Interesting piece by Dave Meltzer about Reigns and Bryan

[Gravedigger's Biscuits]

"With Roman Reigns cleanly pinning Daniel Bryan in what was a hell of a main event on Fast Lane, it’s very clear that Vince McMahon is still planning on the scenario he’s probably had for probably one year, with Reigns beating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

Fan reaction at the Royal Rumble, and since the Royal Rumble, largely indicated that scenario was backfiring. Forgetting about Bryan, and forgetting about skill level or being ready or even talking ability, Reigns is nowhere near as over and doesn’t feel like he has anywhere near the momentum of the babyface who is going to chase and win the title on the biggest show of the year.

What’s notable is that 21 years ago, a younger Vince McMahon was in the same position, choosing between his own hand-picked next star of the company, tall bodybuilder Lex Luger, or one of the best in-ring performers of that time, Bret Hart. Historically, Luger was far closer to what McMahon liked his champions to look like. But Hart was more popular among the fans. Faced with the crowd reaction in the laboratory setting of a big show, the fans liked Hart more than Luger when they squared off. The WrestleMania original plan, Luger beating Yokozuna to win the title, was changed to Hart. Luger’s momentum was lost, and a little over two years later, working as part of a mid-card tag team he walked out on the company. Hart became the company’s biggest star, before he was gone more than three years later.

This time, McMahon went with the original plan. It was acknowledged that Reigns wasn’t over like he should have been. So they went to work. They brought in his cousin, Dwayne Johnson, to make his Royal Rumble win even bigger. But the miscalculation of putting Bryan in the Rumble made the whole scenario backfire, and even the endorsement of Johnson didn’t matter.

I thought I'd pass it on, found it a good read. Sad but very accurate.

EDIT: Apologies, but the original article is behind a paywall at the Observer. Can't post the whole thing here. -HMark

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

This was an excellent read and also a heartbreaker. I feel like one day we'll look back at Vince's decisions around this as some of the biggest mistakes the company ever made - especially because the generation coming up now are way more similar to Bryan than they are Roman Reigns.

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

The line about acceptance is me. I just don't care enough anymore. It was beaten out of me at the Rumble.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Yeah, acceptance is where I'm at too. It's a shame that he'll almost certainly never be the absolute tippy-top number one face of the company guy, but he's still having and will continue to have a very successful run in WWE.

Sure, you may not be Hulk Hogan. But there's nothing the f*** wrong with being Mr. Perfect.

[Deleted]

That is f***ing depressing.

[Deleted]

This should be the final word on the whole Bryan situation. It's all right there.

edit: well. WAS right there. Until that narc Crappler took care of it

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Feb 25, 2015 20:41:41 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

Yeah, acceptance is where I'm at too. It's a shame that he'll almost certainly never be the absolute tippy-top number one face of the company guy, but he's still having and will continue to have a very successful run in WWE.

Sure, you may not be Hulk Hogan. But there's nothing the f*** wrong with being Mr. Perfect.

I get what you're trying to say and I agree with the point but...that IS an issue when Mr. Perfect is more over than Hulk Hogan.

[Deleted]

I don't even feel bad as a fan or anything. I feel bad for Daniel Bryan. And yeah "he gets to bang Brie Bella and travel the world and do what he loves" and all that. But this is career, his life's work, he earned something and was told no because of, basically, his appearance, because one guy doesn't like how he looks and assumes everyone else won't. I've experienced that on a much smaller level, and my morale just plummeted, even though I kept a stiff upper lip and laughed it off. It's gotta bother him. I just hope it doesn't leave such a sour taste in his mouth that he doesn't enjoy performing anymore.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Feb 25, 2015 20:45:49 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Feb 25, 2015 20:41:41 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

Yeah, acceptance is where I'm at too. It's a shame that he'll almost certainly never be the absolute tippy-top number one face of the company guy, but he's still having and will continue to have a very successful run in WWE.

Sure, you may not be Hulk Hogan. But there's nothing the f*** wrong with being Mr. Perfect.

I get what you're trying to say and I agree with the point but...that IS an issue when Mr. Perfect is more over than Hulk Hogan.

True... All I can say in addition is that I hope Bryan doesn't let that get to him and that he's keeps fighting the good fight.

I mean, you never know. We act like we do, and with good reason based on our experiences as fans... but the fact is that for absolute certain, we don't. Reigns could flourish as champion or he could absolutely tank, and WWE will give him every opportunity possible for both.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Feb 25, 2015 20:51:41 GMT -5 @lovehater said:

I just hope it doesn't leave such a sour taste in his mouth that he doesn't enjoy performing anymore.

Here's the thing, I don't think Bryan is that bothered by it. He's displayed on many occasions that he doesn't have the ego of Punk, and as such is pretty content with not being the top guy, and perhaps even content not being a top guy. That in itself might be one of the factors why the company/Vince doesn't want to get behind him 100%.

[Deleted]

Feb 25, 2015 20:38:00 GMT -5 TWERKIN' MAGGLE said:

The line about acceptance is me. I just don't care enough anymore. It was beaten out of me at the Rumble.

