WWE Must Follow the Daniel Bryan Blueprint to Develop Next Big Star

Daniel Bryan's heartfelt retirement promo is still being felt among fans all over the world.  The Yes! Man walked away from the game far too soon, and the impact he made not only on WWE but the industry itself will surely be a lasting one.

But the show must go on for Vince McMahon's company.  While there is no replacing Bryan the man, there is the possibility of opening the door for the next top star to take the business by storm.  WWE needs only to follow the blueprint Bryan created.

It's not as easy as it sounds.

The key to making it work is not forcing the issue.  Bryan came up very organically over time and connected with fans on a very deep level.  The indy fame he brought with him helped somewhat, but he had to earn his way in with a WWE audience that wanted to see what he could do.

They needed to know he wanted it.

Fans want their heroes to be brave, daring and fearless.  They want a reason to cheer and support them because once they decide to follow them, they will follow them all the way to the top.  But they cannot be forcibly led to do it.

Fans are too smart; they can see that move coming every time.

Batista is a great example of this, as he initially came back playing the role of the returning hero in 2014. It became very evident that he was after Randy Orton's WWE Championship, and considering he had always been one of WWE's most popular Superstars, it was logical to assume fans would support his efforts.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Batista's character felt outdated, and his babyface run was forced on fans who just didn't want him. None of the goodwill he had from previously being in the company helped him at all, and soon the crowd turned on him in favor of Bryan himself.

Perhaps the most obvious example is Roman Reigns, who is still working to get over with fans despite having nearly two years to do so.

Like Batista, Reigns is not able to get enough of a personal connection to solidify himself as WWE's undeniable top babyface.  In both cases, fans were led to the man the company wanted to rule, and in both cases it just didn't work.

The suggestion can be made, but that's no guarantee it will be taken.

This is how Bryan succeeded where others failed. WWE never really suggested he be loved, much less noticed.  He was booked where needed and used where wanted, but there was never really a concentrated effort to get him up the ladder.  

Much in the same way "Stone Cold" Steve Austin first exploded with popularity, so too did Daniel. He was what the fans wanted, and they would not rest until they had him.

The lesson WWE must learn from this is Superstars must be allowed to grow and to develop over time—not overnight.  The Bryan blueprint is an open path to the top, but the right Superstars must be inserted for any of it to actually work.

Those Superstars must face enormous odds and be willing to keep getting back up despite how many times they're knocked down.  Fans have to feel they're taking the journey with them, they're helping them achieve their goals and their heroes appreciate the support.

Most importantly, they must feel they're part of the process.

Cesaro is a great candidate. WWE has never shown any serious commitment to him, yet fans have really embraced him in recent months.  Finn Balor is the biggest fish in the NXT pond, and it's only a matter of time until he hits the main roster; he could easily take off in terms of popularity.

AJ Styles has the indy background Bryan does and is in a good spot to possibly do big things.  Kevin Owens is a fan favorite despite being a heel and could very well be the next guy to ascend in WWE.

Dean Ambrose is maybe the prime choice to now fill the void Bryan leaves behind.  He has that connection to the fans, which could grow to new heights in the weeks before and after WrestleMania 32. Could he be next to rise up in WWE?

The fact is, several Superstars have the potential to be huge, but only if WWE gives them the time they need to evolve to that point.  Bryan was not forced into that role and neither can anyone who hopes to follow in his footsteps.

WWE can mandate who it wants as the next Superstar, but that won't make a difference. Positioning certain talents in specific spots is fine, but expecting the crowd to passionately care the way it did with Bryan is just asking too much and is inconceivable.  It's a lesson WWE is learning with Reigns, and that type of elevation must not happen again.

The blueprint is there and works; all WWE needs now is the right Superstar to follow it.

Tom Clark can regularly be found on Bleacher Report and his podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.