Daniel Bryan Has Proved to Be Invaluable to WWE in Feud vs. Roman Reigns

Former WWE world heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan is one of the most popular Superstars in the industry today, and he is proving to be invaluable to the company in his current feud with Roman Reigns.

When Bryan squares off with Reigns in the main event of Fastlane, the WWE will be showcasing just how important he is to the success of the company moving forward.

Bryan’s value to the WWE starts with his in-ring performances. Just like Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels in the past, the company knows that every time Bryan steps in the ring, he will put on an incredible match.

Regardless of whom Bryan is fighting, he has the ability to tell a great story. Reigns is still learning the trade and needs to be walked through the process of having a memorable singles match. As shown from the in-ring psychology already used in this face vs. face feud, Bryan is doing everything in his power to make Reigns look like one of the top performers on the roster.

The WWE is trying its best to build Reigns as one of the cornerstones of the company moving forward, and Bryan’s willingness to not only work with him but also make him look strong at every possible moment proves he understands the nuances of the business.

One aspect of Bryan’s arsenal that was originally a question mark was his ability to cut promos, but he has improved so much over the last several years and is now one of the best talkers in the company. Whether it’s verbally attacking The Authority or adding to the commentary while Reigns wrestled, Bryan has become entertaining as a character.

With his talent in the ring and on the mic, Bryan has given the WWE the opportunity to put him up against almost anyone on the roster and have it be interesting with the right storyline. Bryan is the wrestling equivalent of a five-tool baseball player.

As great as Bryan is in the ring and on the mic, the support he gets from the WWE Universe is his biggest key to success in the main event scene. Reigns was booed heavily after the 2015 Royal Rumble, but the cheers for Bryan have saved the storyline.

In a recent interview with Ring Rust Radio, via the News of Delaware County’s Joe Arcidiacono, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels talked about what separates Bryan from the rest of the Superstars on the roster:

"

I think what separated him is what people see in him. They see a real love and a real passion in him. It doesn’t hurt when you find a very simple catch phrase or something that connects with people like the yes thing. It’s easy, it’s simple, and the fans connected with it so that doesn’t hurt.

For everyone that will jump down my throat for trying to take something away from Daniel I’m truly not. Clearly the nifty little catch phrases will not last long if you don’t have the ability to back it up and he clearly does.

I think they can see the genuine enjoyment he has for the job and that will always separate the long standing guys from the guys who are flashes in the pan. They know when you are doing it just for the money, and they know when you are a guy that would do it for free. I was once one of them, those guys are smart and you can see it in their eyes. It makes a huge difference.

"

Michaels is 100 percent correct about the “Yes” chant. While it is not the only reason for Bryan’s popularity, it has become a way to get the casual wrestling fans who don’t care about work rate or elite performances to get behind him.

Bryan is the ultimate underdog. With a predominantly blue-collar target demographic, the smaller Superstar has become the embodiment of the working class that enjoys the wrestling product. Against Reigns, Bryan will once again be fighting as the underdog.

The WWE Universe identifies with Bryan, and the support the fans show him makes him one of the most popular stars in wrestling and a huge asset to the company. Between merchandise sales and his mainstream cache, the WWE is making the correct decision booking Bryan to main event Fastlane.

Win, lose or draw at Sunday’s pay-per-view, Bryan is guaranteed to put on arguably the best match of the night despite the limited skills of his challenger. Bryan will make Reigns look like a legitimate contender throughout the bout and build suspense to the finish with his in-ring psychology.

The result will be an unforgettable match that sets the stage perfectly for WrestleMania 31, proving once again just how much value Bryan has to the WWE. While he doesn’t look like the prototypical Superstar, Bryan is everything the company wants from a top draw and more.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW).

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