Braun Strowman Inexplicably Turning into WWE's New Version of Daniel Bryan

Braun Strowman is The Monster Among Men, and he proved it once again on the January 29 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. Strowman faced Kane in a Last Man Standing Match, which ended when Strowman flipped the commentary table on top of Kane, leaving him for dead.

Once again, Strowman's power was on display, and once again, the crowd popped for him. The fans want him, and WWE seems to want him as well, but so far, no one seems to know what's happening with him. The same could once be said of Daniel Bryan.

Bryan and Strowman don't seem to have much in common at first glance, but the situation currently happening on Monday nights does seem to be reminiscent of what happened back in 2013.

Bryan was red-hot and rising in the ranks every week on WWE programming. Fans loved him and supported him through his entire run that year. They wanted to see him in the ring, and they wanted to see him win. He was an attraction that gained traction because of crowd support, and he grew organically from the ground up.

But every time Bryan got close to the top, he was pushed back to his spot. WWE used The Authority to keep Bryan docile, but fans saw past that. They knew that the company was keeping Bryan where he was, though they didn't know why. Was Bryan not being featured in the main event because of his size? Did WWE believe he truly did not have what it took to succeed?

Did WWE have any idea how to book Bryan in the first place? Was a master plan in play, or was there a plan at all?

This is Strowman's reality right now. No one can deny that Strowman has the "it" factor. He's a natural for the business, and though he's not a ring technician like Bryan, he is arguably the best big man in the business today. Fans believe in him and react to him even when the rest of the card around him is weak.

The crowd never seems to tire of him, and every time he's on camera, it's obvious that he's in his element. Strowman is comfortable in the ring and even on the mic, where no one thought he would succeed. Strowman is the Superstar that fans want to see, and he has made a connection that every WWE Superstar dreams of.

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He's in. The fans have accepted him. What more could anyone ask for?

However, just as with Bryan, Strowman does not seem to have a clear path ahead. He's already had three opportunities at the Universal Championship and failed to take the title in any of those matches. He's always just on the verge of getting over on the main event scene, yet he never quite gets there.

He took on Roman Reigns and did not stop until he had physically destroyed him. He held his own against Lesnar and looked like an equal rather than a victim. He's manhandled every opponent put in front of him, and he's pulled off one amazing display of power after another until fans now expect something big every time he's on TV.

Strowman has done more and been given more than Bryan was at this point in his career, yet he's no closer to the top than he was before. He's treading water just like Bryan was. Fans want to see Strowman take Lesnar down and are surely ready to see it happen any time WWE is ready. But every fan knows that WWE surely wants Lesnar versus Reigns at WrestleMania 34.

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If that happens, where does Strowman go from there?

WWE seems to be setting Strowman up as the eventual winner of February 25's Elimination Chamber match. If so, then Strowman gets a shot at Lesnar's Universal Championship. But if that happens, what are the chances Strowman actually wins the belt? Would fans accept a Triple Threat for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34?

Lesnar versus Reigns versus Strowman is perhaps not the match that many fans want to see. But then again, neither is Lesnar versus Reigns.

WWE didn't seem to want Bryan but kept him around because of the fans, who demanded he be on top. WWE built Strowman to be on top but will not put him there even though the fans want it. In both instances, a talent is working hard to get over, and in both instances, a talent is hitting a ceiling. No one seems to know why and no one can predict what's going to happen next.

Bryan fought against the odds and kept fighting until WWE could no longer keep him down. Strowman continues to impress in one match after another but then is reduced to just picking up heavy stuff to pop the crowd.

Is Strowman being booked as a fearless strongman just to wow the crowd the way Bryan was booked as the lovable underdog? Does the company believe this will be enough for Strowman or for the fans that support him?

Or is there truly a plan behind the scenes to elevate Strowman that the WWE faithful is just not privy to? Fans are surely hoping WWE says "yes" to that.

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