WWE: Daniel Bryan's Is Becoming "The Guy" in Sports Entertainment

Last summer was the summer of CM Punk, but 2012 is the year of Daniel Bryan.

In two years, Daniel Bryan went from fired to main eventing Raw against John Cena.

A year and a half ago Bryan was the guy some people knew as the independent sensation. Now he garners a reaction from arenas only second, and sometimes not second, to John Cena.

Keep it simple stupid.

Like or don't like Cena, he evokes reaction from everyone. Its easy to follow along. You either say “Let's go Cena” or “Cena sucks," and everyone picks a side. Nobody is going to the bathroom during his segments. They all want to take part in the vocal struggle.

Daniel Bryan's “Yes” chants took off. The audience loved to do it. So, when the audience wouldn't stop chanting it, to keep on the opposition from them the heel Bryan switches to “No.”

Fans point their fingers in the air when chanting “Yes.” Bryan responds with fingers pointing down for “No.” WWE made money off of “Yes” merchandise and now they can profit by adding “No” merchandise.

Even Bryan's look. He got ride of his generic, clean shave look. The beard gets a reaction. Its easy to identify him. Goat face is more marketable than baby face.

Bryan's rise to top star level goes beyond one word chants and facial hair.

I can't recall a WWE talent improving their verbal skills as much as he has in a two year period. Once he was labeled as a great wrestler who was otherwise bland. Now he arguably has more personality than anyone else featured weekly on WWE programming.

In the last year, CM Punk's had great success, and I'm not taking away from his accomplishments. CM Punk managed to get the entire WWE audience and management to recognize him as a top guy.

CM Punk got everybody to turn and look at him. He was no longer just another guy on the roster. He got recognized for his abilities in the ring and on the mic. I feel like CM Punk swung the curtain open and now his talents are there for all to see. In one promo and build to a pay-per-view―it was a mass rush of attention and recognition that this guy needed to be a top guy. Since then, he has been a top guy and WWE Champion.

Daniel Bryan on the other hand has been a slow burn, who keeps pulling a new trick out of his hat. Just when we think there is no more curtain to pull and we must have seen all of his tricks―we see something else.

He has the underground supporters of Bryan Danielson. He has the attention from all the WWE universe as Daniel Bryan. Soon, mainstream media is going to say his name when Charlie Sheen begins making appearances on WWE programming. He's become a WWE guy. He's become must see television.

The best bell to bell performer. He has everyone's attention when he speaks. He's a marketing golden goose. Respected backstage by his peers. He's the total package.

I've heard worry of Bryan always being subject to demote back down to mid-card matches. What those who say that don't realize, is that that's impossible.

Jack Swagger can win a world championship and fall back down into mid-card obscurity like he has.

Zack Ryder can get to great popularity heights and fall back into mid-card obscurity, if he even gets on television.

The Miz can win WrestleMania against John Cena, but when his routine is the same tired one, the rest button gets pushed and he eventually is holding the Intercontinental championship.

Daniel Bryan isn't going to be demoted back down the roster. From this point on, if a “mid-card talent” begins to work a program with Daniel Bryan, then they're no longer “mid-card talent.”

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