Daniel Bryan: How Raw 1000 Did Not Do Him Any Favors in the WWE

I’m amazed at how quickly things change in the WWE.

The weeks ago we are celebrating a tremendous Money in the Bank PPV where Daniel Bryan and CM Punk gave us one hell of a match, maybe the match of the year.

Two weeks ago, CM Punk changes the course of the WWE and we have a new Raw general manager in AJ, which on both accounts changes the course and direction of Daniel Bryan and the path he will now take as a possible midcard wrestler and non-factor in the WWE Title hunt.

Weren’t we just talking about Bryan as one of the best in the business today? Weren’t we comparing the “oompah loompa” with the likes of Chris Benoit and Bret Hart?

How can this be?

Bryan’s fall from graced, where he could not capture the WWE Title after three attempts with Punk should not cause the former World Champion and Indy great to tumble so far. There is still room at the top, and while Punk is demanding success and respect for his WWE Title, the idea of John Cena and Big Show chasing him for the title makes a world of sense, but Bryan should also be added to the list, a short list, of true contenders.

Three is great but four is always better than three.

By AJ becoming general manager and Kane challenging Bryan at SummerSlam (which is a great match by the way), it diminishes Bryan’s accomplishments. It also doesn’t do anything to Kane’s status either, where the Big Red Machine should deserve title contention.

Maybe we should open that cauldron up a bit and make it a five-man race for the WWE Title?

Bryan wrestled John Cena on Monday night in what I thought was an amazing match. If Cena’s expressions were true to form and not part of the act, he found out for the first time just how great Bryan is in the ring and as a mat technician. Those are the types of matches we want to see and expect week after week. And this should not change Bryan’s status as a main-event star.

Now getting rid of the ugly goat beard and the “No, No, No!” gimmick is another issue all together.

I’d like to think the Punk/Bryan feud could go another few rounds or there could be a way for the two meet in the middle and maybe work together for the greater good (or evil) as they see it.

The “crazy” angle works with AJ, but does not work with Bryan, and if the WWE is going to use this program for a while, it will not help Bryan in his quest for greatness; it can only hurt him as one of the true WWE superstars there are in the company.