Daniel Bryan: How His Character and Title Reign Are Being Sabotaged

Daniel Bryan might be the current world heavyweight champion, but he isn't being portrayed as one. The cachet of being at the top of one's profession should carry a certain honor and respectability—two qualities that are starting to elude Bryan.

Standing an unimposing 5'8" and weighing 185 lbs., Bryan made his foray into the WWE as a legitimate underdog who had his work cut out for him. Never mind the fact that Bryan sowed his wrestling oats on the independent scene in grand fashion, being touted as the "best in the world" during his Ring of Honor tenure.

Yet, from the moment Bryan showed his face on NXT, he's been incessantly harangued by the new voice of the WWE, Michael Cole.

Still, Bryan persevered by winning the Money in the Bank briefcase at the eponymous pay-per-view. Not only did the submission-wrestling specialist temporarily refute Cole's claims, but he showed that size doesn't have to matter in the WWE.

Since then, however, Bryan's character has taken an unnecessary turn for the worse, undermining his newfound title reign in the process.

Looking back, we were all under the impression that Bryan would stay true to his word and not cash in his contract until WrestleMania 28. Out of nowhere, though, his ostensibly upstanding character did a 180 by becoming an opportunistic brat, attempting to cash in on an incapacitated Mark Henry on an episode of SmackDown.

Thereafter, it became clear such a decision on Bryan's part was not an aberration when he tried the same tactic against The Big Show—and succeeded—at the TLC pay-per-view. Although his fans were ecstatic, the following question lingered: Why is Bryan, a tailor-made babyface if there ever was one, suddenly being depicted as a cowardly heel?

In context, cowardly heels have been a staple of the WWE brand since its inception; however, in Bryan's case, it seems out of character. This is a man who has relied on his integrity, in-ring prowess, technical skills and durability to outlast even the most formidable competition.

Why can't he be allowed to tell his side of the story in the ring as a fighting workhorse—now a champion—clawing tooth and nail to victory?

From the WWE's perspective, it seems the company brass feels there is no other way to plausibly highlight Bryan's current position in the company given his obvious lack of size. And it should come as no surprise, really, as past precedence has shown that the WWE has always had a hard time unanimously backing vertically-challenged performers.

Habits aside, the WWE's approach is behind the times and inviable in today's marketplace. Not to mention, Bryan's reputation among fans isn't firmly established yet to receive his inevitable comeuppance—like Christian or Cody Rhodes—at the hands of a babyface.

Furthermore, the worst part of Bryan's unneeded transformation is that it proves Michael Cole right all along.

Not only did Bryan never get a chance to definitively end Cole's obnoxious character—like he should have—but he is continually being labeled a "hypocrite" by the same broadcast announcer.

Most members of the WWE Universe probably discarded the majority of Cole's drivel over the past year; however, when stuff is being repeated over and over, it tends to be accepted as "fact"—true or not. Bryan was in the precarious position of having to rally against his challenger and the voice of the company every night he stepped into the squared circle.

One would think Cole's heel antics are acceptable if the object of his acrimony is a babyface. Now that Bryan is exhibiting heel characteristics, he is still being lambasted by Cole as much as—if not more than—ever!

What are fans to think when a heel announcer can't even endorse a fellow heel wrestler? The answer is that Bryan will have to deal with recurring credibility issues moving forward and beyond.

Unfortunately, we've come to expect the WWE to bungle a host of intriguing characters and storylines over the years. Daniel Bryan is just another victim of the company-wide incompetency.