Daniel Bryan Has Become WWE's Most Captivating Storyline on Road to Royal Rumble

Daniel Bryan's recent angle with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn has raised some interesting questions for SmackDown Live.

Is Bryan acting in the best interests of the blue brand, or is he going into business for himself? Is he neutral when it comes to doing his job, or will he show favoritism toward Owens and Zayn?

There's no doubt Bryan has become the most captivating figure in WWE, and it's because of this angle. The SmackDown general manager has always been one of the most popular Superstars in WWE, but he hasn't seen this much spotlight since he stepped away from the ring in early 2016.

Therein lies the intriguing part of this storyline. Bryan is no longer an in-ring competitor, yet he's becoming a focal point of SmackDown Live. That's not necessarily a bad thing; fans love Bryan, and he's more than capable of carrying any storyline given to him.

But as fans have seen in the past, authority figures on any WWE program have a penchant for getting physically involved. It doesn't always have to happen, and it should only happen if it serves the storyline. Pro wrestling may be predetermined, but it is most definitely a combat sport. Sometimes there's no other recourse than for a Superstar to throw hands.

However, Bryan is no position to get physically involved for any reason. Though fans would love to see him get back in the squared circle for a match, WWE has made it clear it's just not going to happen. This may not make the fans happy, and it surely does not make Bryan happy, either.

But considering how good Bryan was between the ropes, it's difficult to believe the company would keep him on the sidelines if he could physically contribute. It's evident Bryan's concussion history has caused WWE to keep him in a non-competitive role.

So where is all of this going?

Bryan is dominating the headlines in WWE, and he will be put in harm's way at Clash of Champions Sunday, when he acts as a special guest referee. Owens and Zayn will face Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura while Bryan attempts to maintain order.

But he will not be the only man wearing a striped shirt, as commissioner Shane McMahon will also serve as a special guest referee. 

There's a lot of opportunity for Bryan to get involved in the action. Is it going to happen? Is this angle leading to him doing something more, perhaps in the ring? Will Clash of Champions be the first step toward Bryan's road back to being an active pro wrestler?

The Royal Rumble takes place on January 28, 10 weeks before WrestleMania 34. That's plenty of time for Bryan to get going in the ring again and build a program that would culminate in perhaps one last match on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

That could come between him and Shane. If that is the case, then the primary leaders of SmackDown Live will go to war, and chaos will ensue. Regardless of what happens from that point on, fans would finally see Bryan compete in the ring again, and that's the point.

But what happens at the Royal Rumble is the key.

Assuming Bryan and McMahon do have some sort of implosion at Clash of Champions, the next major step for them could take place at the Rumble. They could hype the feud on TV every week preceding the event. But it's the Royal Rumble that holds the most intrigue. What if WWE doesn't wait until 'Mania to get Bryan back in action?

What if Bryan competes in the Rumble match? What if he wins it?

No one knows what WWE has in mind for Bryan. Perhaps he may never wrestle again and this storyline is leading to something different. Maybe the fans' desire to see Bryan once again shine in the ring will never be realized.

Maybe he is done.

However, there is no denying he's the most compelling character on SmackDown Live. He's bringing a level of realism and humanity to the program that only he can bring. Instead of rallying the WWE faithful against KO and Zayn, Bryan is approaching this angle from a different perspective.

He's not heeling out, but he's also not selling out, either. He's representing a neutral opinion and carrying himself like an authority figure. Fans can understand where he's coming from, and that's why this angle is working.

But it's not the journey that's sparked the conversation among fans; it's the destination.

There must be a payoff at some point. If Bryan is not meant to get back in the ring as a worker, then this storyline could lead to him either stepping down or getting fired as SmackDown GM. There's been little animosity between him and Shane, but that is likely going to change. If it does, Bryan could be moving to the next chapter of his WWE career.

However, until that next chapter begins, fans are surely enjoying the work Bryan is putting in, and that will likely never change.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online at boinkstudios.com.