Daniel Bryan Will Once Again Steal the Show at WrestleMania

Daniel Bryan recently returned to WWE in front of a Monday Night Raw crowd that was anxious to hear what he had to say.  The former WWE world heavyweight champion cut an emotional promo in which he declared that he's ready to compete and stated his intention to enter the 2015 Royal Rumble.

While many fans are undoubtedly anticipating Bryan's return to the ring on that night, the fact is that many more are likely already looking ahead.  After all, the Rumble traditionally puts the company on the road to WrestleMania, and the year's biggest pay-per-view is an event that will surely see Bryan steal the show once again.

2014 began as Bryan's year.  The man who some believed would never grab the proverbial brass ring had been behind the eight ball for quite some time against The Authority.  Triple H and Stephanie McMahon had done everything in their power to hold Bryan down for several months, but no matter what they did, he kept fighting.

Bryan had become the biggest underdog in recent WWE history.  The crowd was fully behind him, and he was the favorite to finally rise above The Authority's oppressive rule.  Despite those in power being against him, Bryan persevered.

And at WrestleMania 30, Bryan's persistence finally paid off.

credit: wwe.com

Bryan defeated Triple H, Batista and Randy Orton to become the new WWE world heavyweight champion.  On a night that was heavy with the drama of The Undertaker falling to Brock Lesnar, Bryan closed the show hoisting championship gold above his head.

And the crowd roared its approval.

Of course, the rest of 2014 did not go quite the way Bryan wanted.  The "Yes!" man went out with an injury, and WWE's feel-good story almost completely fell off the radar.  His future was unknown, and his return was in doubt.

But now he's back, and of all the Superstars in Vince McMahon's locker room, there may be no one more ready to steal the show than Bryan.

Despite how long he's been out of action, there is every reason to believe that Bryan is fully capable of getting back on track.  He has the innate ability to connect to the crowd due to his likeability and the energetic performance he brings to the ring.

Bryan is a technician in the ring, combining style with substance.  He is the blue-collar hero, the man who looks like a regular working-class guy but is able to electrify a crowd when he gets going in the ring. Many of his matches were considered to be among the best during his latest run.  He was famous for bringing the house down against opponents like Orton and CM Punk.

There was arguably no one better in WWE in the ring than Bryan, and his fans surely cannot wait to see him step back through the ropes now.

Of course, there is the question of just how he will look once he does get back in the ring.  Ring rust could be an issue, especially after the surgery that sidelined him for so long.  But if Bryan does indeed slide right back into the groove when he comes back, then the concern for his physical well-being could quickly become a thing of the past.

The Authority could become Bryan's future.

In a surprising turn of events, Triple H and Stephanie returned to power on the very same Raw that saw Bryan announce his comeback.  The man who dealt The Authority one of its biggest losses was expecting to come back to a new set of foes but instead has found himself in familiar territory.

So could this scenario lead to a repeat of WrestleMania 30?

Could the fact that Bryan and Hunter will once again be sharing the same air mean another showdown is on the horizon?  Will WWE actually run Bryan versus The Authority for a second time?  Bryan is a top face, and there is a lot of bad blood on both sides; the possibility that they will not cross paths at some point seems ridiculous at best.

Will fans go along for the ride this time?  Will they attach themselves to Bryan as they did in 2014 and follow him to WrestleMania 31 as he once again wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship?

With Lesnar as the champion, John Cena still the face of the company and Roman Reigns possibly ascending to the top, the fact is that Bryan's return to the title could be considered a long shot.  But even if it does not happen, Bryan should still receive a prime spot at Mania, and when he does, he will steal the show.

There is perhaps no one in a better spot to do just that.  Fans have been waiting to see Bryan get back to the ring, and there is no greater stage than WrestleMania to make an impact.  Bryan can be booked against anyone at this point, and the crowd should respond to him as it always has.  

As long as he's ready physically, Bryan should deliver as he always has.