Only False Hope Awaits Daniel Bryan Fans at WWE Royal Rumble 2018

When you want to believe something bad enough, you will ignore logic and reason and cling to a pipe dream with a white-knuckle grip. That's how many Daniel Bryan fans will approach the possibility of the everyman warrior battling in WWE Royal Rumble 2018.

It doesn't matter that he hasn't wrestled since April 2015. It doesn't matter that head injuries forced him into an early retirement. It doesn't matter that he's the SmackDown general manager, not a Superstar, that he's not among the listed entrants.

The buzz about him not only entering but winning the 30-man Battle Royal continues to swell.

The betting numbers have stirred up speculation about the 36-year-old potentially stepping into the ring on Sunday's pay-per-view. OddsShark has the odds for Bryan (as of Thursday) at +350. That's the third best mark on the board for the men, above John Cena, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor.

Bryan-centered rumors percolate ahead of the big event in Philadelphia, too.

On Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez (h/t Jack Snodgrass of PopCulture.com) said: "I don't know what it is but clearly, someone had some sort of idea that involved Daniel Bryan winning the Royal Rumble."

Alvarez also said WWE has not cleared the former world champ to compete and he doesn't think Bryan is going to be the victor.

It's easy for the hopeful to zero in on the fact the idea was reportedly brought up and dismiss the other stuff. Suddenly Bryan fans channel Lloyd Christmas of Dumb and Dumber and think: "So, you're telling me there's a chance?"

Articles like this one from Sportskeeda have fans talking about a Rumble win for the leader of the Yes! Movement:

However, he's not going to be entrant No. 30 on Sunday. He's not going to be the match's Iron Man. He's not claiming a WrestleMania main event spot.

Bryan's concussions have scared off WWE from clearing him. Even when injury made his potential return that much more needed ahead of WrestleMania 32 and TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2017, management didn't budge. 

Outside doctors believe Bryan is fine. WWE's staff hasn't agreed. The company hasn't pivoted a millimeter on the issue.

The ongoing concussion lawsuit against WWE has to make it fearful to let Bryan bang his body around the ring again.

So even as mouthwatering as an AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan WrestleMania showdown would be, it's not happening. The SmackDown GM won't put on his wrestling boots again until his contract expires.

The fans who push back against that reality will be angry, disappointed and heartbroken when 30 men not named Bryan compete in Philly. It will be 2014 all over again.

Credit: WWE.com

A vocal, impassioned crowd came to the Royal Rumble that year with hopes set on the people's champ finally getting his just due. When it didn't happen, boos rained down on Batista during his victory celebration. And in 2015, when Roman Reigns—not Bryan—outlasted the competition, an uproar filled the arena again.

If one goes into the 2018 edition of the Rumble with a Bryan-or-bust attitude in spite of all the signs pointing toward him not winning, a gut-punch for the ages is coming.