WWE Extreme Rules 2012 Will Be Daniel Bryan's Chance to Become a True Superstar

Tonight at Extreme Rules, Daniel Bryan is in a unique position that he will experience for the first time in his WWE career.

Bryan will be listed as a challenger in a world championship match. His only other world title match in which he was challenging for the title was in a shocking cash-in of his Money in the Bank briefcase.

This time around, it is a rematch clause for the former World Heavyweight Champion. It will also be the big chance for Bryan to continue to stay relevant in the main event picture.

Bryan has certainly had a lot of changes to his career since winning that Money in the Bank briefcase. Bryan returns to the site of that success, Chicago, where Bryan won the SmackDown Money in the Bank match last summer. In December, a vulnerable Big Show fell victim to Bryan's opportune title shot. Bryan was the new champion in the final pay-per-view of 2011.

This year began with Bryan's attitude slightly changing. He would grow to be more and more self-centered as the weeks went on, attempting to grab the spotlight at any turn. It was also during this change that Bryan began his now-infamous "YES!" chants, which have taken over the chants at WWE events. It has gotten to the point where it is giving the creative teams fits.

On SmackDown recordings, the constant chants from the crowd for Bryan have been muffled over with boos. After trying to convince fans that Bryan did not appreciate them, WWE has almost tried to phase the chants out entirely. There will be no silencing Chicago tonight when they cheer for the heel Bryan.

It wouldn't seem like an incredibly popular superstar would be backed into such a corner, but this match is incredibly important for Bryan. Bryan didn't earn his world title match directly, but rather through the Money in the Bank loophole.

Classically, those who use those briefcases for world championship reigns don't enjoy a sustained run in the main event. Just ask CM Punk and his first World Heavyweight Championship run.

Even the match tonight is only due to the rematch owed to the former champion. Bryan has never been the No. 1 contender and, with a loss, wouldn't have much of a reason to stay in the main event.

With Alberto Del Rio already owning a victory over Sheamus, mainstays like Randy Orton looming, young stars like Cody Rhodes drifting around and heels like Wade Barrett and Christian soon to return from injury, it becomes harder and harder for Bryan to find a spot in an already crowded main event scene.

Bryan has morphed his character successfully, but he now needs a bit of legitimacy sprinkled in. Sheamus was put into the newly named Yes Lock on RAW, so we can assume that Bryan will lock that hold in at least once for a submission victory in the Two out of Three Falls Match with Sheamus.

The key is that Bryan needs to have at least one fall go in his favor. It is rare that a competitor doesn't get at least one fall in that type of match.

The real key for Bryan will be to make the match last and convincingly gain a fall over Sheamus. A Brogue Kick and a loss at WrestleMania in just 18 seconds cannot happen again to Bryan. It would also harm his stock if it was the temper of Sheamus causing a disqualification for Bryan's fall.

He needs to legitimately defeat Sheamus at least once. It keeps him in the running for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Tonight is very important for Daniel Bryan's career, just like it was in July at Money in the Bank. Both matches happen in Chicago, a city that is very supportive of independent wrestling and will not simply cheer for a baby face simply for being a baby face.

In fact, despite Sheamus being pretty popular with fans, don't be surprised to hear boos for the face champion, due to Chicago's usual pro-heel attitude.

Bryan needs a good showing at Extreme Rules to keep his momentum going. The cheers will not disappear, but his chances at being a world champion may.

A blown chance for Bryan could kick him straight out of a title race and link him along with other very popular superstars without chances. I'm looking at you, Zack Ryder.

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