Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar Is a Dream Match for Fans and Former Champion

Daniel Bryan wants what a litany of other fans want—for him to bring his frenzied, impassioned style in the ring against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31.

With all apologies to Roman Reigns, that's the far better bout from an in-ring, storyline and timing standpoint.

WWE is at a crossroads in terms of whom to have emerge from the Royal Rumble with their hands raised in victory. It can either crown Reigns as the next big thing by letting him knock off The Beast Incarnate or have Bryan triumph at two straight WrestleManias.

The latter scenario essentially lets him pick up where he left off before neck surgery took him out of action last year.

We know what direction Bryan wants to go in.

In an interview this summer, he told MTV UK, "One of the things that kills me about this is if I were champion right now, I'd be wrestling Brock Lesnar and that's the match I've always really wanted. I feel that we could do something completely different that people [wouldn't] have seen before."

"That's the match, I really, really want," he said.

He's not the only one. Before Bryan announced that he would be healthy enough to return for the Rumble taking place on January 25, Reigns felt like the only option for Lesnar. Bryan's return had his fanbase erupting once more, envisioning him walking into the spot previously assumed to belong to Reigns.

Mick Foley was among the many envisioning a clash between the fearless underdog and the predator with MMA credentials.

Foley posted on his Facebook page that Bryan vs. Lesnar was the match he wanted to see, writing, "Give Paul Heyman free creative rein to bring out the best in Daniel Bryan—and for the WWE Universe to bring out the best in themselves—and we have got ourselves a compelling Mania main event."

The Hall of Famer has the right instinct here. Pitting Reigns against Lesnar is the better choice in terms of creating a new star, but Bryan vs. Lesnar is the more entertaining option, the bout likelier to be an all-time classic.

Juxtaposition powers that showdown.

There is of course the David-versus-Goliath element to work with. Bryan is generously billed as 5'10'' and 210 pounds. His potential opponent is a freakish athlete, built like something out of a comic book at 6'4" and 266 pounds.

Credit: WWE.com

Thinking of Bryan taking on Lesnar, one immediately flashes back to how great Eddie Guerrero vs. Lesnar was in 2004. 

There would be more to this match than small hero versus big villain, though. There's a naturally explosive dynamic to exploit here.

Lesnar is compiling resentment as the champion who doesn't appear often, who rarely steps into the ring. The Royal Rumble will mark the powerhouse's first match since September despite the fact that he is the reigning, "defending" heavyweight champ.

On the flip side, Bryan has been known as the company's workhorse.

Per CageMatch.net, he worked a total of 192, 213 and 228 events a year in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Lesnar, meanwhile, has wrestled just nine times combined since 2012.

Beyond just how often Bryan strapped on a pair of boots, he won fans over with a reckless in-ring style that finds him throwing himself at opponents. One can feel his passion with every one of his moves.

WWE can easily turn that into a storyline. Pit the pampered star against the people's champ, the man who is possibly on his way to UFC again up against the man who has given all of himself to pro wrestling for decades.

What about Reigns, though? There's an argument to be made for putting him in this spot. His "it" factor and look are of the highly marketable variety.

And it's clear WWE is high on him.

However, it's unclear what kind of match he and Lesnar would have. Reigns' resume isn't flush with classic matches. Bryan's is.

Bryan produced magic against CM Punk at Over the Limit 2012, wowed against John Cena at SummerSlam 2013 and, in one night, put on two of the best WrestleMania matches in recent memory last April.

Credit: WWE.com

Imagining what he and a talent like Lesnar could come up with is enough to leave a fan salivating.

There are also questions about whether Reigns can handle the company's top spot. His mic work is progressing, but at times it's painfully awkward. He's still raw overall, especially compared to the well-traveled Bryan.

There is no question about Bryan's readiness.

It's his health that will have WWE hesitant to put the belt on him. The last time it wrote a fairy-tale ending for him, he had to hand over the belt and spend a good chunk of time in physical therapy. After having his neck surgically repaired, he enters a battle with a powerful man known for working stiff.

Reigns' neck is just fine.

So in that way, Reigns is the safer choice. The safer route is rarely the funnest one, however.

Before the Royal Rumble kicks off, WWE has to decide if it wants to stick with its original thought of crowning Reigns or go with a once-in-a-lifetime dream match. Sometimes you just have to tear up plans. Sometimes fate does the planning for you.

Fate has brought Bryan back just in time to enter the Rumble and begin the road to WrestleMania.

The best move here is not to try to force stars to align, but roll with the magic that Bryan would create opposite Lesnar.