WWE: Why Daniel Bryan's World Title Run Will Be a Great One

In December 2011, Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on The Big Show at WWE TLC and became the World Heavyweight Champion. 

The initial reaction from wrestling fans was one of excitement and jubilation. We just couldn’t believe that someone like Daniel Bryan was now holding one of the most prestigious titles in all of professional wrestling. 

That’s not to take away from Bryan’s incredible talents. It’s just that he didn’t fit the stereotypical look of the World champion that we’ve grown accustomed to. 

In a day and age where a wrestler’s physique typically means more than his abilities in the ring, we were both surprised and elated when Bryan won the World Heavyweight Championship. 

But that joy quickly turned to fear and doubt. 

Fans thought that, although WWE officials were willing to put the title on Bryan, they wouldn’t be willing to give him a long run with the belt and build him up as a credible champion. That’s understandable, especially given the number of short World title reigns in recent WWE history. 

I’m here, however, to calm your nerves and tell you that Bryan’s World title reign will not be a joke. In fact, it’ll be a great one. 

Admittedly, I had my initial doubts about Bryan succeeding as a baby face World champion. I thought that chances were that he would be booked similarly to Rey Mysterio, as the ultimate underdog who does not get very many decisive victories. 

But Bryan’s gradual heel turn has changed all that. 

I’m no longer worried about him being booked like the typical small baby face who tries to overcome the odds, fails and becomes nothing more than a transitional champion. Rather, I’m confident that a heel Bryan is going to make a fantastic World champion. 

Though Bryan has yet to officially turn heel with some defining moment, he is already getting a ton of boos, and slowly but surely, the crowd is beginning to absolutely despite him. This has happened despite the fact that nothing Bryan has done has been overtly heel, and at the most, it’s been borderline heelish. 

Yet, the crowd doesn’t seem to care that Bryan has not officially gone bad. 

They do not like his cowardly actions, his over-the-top celebrations or the way he is manipulating The Big Show and Mark Henry, and they are letting him know it. Sure, Bryan still has his supporters and is still being booked somewhat like a face (like when he teamed with CM Punk on Monday’s Raw), but he is already arguably the top heel wrestler in the WWE. 

Vickie Guerrero and John Laurinaitis generate more heat than Bryan, but as far as wrestlers are concerned, Bryan is clearly established as a little prick who is incredibly easy to hate. 

And that bodes really well for his future. 

The concern I had for Bryan when he became World Heavyweight Champion stemmed from my thoughts that he might not get over or be believable as a baby face World Champion, because judging by appearance alone, it looks like almost any main event caliber heel could snap him in half. 

Now that Bryan is heel, that’s not the case. 

He no longer has to be the honorable underdog who, win or lose, gives his all for the fans. No, he is the arrogant jerk who uses his girlfriend, treats her like crap and manages to cheat his way to victory without us being able to actually call it cheating. 

Bryan has become one of the most believable characters on WWE TV because he’s not being a bona fide heel or baby face. He’s the jerk you see every day, the one who could absolutely care less about anyone but himself. 

It’s worked fantastically so far, and if Bryan can keep it up, then I have no doubt that he will hold onto the World Heavyweight Championship until WrestleMania (and possibly beyond) and have a nice reign along the way. 

If Bryan was still a baby face, I never would have said this. But he’s been so good in the early stages of his tweener role that I see nothing but good things in store for him as we move toward WrestleMania.

I'm now on Twitter and Formspring, so you can follow me or ask me anything wrestling-related!