...and for that to be the general consensus from a sizable part of their own fanbase?
...the people who pay money to watch your product?

Man...
No wonder they've been screwing around with dead crowds lately.

[BlackoutCreature]

Sometimes I hate that the WWE brought back Brock Lesnar. Now they have to jump through hoops to accommodate a guy who shows up for maybe 4 matches a year, cutting out the legs of guys who kill themselves week in and week out only to reach a certain ceiling not because management isn't behind them, but because the next logical step would be a World Title match that they can't have because they have to save those for something really important.

Bray Wyatt got screwed a lot worse in all of this then Daniel Bryan. If Lesnar wasn't around, Wyatt probably would've been the one to get the title after Bryan. If Lesnar didn't end the streak, this years Taker-Wyatt match would have a lot more interest going into it.

[stealthamo]

Feb 25, 2015 20:38:00 GMT -5 TWERKIN' MAGGLE said:

The line about acceptance is me. I just don't care enough anymore. It was beaten out of me at the Rumble.

Same here. After the Rumble, I accepted that they're going with their guy. Which also meant I'm not going to bother to watch anymore.

[PsychoGoatee]

Good read there, Meltzer makes a lot of great points. It is a pretty unique and kind of baffling booking situation we're in at the moment. I personally think we will see Bryan get a championship run sometime this year, maybe winning the belt off of Rollins. Take the pressure off of Reigns for a bit etc.

Random note, not to nitpick, but was Orton on top for 5 years? Plus doesn't most of that intersect with when Cena was on top? It also mentions Triple H being on top, but other than 6 months as a babyface he was heel for all those years right? He was the focal point of the show, but can a heel be considered the top guy? Also at times I think there just isn't one top guy in particular, and it can feel like reaching to say there always is one definitive top guy. Not really the point of his article, just some thoughts there.

[Deleted]

Feb 25, 2015 21:00:38 GMT -5 BlackoutCreature said:

Sometimes I hate that the WWE brought back Brock Lesnar. Now they have to jump through hoops to accommodate a guy who shows up for maybe 4 matches a year, cutting out the legs of guys who kill themselves week in and week out only to reach a certain ceiling not because management isn't behind them, but because the next logical step would be a World Title match that they can't have because they have to save those for something really important.

Bray Wyatt got screwed a lot worse in all of this then Daniel Bryan. If Lesnar wasn't around, Wyatt probably would've been the one to get the title after Bryan. If Lesnar didn't end the streak, this years Taker-Wyatt match would have a lot more interest going into it.

I've reached that spiteful stage where I like seeing Brock Lesnar jerk them around the way he is. I love CM Punk and AJ taking it to them. It's WWE's fault for thinking they can build an empire from the top down, they neglect what's right in front of them for cheap thrills and are getting what they deserve. They've let a lot of great talent pass them by because they didn't start the next boom period even though it's never ever worked like that before.

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

Feb 25, 2015 20:51:41 GMT -5 @lovehater said:

I don't even feel bad as a fan or anything. I feel bad for Daniel Bryan. And yeah "he gets to bang Brie Bella and travel the world and do what he loves" and all that. But this is career, his life's work, he earned something and was told no because of, basically, his appearance, because one guy doesn't like how he looks and assumes everyone else won't. I've experienced that on a much smaller level, and my morale just plummeted, even though I kept a stiff upper lip and laughed it off. It's gotta bother him. I just hope it doesn't leave such a sour taste in his mouth that he doesn't enjoy performing anymore.

By all accounts, Bryan is one of the most selfless guy on the roster. Sure here cares about his match quality, but he cares more about just being out there wrestling, regardless of his place on the card. He never wanted to be "the guy".

As for the Reigns thing, honestly I'll be shocked if his reign isn't pure trash. I'm not a hater, I'm not a "I'M NOT WATCHING FOREVER!" guy, but putting him in there with Kane and Big Show ft. Seth Rollins as his opponents..well I'll sell you my house if you can tell me why that's gonna be entertaining the slightest.

[Chainsaw]

Yes, we get it, Meltzer. The fans don't know the first thing about the business, and we'll never get anything we want. Broken record is broken.

This is why I'm glad I've found better things to do with my time on Monday nights. Pretty soon, I'll probably have better things to do with my Sunday nights once a month, too.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Feb 25, 2015 21:00:52 GMT -5 stealthamo said:

Feb 25, 2015 20:38:00 GMT -5 TWERKIN' MAGGLE said:

The line about acceptance is me. I just don't care enough anymore. It was beaten out of me at the Rumble.

Same here. After the Rumble, I accepted that they're going with their guy. Which also meant I'm not going to bother to watch anymore.

Seconded. WWE has some of my favourite talents in any era of wrestling, but what I want to see as a fan and what WWE want to sell to me are a significant distance apart.

[Jeff Mangum PI]

I'm going to sound like such a bitch for this, but I'm legit on the verge of tears right now.

[Dub H]

Same,i on acceptance,i will not support it,i accepted and moved on.I'm sure at some point i will get over it and return,because i like Roman,but not now,probably not soon