Is WWE pulling the ultimate swerve with Bryan?

[RIHT]

With so many rumors about tons of different WM main events, it's been implied for months that Bryan won't win the Rumble or be in. We as fans have generally come to know that WWE shakes it up when we want the obvious result, and keeps it clean when we don't. Well, with so many believing Batista's going to win and how obvious it will be, do you think WWE (who threw out a huge long-term storyline just to turn Bryan face again because of how much we love him) will actually have Bryan win it all? I think the consensus is that he should, so I won't really address that. I mean, come on. It's too clear to be clear. Who was driving the car that Orton escaped in? Why would Batista really return when he did? Even if it was leaked, WWE could've played it off as a mistake in advertising and just ignore it. Bryan's been main-eventing Raw essentially for 6 months! People seem to ignore the other "newz" that Vince loves Daniel Bryan and think he's a star. Shawn Michaels seems to approve of him. Cena does, too. So does Austin. If Bryan didn't win the Rumble (they'd be brain-dead to not put him in at all, and I think he will be in it) after being eliminated by Batista, for example, the crowd would shit on it worse than the lovechild of Night of Champions, Battleground, and Survivor Series 2013.

So, what do you think? I'm anxious to see what will happen, but I really think WWE could easily pull the swerve. I really think WWE SHOULD easily pull the swerve. Bryan is over. He should be the next star. They screwed up with CM Punk (I don't care how many days he held the title or how many shirts he has, he had too much potential wasted), and they've given Bryan the shortest end of the shortest stick time after time, yet he's come back stronger and stronger. WWE needs to capitalize on him winning the title. WWE can still get buys from featuring Batista on the show. Why waste the title match and main event? They could've done it with Rock and Cena the past two year, too, but I think that was Vince wanting to see it more than just wanting to see the money.

It's the 30th Anniversary of WWE's greatest creation. Do they want people to remember a middle-aged alumnus closing the show when he'll only be around for another year or so, or do they want to embrace the future of pro-wrestling and leave us with a moment we'll remember 30 years from now? WWE isn't that stupid..... right?

[paywindah]

Jan 25, 2014 19:40:49 GMT -5 RIHT said:

WWE isn't that stupid..... right?

Of course they are. They've proved it time and time again. When they actually make the right move in a situation like this it's downright shocking because of how rare those occurrences are.

[thelonewolf527]

No they aren't, nor are WWE a bunch of idiots for not giving him the main event like all of you seem to think

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

All I know is to expect anything when it comes to Bryan.

[kamero00]

I hope so, but not knowing if Dbry is in the Rumble is kind of stupid.

[Deleted]

I don't know man. If they are, it's extremely meta and doesn't make sense from Bryan's character's standpoint, but effective. If Bryan was announced for the Rumble, given his path since Summerslam, it would feel pretty obvious that he was winning. The only real intrigue of the whole damn event is "is Bryan in the Rumble?" I can see Kane hoooking him up with a spot and drawing the ire of Triple H who makes Bryan defend the title shot in the Elimination Chamber or something.

[Kayfabe FAN don't want none]

[An Old Villain]

Jan 25, 2014 20:41:00 GMT -5 @lovehater said:

I don't know man. If they are, it's extremely meta and doesn't make sense from Bryan's character's standpoint, but effective. If Bryan was announced for the Rumble, given his path since Summerslam, it would feel pretty obvious that he was winning. The only real intrigue of the whole damn event is "is Bryan in the Rumble?" I can see Kane hoooking him up with a spot and drawing the ire of Triple H who makes Bryan defend the title shot in the Elimination Chamber or something.

Which would make sense given Kanes "monster" promo the night Bryan sat atop the cage.

[Toates Madhackrviper]

Personally I choose to remain faithful that the WWE will do the right thing with Daniel Bryan until Wrestlemania is over. Cautiously faithful though, because I also don't want to set myself up for disappointment.

But yes, I think the newz reports are false leaks the WWE is putting out to keep people off the trail, and I think Daniel Bryan is winning the rumble and Main Eventing Wrestlemania and winning the title.

[Chip]

I do believe the rumoured matches are fake leaks. It's not even got anything to do with Bryan, it's more that Cena's match seems so thrown together and random that I struggle to believe that that's the best they have for him. On top of that I don't think even WWE sees main event status in an Orton/Batista match, I don't think Orton's even going to still be champion come Mania seeing as he lost to Kofi clean, is rapidly losing the backing of The Authority and has Cena and f***ing Lesnar to get past, even if he does get past Cena I don't think they will do a heel/heel matchup with Lesnar, if it ends up being a one on one match that is. So much of that card seems kinda easy to tear down based on what we are being presented on a week to week basis that it really doesn't feel like they are building to any of those matches but one, Batista/Orton which may not even still have the belt

[angryfan]

Storyline logic and booking the "underdog" says he's got to win the damn thing. Thing is, it's their other decisions that just make me say "Nah, wont' happen". Batista's coming back, and did the old "Gimme back my title" promo. That means three of the "top guys" all have backstory that the company will and has brought up repeatedly.

