Wrestlemania XXIX: Punk, Bryan and How the Iron Man Match Could Happen

Let me get right to the point: CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan in an Iron Man match could be the main event at WrestleMania.

It has been a dream bout for wrestling fans ever since Bryan made Jerry Lawler tap out to become Punk's opponent at Over the Limit.  Since that wrestling clinic in May, they have gone back and forth several times. 

Even with Kane and the affections of the current Raw general manager AJ Lee thrown in, the simple question of who is the better wrestler has always been the biggest issue between the two men.

WrestleMania XXIX is still more than half a year away, but I believe the seeds are being planted for something huge.  If you will indulge me, I am proposing a chain of events that could culminate in a match that hasn't happened at WrestleMania for over 15 years.

Shall we?

CM Punk: WWE Champion for More Than a Year

Everyone from Michael Cole to John Cena has made mention of how long Punk has been WWE Champion.  He continues to climb his way through the records, and I personally don't see this stopping any time soon. 

Now that he has a gray area in his persona regarding the level of respect for him and his WWE Championship, he is no longer worried about coming out a clean victor. 

Besides, he already holds victories as champion over Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan...the list goes on. 

The way I see it, Punk will not just keep the championship but make it a personal quest to make WWE programming focused on it, whether people like it or not.

Daniel Bryan Becomes a True Fan Favorite

I don't think there is a writer, producer or even wrestler who could have predicted the year that Daniel Bryan has made for himself. 

One episode of Raw in Miami turned a simple word into the most contagiously fun chant to use since Stone Cold Steve Austin did the same to a four-letter word that was not profane.

Now, the signs and shirts are everywhere.  They became so enthusiastic that Bryan has had to turn "Yes" into "No," which is only getting the crowds at live events more invested in whatever he does in and out of the ring. 

Sooner or later, something will happen (I honestly don't know what or how, but you are welcome to suggest it in the comments) that causes Bryan to embrace the love of the audience and use their energy to back him during his matches. 

With a new twist on "Yes" comes a renewed urgency in Bryan and a wave he can ride right into January.

Punk vs. Rock, Punk Wins and Proves Himself

CM Punk continues to call himself the "best in the world."  He demands respect for himself and the WWE Championship.  Outside of WWE, he has openly claimed to have never been a big fan of The Rock.

The Rock has himself a guaranteed WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble.  If Punk is champion come January, he will be dropping enough pipe bombs to leave craters in every city from which Raw emanates. 

The Rock has already beaten John Cena at WrestleMania and subsequently crossed Cena's name off the list in the book Cena alluded to during his empty-arena monologue from Boston. 

The Rock will lose to someone, and if Punk can do what Cena could not do, there will be almost nobody left to dispute who the best wrestler in the world is.

Almost nobody.

Daniel Bryan Wins the 2013 Royal Rumble

With the WWE Universe still buzzing about CM Punk's victory over The Rock, only one thing could upstage such a match: the Royal Rumble itself.

Daniel Bryan has already won and successfully cashed in a Money in the Bank contract.  Because the crowd will firmly be on his side throughout the Royal Rumble match, I can see him lasting a long, long time and managing to take an opponent twice his size (Mark Henry, Kane or The Big Show) out and over the top rope to secure his victory and a title shot at WrestleMania.

All the pieces on the board are now firmly set.  It is time to find out the answer.

Punk vs. Bryan: Who Is the Absolute Best in the World?

CM Punk and Daniel Bryan will both be in celebratory moods the night after The Royal Rumble.  Bryan will come out during Punk's victory speech, raving about having beaten The Rock and leaving no question as to who the best wrestler in the world is.

Punk, visibly agitated, will begin to berate Bryan but Bryan cuts him off.  A dialogue between them will ensue, with discussion of their crossing paths years ago in Boys & Girls Clubs and Legion Halls. 

They have both pinned and made each other tap out.  Before Punk can say he is the best, Bryan wastes little time letting everyone know which championship he wants. 

Bryan proposes to Punk that they do something that has not been done since WrestleMania XII, in a match featuring two men to whom Punk and Bryan have been drawing comparisons.  At WrestleMania XXIX, the world will know who is the best when the WWE Championship is decided in an Iron Man match.

That, my B/R readers, is my hypothesis.  I tried to stay away from too much "fantasy" ideas, because I wanted to stay in the realm of real possibilities.  I truly believe everything I wrote here has the chance of coming to pass. 

If you agree or think I'm full of crap, please let me know either way and we shall discuss.  Thank you again for taking the time to read!