WWE Royal Rumble 2012: What's Next for Daniel Bryan If He Retains His Title?

This Sunday (January 29th), St. Louis will host the 25^th Royal Rumble. Aside from the Rumble match itself, the card will also feature a few other intriguing contests. Among those will be World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan defending his title against Mark Henry and Big Show in a steel cage match.

Daniel Bryan has been on a roll since becoming World Heavyweight Champion at the TLC pay-per-view. When the Royal Rumble comes around, we will see if Bryan has what it takes to successfully defend his championship on a big PPV stage.

If Bryan does successfully defend his championship against Big Show and Henry, where will he go from there?

Bryan’s feud with Mark Henry seems to be slowing down. I expect the match at the Royal Rumble to be the blow off to whatever is left of Bryan vs. Henry.

On the other hand, there is still plenty going on between Big Show and Daniel Bryan. A plausible route following Bryan retaining the title would be for Bryan vs. Big Show to last through the Elimination Chamber PPV. Big Show’s last opportunity at Bryan’s title could come in the form of being one of the participants in the Elimination Chamber match.

As it stands now, it doesn’t seem very likely that Bryan will be feuding with either Henry or Big Show for much longer.

If Bryan does go into WrestleMania as the World Heavyweight Champion, there is a plethora of viable challengers. One member of the Smackdown roster that comes to mind is Sheamus.

"The Great White," despite not having any discernible feud, still remains a believable contender for the championship.

If Sheamus vs. Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship does make it onto the WrestleMania card, it would be an impressive testament to the hard work of both men seeing as how, just last year, Sheamus vs. Bryan for the United States Championship was a dark match at WrestleMania.

Another possible contender for Bryan could be a returning Randy Orton. Orton vs. Bryan would be an excellent match for WrestleMania. "The Viper" brings the name value that some of the other possibilities don’t quite have. Aside from that, they both have the ability to put on a stellar match.

It’s a bit of a stretch, but another possible opponent for Bryan could be a returning Christian. If Christian were to return during the Royal Rumble match, the intro of his music alone would be enough to garner a significant babyface pop from the crowd. If he were to target a few heels once in the ring, he could solidify himself as a babyface upon his return.

In my opinion, Christian would be a perfect contender for Bryan. The world title scene on Smackdown has had a strong focus on big men for a few months now. While Henry and Big Show have worked hard to provide some memorable moments, I think it’s time they step away from the title picture.

In addition, Christian and Bryan could put on a spectacular, WrestleMania caliber match. Both men are well versed in the art of using technically exciting wrestling to tell a compelling story.

Finally, Christian could help solidify Bryan’s heel turn. As a babyface, Christian had a big part in establishing Alberto del Rio as a main event heel on Smackdown. There is no doubt he could do the same for Daniel Bryan.

There are quite a few wrestlers on Smackdown that could step up to challenge Daniel Bryan once he wraps up his feud with Big Show. Randy Orton and Sheamus are both strong possibilities. Others, like Christian vs. Bryan, happen to be more of a stretch. This fan remains optimistic that we will see Christian challenge for Bryan’s title on the Grandest Stage of them All.

Make sure to check my B/R Writer Profile for more articles previewing the 2012 WWE Royal Rumble. I will be writing a live results and reaction article as the show airs. In addition, PW 24/7 Radio will host a “Think Tank” special. Tune in to PW 24/7 immediately after the show as the different hosts come together with their various points of view to provide the most collaborative and comprehensive review of the Royal Rumble!