Cena is also gunning for "his" title, and he's still the top babyface. He's the modern Hogan, and since no way Hogan gets cleared to work, they have to do something with him.

Lesnar, if he doesn't work Taker, has to do something in the show. He's a big money guy, and a "legend" in the same sense Batista is. He's also got mainstream cred. Thus, they have to use him in some way, and he ain't curtain jerking.

Yes, we could see Bryan face Triple H or HBK. Sure, no one's last match is their last match, but with Shawn, it seems like there's a better chance with him. With Trips, sure the match would be good but even if Bryan wins the match, we'll just see the "I'm still standing, Bryan's not on my level, he can't touch me" promo that he basically did with Taker. Oh, and that makes the big assumption that he even loses the match.

Bryan doesn't need to "close the show", he doesn't need to beat the streak and make everyone tap. However, if the goal is to build new stars, to make those new stars legitimate, showcase them, and then use those stars to do that making money thing that the kids are doing these days, then they damn well HAVE to let him triumph, and it's either going to be at Mania or a throw-away show.

Austin didn't beat Bret, but the match was legendary for him. However, that's because they did something with him after the match, and showed it to be an important event.

If they wind up having Bryan beat Trips, the scenario that seems the most likely, will we see the man who put over Batista and played up how badass the man is? Or, will we see the aging part timer who, after losing to Taker, cut a 20 minute promo to "get his heat back" about how he really won and how he's better than Taker is?

[Kevin Hamilton]

No. And yeah, if they don't go with the most over guy on the roster, that's a dumb decision. It may not, hell it probably won't affect em long term, but it's still a dumb decision if they don't.

[Sparkybob]

I just like to remind people that a big moment doesn't have to happen at Mania. Yes Mania has been framed in our minds as the star making event but lately we have seen Mania being used as the big event for stars to appear and casuals to speech.

I mean Eddie's big moment happen at No Way Out and it was still a very memorable moment. Bryan winning it in his home area at Extreme Rules will probably still be a huge moment and loads of yeses being chant everywhere on the internet. I'm not saying he shouldn't main event Maina or people are wrong to be upset with the chance Bryan being in a mid card match, but for me personally I think he will get his moment. He will get a proper reign in due time and have some awesome matches.

This is just 1 man's opinion though.

[RIHT]

Jan 25, 2014 21:33:52 GMT -5 Sparkybob said:

I just like to remind people that a big moment doesn't have to happen at Mania. Yes Mania has been framed in our minds as the star making event but lately we have seen Mania being used as the big event for stars to appear and casuals to speech.

I mean Eddie's big moment happen at No Way Out and it was still a very memorable moment. Bryan winning it in his home area at Extreme Rules will probably still be a huge moment and loads of yeses being chant everywhere on the internet. I'm not saying he shouldn't main event Maina or people are wrong to be upset with the chance Bryan being in a mid card match, but for me personally I think he will get his moment. He will get a proper reign in due time and have some awesome matches.

This is just 1 man's opinion though.

Eddie's big moment was followed by a great match at WM, which, along with Benoit's win, became one even bigger moment. Bryan should definitely win the title at WM, though. Unless they did it like TLC where Ryder, Punk, and Bryan all won titles, which isn't likely with one world title, Bryan should have his moment at WM, or it's not worth having at all at this point. Either finally go big, or just let us off easily and go home.

[jdsnelson]

I hope so, I really do. But if not I'm still a fan and I'll still watch. WWE will still keep Bryan as a focal point. Who do you think they'll go to when Cena, Lesnar, Taker, H, Batista, heck even Punk disappear?

[Deleted]

If they are, they're doing it wrong.

You don't swerve people into thinking "Bryan's not going into the Rumble, not going to bother buying it".

If he ends up being in it as a surprise...you still don't have those folks' money.

[RedSmile]

Jan 25, 2014 20:44:17 GMT -5 Kayfabe FAN don't want none said:

Wow even Russo is looking doubtful.

Sign of the times, or has watching the Knicks started to take its toll?

[Deleted]

Yes. Ive been saying it for a while. Bryan is winning the rumble. Its all a work

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Jan 25, 2014 21:48:15 GMT -5 RedSmile said:

Jan 25, 2014 20:44:17 GMT -5 Kayfabe FAN don't want none said:

Wow even Russo is looking doubtful.

Sign of the times, or has watching the Knicks started to take its toll?

Even he's not sure what the hell they're going to do.

[SEAN CARLESS]

Jan 25, 2014 19:57:28 GMT -5 thelonewolf527 said:

No they aren't, nor are WWE a bunch of idiots for not giving him the main event like all of you seem to think

He was never going to be in the actual Main Event. But yes, him not getting the WWE Title at Mania is overwhelmingly stupid for reasons that have already been explained to you ad nauseam. Your sheer stubbornness to accept the reality that he's popular and that by proxy people might be upset (justifiably so) if he's just in some throwaway midcard match after all their emotional investment does not make it any less true.