Daniel Bryan, Shane McMahon Feud Seemingly Building to WWE WrestleMania 34

'Tis the season for WrestleMania.

WWE advertises the Royal Rumble as the beginning of the road to WrestleMania, but that may not be the case for SmackDown Live. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan are locked in an odd drama that seems to have them on a collision course for The Grandest Stage of Them All.

The road to Mania has apparently already begun for the blue brand.

The situation between Bryan and McMahon has evolved over the past several weeks, and many fans were curious in the beginning. Where was all of this going? Why was WWE seemingly pitting these two against each other? What was the reasoning behind it?

But now that Clash of Champions has happened, those same fans believe there can be only one course of action for the head authority figures of SmackDown Live.

This storyline is leading to a match. What else could it be?

The problem with simply "firing" Bryan on live TV is that it's been done before with other Superstars. Vince McMahon and Shane's sister Stephanie have both terminated talent on the air so many times it's actually expected now. Cross the boss and no mercy will be shown. 

Fail at your job and you get a pink slip.

Bryan has already endured the former of course. He was undoubtedly the biggest underdog that WWE has ever presented. Not only was he never the biggest guy in the ring, he was behind the eight-ball from day one. Bryan wasn't supposed to do anything more than just be a lower card guy.

But then he proved himself in the ring.

So he moved up and became a solid mid-card guy. He could have earned a comfortable living in that position as many Superstars before him had. But then fans began popping for him. That pop steadily grew into a demand.

The WWE faithful wanted Bryan. They not only wanted him, they needed him. There's always been something about him that connected to the fans, and it only grew stronger every time he spoke.

The crowd could see that he truly wanted it. The tone of his voice was both humble and kind, two traits that are not typical of pro wrestlers. Bryan had worked so hard to get to WWE and wanted success more than anything, but he was not going to change who he was to get it.

Fans saw that and latched on to it. They accepted Bryan for who he was and wanted more of him.

credit: wwe.com

But The Authority was there to stop him as art once again imitated life in WWE. The popular notion among fans was that the company didn't want Bryan on top. He was too small. He was not trendy and he was not ready. He could not carry the load that WWE's main event scene demanded, and, simply put, he was just not what they were looking for.

That belief became the narrative in WWE, and it built the foundation for Bryan's rise to the top. Of course, it was never that easy. Bryan had to fight for every opportunity he received, as being popular did not automatically open every door for him. However, once he really started to get over, WWE could no longer deny him, and that was thanks in large part to the fans.

Now it's going to be even tougher for him.

Assuming this angle between him and Shane is indeed leading to something big, fans have to believe that Bryan will once again lace up his boots. There's just no other possible direction now.

Bryan has done well in his role as SmackDown general manager, but that's not what he really is. Bryan is a professional wrestler and he's being positioned in a situation that can only be resolved in a pro wrestling match.

Shane has always appeared to be on Bryan's side since the two took the reins of the blue brand. But on the December 20 edition of SmackDown Live, McMahon gave the crowd a glimmer of the venom that's always flowed throughout his family.

For a brief moment, Shane was no longer the reasonable McMahon. He was the manipulative McMahon, determined to carry out his agenda even against a man he called his friend. That's the McMahon fans expect will eventually turn on Bryan and force the two into a WrestleMania ring.

WWE may have something else planned. Maybe the company's refusal to medically clear Bryan to compete has not changed and it never will. Perhaps this storyline is nothing more than a way to liven things up between Bryan and McMahon and nothing more. Bryan is a veteran and fully capable of making compelling television; he's done it many times before. So why not use his talents now?

However, any further controversy with Shane will surely not end well for Bryan. Misunderstandings and coincidences can only account for so much trouble. At some point, it could get personal between them, and maybe it already has. If Bryan does anything to step out of line, then McMahon may do something drastic. 

Bryan may not only be fired, he may be physically assaulted as well. 

The Authority threw every roadblock it could in Bryan's path. The Shield was used to keep him down. Kane interfered on multiple occasions. Randy Orton was protected at every turn. Just when it seemed Bryan was finally going to ascend to the top, he was sent crashing back down to earth.

If Shane delivers even a tenth of the misery that Triple H and Stephanie brought to Bryan before, then fans will once again bear witness to their favorite being put back in his place.

Bryan's underdog status has not faded, and neither has his popularity; both of which can spark the revival of his wrestling career. If WWE is on board and if Bryan is ready, then the next few months could be just as explosive as Bryan's run during the Yes Movement.

If the WWE faithful take hold of this as it did before, then Bryan will catch fire and get white hot. Once that starts, the company will not be able to stop it. If the plan is not to book Bryan versus McMahon at WrestleMania 34, then that could change quickly. WWE simply may not have a choice.

Bryan's rise to the top was not only organic, it was also unique. He proved he wanted it and worked harder than everyone else to get it. But the fans took the reins from there and did not rest until the company booked Bryan the way he deserved to be booked. Maybe history will repeat itself and it will all happen to Bryan now. 

The Yes Movement may once again take over WWE.

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