So I'll be the first to admit, I wasn't a huge Daniel Bryan mark back during his first major title run, I didn't like him on NXT, and I don't watch any independent promotions so I never knew him as Bryan Danielson. But 2013 has quite literally been the year of Daniel Bryan, and what has pissed me off more than anything is that Vince, Triple H and co seem determined to make 2014 the year that is not about Daniel Bryan. Bryan started 2013 well, he was tag-team champion with Kane in one of the best teams to come along in recent years, Team Hell No, then when they broke up and his singles career started (again) he seemed to be one to wander around in limbo unsure of where to go next. But then the delightful John Cena (who is actually known for trying to get younger talent over himself) picked Bryan as his opponent for SummerSlam, which was great Bryan deserved it. But if, like me, you were skeptical, you had a good right to be, I was almost certain Cena would lose...I was wrong.
Bryan won clean and solid at SummerSlam and became WWE champion, but of course, as usual, our skepticism wasn't totally off the mark; Triple H screwed Bryan so Orton became champion. I hope I'm not the only one who thinks there seems to be some sort of backstage grudge against Daniel Bryan for getting over without their help, because again Bryan won clean at Night of Champions only for some ridiculous storyline to come into play where he was stripped of the title again. Then at Battleground...no contest...then at HIAC, HBK screws him....it just goes on and on...and now he's not even in the title picture. It seems like a ridiculous, petty thing from Triple H that he feels the need to not only physically bury Bryan on every chance he gets, but also verbally mock him. Like when he mentions Bryan being the 2013 Superstar of the Year, he mentions it every time he mentions his name, like he's openly mocking him for the fans voting him. I imagine that Bryan made a big deal out of being SOTY and HHH probably said something backstage to him like "you know it's just a fan vote right? Not a real award" or something like that, he's that petty and shallow and he has to have his "boys" Orton and Cena...and now Batista...on top of the pile.
Then of course the pettiness shone through again last week when Bryan joined the Wyatt Family...it was like "hey, he's the most over superstar in the company and didn't need our help to get it...we can't have that...let's ruin it and turn him heel". It is the most single pathetic thing I've ever seen happen to a popular superstar, I really hope I'm proved wrong and they have him turn on the Wyatt Family. My ideal scenario actually would be for Kane to save him, and Undertaker to return to save the both of them, then for the three of them to work a tag team with the Wyatt's at 'Mania, 'cause let's face it, Taker isn't getting any younger and has struggled to get through the first ten minutes of a match without wilting for the past few years, it would be a great match and a good payoff. In fact, my ideal scenario would be for Bryan to win the Rumble and Wyatt to dispute it as his title shot, that way the two can face off at Elimination Chamber and Bryan wins the title shot and faces whoever at WrestleMania.
The bottom line is Bryan has been treated like dirt these past few months, all because he got over without creatives help, hopefully I'm wrong and he hasn't fully turned and this Wyatt Family angle ends soon, otherwise the only reason he's involved is because he's got a beard, which is ridiculous.
Anyway, stay awesome,
Watch wrestling.
