needed.

And it obviously will not be Cena.

Turning Bryan heel during the biggest push of his WWE career would be a big mistake. Right now, WWE already has its fair share of heels waiting in the wings to move up the ladder, so why switch its hottest and currently most popular star to the other side of the fence? Let him continue to build the face momentum he has been getting lately.

Did we not learn anything from the past two WrestleManias about the success of having face characters square off in main events?

In the meantime, babyfaces at the upper levels are not real prevalent. Cena leads a full-time roster that also includes Sheamus, Orton, Kane and Bryan. I don’t count The Undertaker, The Rock or Jericho on that list because they are part-timers.

A Jericho turn makes more sense. He pretty much has accomplished his face agenda by pushing Fandango. He is a proven heat magnet. Plus, he is wading into hostile waters Sunday in the Chicago area when he battles hometown hero CM Punk.

Jericho is a decent face, but he is a much better heel character. And if he turns, then that should be a sign that Punk will return from his self-imposed hiatus and become a face again. The star power Punk carries could offset the loss of two faces to the heel side.

Meanwhile, Randy Orton continues to wait his turn to change. He said in an interview last week that when he makes that long-awaited switch to heel, it will be big.

Given the long time that Orton (not to mention the WWE Universe) has waited for it, it better be gargantuan.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

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WWE: Daniel Bryan Will Win WWE Championship from John Cena at SummerSlam

Joe Johnson — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:46:18 -0400

It was just last week when I wrote that a Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena match would be a colossal mistake.

It had been rumored Bryan was penciled in for a title shot at Money In The Bank (h/t Wrestling Observer), and in that scenario, I stand by my belief. With the news leaking today that the smark vs. mark showdown could headline SummerSlam, my tune has changed.

If the match takes place at SummerSlam, Daniel Bryan will defeat John Cena and become the WWE Champion.

Take a deep breath. Focus. Continue.

WWE takes SummerSlam seriously. Making the Staples Center in Los Angeles it's unofficial home should tell you all you need to know. WWE has positioned SummerSlam as the second biggest show of the year and placed it strategically in the second biggest media market in the country.

If New York is "home" for WrestleMania, then Los Angeles is "home" to SummerSlam.

With this in mind, WWE looks for a big pay-per-view buy rate from SummerSlam. It books an entire Fan Axxess event and a week of events. Building SummerSlam into a major economic boom is part of the company's strategy. It would make sense for them to book a WWE Title match and main event that draw mainstream attention and are proven money-makers.

Yet, they seem to be thinking Daniel Bryan is the right guy for this spot. This is only puzzling if they don't intend on giving him the belt.

See, Cena has reached the point in his career where he is (unfortunately) above the WWE Title. It does nothing for him to have it, and he is not damaged in the slightest by not having it. CM Punk carried the belt for more than 400 days, yet Cena remained the centerpiece of all creative decisions.

His title victory over The Rock at WrestleMania was intended to be a passing of the torch moment for the company, whether you choose to believe it or not. The belt was meant to symbolize this transition, though it had nothing to do with belts and everything to do with icon stature.

Daniel Bryan, though, has so much room to grow, and he's exploded in recent months. His popularity has steadily built since losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus at WrestleMania 28. It's hit a fever pitch thanks to a red-hot feud with The Shield that stretches back more than six months.

He receives the biggest pops of any star each week on Raw. His merchandise is flying off the shelves, and he's become a social media darling, frequently popping up on Twitter trends. And unlike Punk, he didn't need a "pipe bomb" moment to change the tide. It's been an organic growth, and it appears the WWE is finally listening to its fans.

Were Bryan to face Cena for the title at Money in the Bank, it would fail. Nobody believes that Cena is going to drop the belt in an off-brand PPV setting—especially not to a guy like Bryan. Such a title change would only happen at one of the "Big Four" PPVs, and SummerSlam is the ideal setting.

After Bryan and Orton are unsuccessful in their challenge for the Tag Team Titles against The Shield at Payback, Bryan will be forced to prove he's not the weak link. With all of that rage as motivation, he'll climb the ladder and win the Money in the Bank briefcase for the WWE Title.

Ideally, this should be the main event, and the match should be stacked with talent that can deliver a main-event-caliber performance. The match's position on the card and its competitors weigh greatly on its perceived importance.

With briefcase in hand, Bryan will formally challenge Cena at SummerSlam for the title. He knows that nobody can call him the weak link were he to defeat John Cena—the WWE franchise, the man who beat The Rock at WrestleMania—for the WWE Championship.

A pinfall victory in a clean, classic match would blow the roof off the Staples Center. Cena rolling out of the ring and walking quietly to the back would reinforce Bryan's position as a legitimate champion. That's not to say Cena wouldn't win the belt back at some point this year. I'd be surprised if he ever goes more than a calendar year without a title reign for at least the next few WrestleMania cycles.

WWE has a chance to create a truly great moment and a legitimate money-making draw. Do it, WWE. I dare you.

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Update on Plans for Ryback, Cena and Bryan Following Payback, Potential Spoilers

Sharon Glencross — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:29:19 -0400

So what will WWE do with Ryback, John Cena and Daniel Bryan at, and following, the Payback pay-per-view?

Well, in this week's (subscribers-only) F4W Newsletter, Bryan Alvarez notes that current creative plans do not involve Ryback coming out on top and winning the WWE Title from archenemy Cena.

The WWE, it seems, sees the Ryback feud as more of a way to get Cena over heading into the summer months:

At the moment, Ryback is not scheduled to win the title and the idea for the Three Stages of Hell match is that it is a vehicle to get over Cena big for the summer.

But, rest assured, Ryback fans, as Alvarez notes, plans are constantly changing in the hectic world of the WWE, particularly in the case of rising star Daniel Bryan:

Now, keep in mind, all is subject to change, and in fact this card changed from the weekend to Raw (for example, Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan was scheduled as of Saturday, but by Monday they'd changed it to the tag team match). Bryan, as of last week, was scheduled to be in the title picture in both July and August, perhaps in a three-way at Money in the Bank, but with the Orton storyline having changed a bit, perhaps that's off the table for now.

So, what to make of all this?

Well, assuming the initial predictions are correct, and Ryback does lose on Sunday, it will do the star's credibility no favors whatsoever.

Just how many times has he come up short when going after the WWE Title over the last year? Five? Six? No wonder many fans have stopped believing in him.

There's also the question of whether Cena, the undisputed No. 1 in the company, even needs his star power built up any more.

What good will sacrificing Ryback do in the long run?

The WWE's obsession with Cena may not bode too well for Bryan either when he does enter the title picture.

Bryan is a terrific wrestler, a funny personalty and is liked by the fans.

He could easily be the company's next babyface star if he's allowed the chance to flourish and isn't kept in Cena's shadow.

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