WWE Should Elevate Bad News Barrett If Daniel Bryan Misses More Time with Injury

WWE may wish to send Bad News Barrett into obscurity while Daniel Bryan heals, but in this case, injury should instead create opportunity.

If Bryan can't compete at Extreme Rules or over the next few weeks, the smart move is to use that reality to bolster the storyline surrounding the Intercontinental Championship. Use Bryan's absence as motivation for Barrett, making it the impetus to an extended meltdown from the No. 1 contender.

That's how you make lemonade out of lemons, how you turn this into a star-making situation for Barrett. 

The Englishman was set to try to reclaim the IC title at Extreme Rules. It was a match with little build or buzz, but at least it was a pay-per-view bout, and the expectation was that it would feature some high-quality action.

That bout isn't certain to happen now. PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports that Bryan suffered an injury at a house show in Dublin last week, and the IC champ "is expected out of the ring for about four weeks."

There goes Barrett vs. Bryan.

Without the master of the Bull Hammer's current rival, though, WWE can still allow Barrett to shine.

Barrett had a motivation drought by the time he lost the title at WrestleMania. Losses and a silly angle where R-Truth and others stole the gold from under him left him looking like a bumbling fool.

This is a chance to remedy that so that when Bryan is healthy enough to compete, it will be against an improved Barrett. To that, begin with the bruiser's reaction to not getting the title shot he was promised.

Embracing Fury

At Extreme Rules, there's still space on the card for Bryan and Barrett. Using that to show off Barrett's anger and destructive power is the right way to go.

Have him come out to the ring after the announcement that his match is canceled. The announcer would then inform him that he will be fighting Fandango instead. The ballroom dancer sashays into the ring, where he is immediately greeted with a Bull Hammer.

Credit: WWE.com

Barrett growls into the mic that he deserves better than to battle some dancer. He's the rightful top contender to the IC crown. The more he expresses a desire to be champion again, the better. Hungry men pursuing it is key to making it more relevant.

Enraged, Barrett goes on a rampage. He lays out Fandango and suplexes him into the announce table. This way, he gets a big spot on this big stage.

It's easy to continue his story at this point.

Proving Himself

With Bryan out, WWE can focus on making Barrett look like a legit threat to the title. For now, he just feels like a guy who is getting a shot thanks to a contractual obligation alone.

In his last 10 bouts, per Cagematch.net (note: link contains SmackDown spoilers), Barrett is just 2-8. And one of those wins came on the little-seen Superstars. Including house shows, he has just a .267 winning percentage in 2015.

This is WWE's chance to turn things around for him. Tell a story of him preparing for his title match. Show him working in the gym, starting fights in barrooms and knocking over the competition in the ring.

Let him win a slugfest with Erick Rowan, steamroll Goldust and outlast Jack Swagger. Bolster his win-loss record while showcasing how frustrated he is about not getting his title shot yet. 

Bull Hammers for everyone.

If Bryan's not ready to go by Payback, the company can force Barrett to defend his No. 1 contender's spot for any number of storyline reasons. Maybe it's punishment for disrespecting The Authority. Maybe someone just riles him up to the point where he agrees to this stipulation.

Barrett can then add a big win to his resume before his collision with Bryan. 

Holding Up One End of the Feud

With Bryan's status unclear, WWE has just not shown much of Barrett on TV. Once a timeline is established, the company can work toward that bout with Barrett getting airtime aplenty in the process.

This is a great time to have Barrett get mic time. Just as he did in his interview with Byron Saxton, he can call Bryan out and keep the IC title in the discussion.

Let him describe to Renee Young what he wants to do to Bryan when he gets back. Allow him to interrupt a Raw broadcast and tell fans that they better start counting down to the end of Bryan's reign.

WWE can bring back Barrett's podium shtick and have him deliver the bad news that Bryan is still injured. The Brit laughs at his rival's misfortunes and calls him weak and injury prone. 

There's a natural story to build around here. When Bryan returns, there should be doubt about his physical state. And the fact that Bryan's health is up in the air is made worse by the fact that a man so adept at hurting people is coming after him.

Suddenly, the IC title match doesn't feel like such an everyday bout. Barrett isn't just Bryan's victim; he's an angry, title-hungry heel given a chance to gain some real momentum.

Going this route makes Barrett stronger, keeps the IC title in the spotlight and turns Bryan's setback into narrative fuel.

Go ahead and let Bryan heal properly. Barrett can pick up the slack.