Daniel Bryan's Time?... YES!!

What a difference two years make...

Monday night on Raw, Daniel Bryan got his revenge on Bray Wyatt, turning on him and taking out his frustrations in the confines of a steel cage; warranting a huge 'YES!' chant from the Rhode Island audience; quite possibly the biggest one to date. As a fan, it made what hair I have left stand on end; a truly epic last few minutes to Raw and a reminder of why I watch: for moments like that.

Nearly two years ago, at Wrestlemania 28, Daniel Bryan lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in a record 18-second defeat. No champion should be treated in such a way, but remarkably, just like this summer, Daniel Bryan would grow further in popularity after losing a major title. That fateful Wrestlemania, the 78,000+ crowd would start a rapturous 'YES!' chant that would follow Bryan around ever since. For such a simple chant, it has helped to propel Bryan to where he belongs (almost), and has also made a statement when the WWE Universe feels aggrieved at what they have been given (eg, Orton vs Cena).

Bryan at Wrestlemania 28

Following on from this, Bryan would go through 2012 having standout pay-per-view matches with CM Punk before forming an unlikely alliance with Kane. Together, they would form Team Hell No and become Tag Team Champions. Despite holding the belts for just over eight months, the biggest achievements to come out of the team would be their connection to the audience, the comedy and entertainment that they provided, and most importantly, raising Bryan to an even higher level of popularity. It was natural, organic. It was something that I had not seen for as long as I could remember.

This past summer would see mixed results if you're a Daniel Bryan fan. Although he won the WWE Championship (twice), it never felt that he had made it. As JBL likes to put it, he had a 'cup of coffee' with the title. The back end of last years pay-per-views were frustrating to say the least and a, somewhat, demotion to joining the Wyatts seemed a further middle-finger to the fans. Now it seems that it was all an act to extract his revenge on Wyatt in a situation where Harper and Rowan couldn't help their leader.

This brings me to a theory that I like more and more, the more I read it...

The Big Red Conspirator

Generally, I hate predictions and random theories that the IWC come up with (even though I'm guilty of making them myself!). Most are more hope than logic. One that I have read on more than one occasion in the last week is that Kane is Daniel Bryan's 'inside man'. I really like this idea.

I'm now going to go into fan/mark mode to explain the ramblings in my head:

You see, Team Hell No didn't really have a definitive end in my book. Orton came between them towards the end before both Bryan and Kane stated their ambitions to become WWE Champion. Kane was then taken out by the Wyatts and was abducted, not to be seen for a couple of months. On return, he gained no revenge on the Wyatts for what they had done to him and offered his services to The Authority (specifically Stephanie). In the last couple of months in his role as Director of Operations he hasn't really offered much to be honest - this seemed very weird to me. When he has, it hasn't been that heelish, either. Yes, he did make both 3-on-1 handicap matches involving Bryan vs the Wyatts and Punk vs The Shield, but maybe both cases were to get to the point we find ourselves in today; Bryan getting behind enemy lines and Punk causing cracks in The Shield's united front. Maybe Kane is there to destroy The Authority from within?

Kane's abduction...

Regarding Bryan's handicap match; between them, Kane and Bryan would know that the Wyatts would be too much for Bryan and that he would have to be 'weakened' to the point where he would have no choice but to join them, making Wyatt believe that he is as all-powerful as he thinks he is. This then led to the Steel Cage match this Monday on Raw where the odds were surely in favour of The Usos, right? Kane would have possession of the key to the chained door of the cage. In this situation, apart from pinfall, the only way to win is over the top... therefore the quicker Usos were always going to have the advantage. Therefore, the reason for Kane having the key is so that once the Usos escaped, Wyatt would be alone in the cage with Bryan; with no back-up from Harper and Rowan. Enter revenge.

(I urge you to read Brandon Stroud's (@MrBandonStroud) Best and Worst of WWE Raw (link) as he gives his own unique, funny spin on this theory!)

I realise this could all just be coincidence and total crap, but it makes SENSE to me. It would be awesome if this scenario played out and Kane was looking out for his pal, but I suppose we'll have to 'wait and see' in the coming weeks... my perfect end to this theory would be Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania, in the main event, thus solidifying him as a top player, followed by a reveal on Raw the night after that Kane was behind it all. A huge story arc that would have a very rewarding and pleasing end to it. And in the twilight of his career, Kane would be responsible (in part) for making the next big thing.

In no way am I saying that WWE planned all this, it's kind of fell into their laps, though, if they choose to use it.

Ramblings over...

That Austin 3:16 moment...

Daniel Bryan's rise to the top this past summer was likened to Steve Austin's. That's a huge compliment but not too far fetched, in my opinion. Austin gave his acceptance speech at the King of the Ring tournament in 1996 and began his meteoric rise to the top; he was OVER and a little under two years later, he was given 'the ball' and ran with it - it was hugely successful. When you hear the name Steve Austin, it's usually up there with the other big names of wrestling.

The historic '3:16' speech from 1996

Bryan's situation is no different; at Wrestlemania 28, 'YES!' chants began and have echoed around arenas ever since. His popularity has gone from strength to strength and we are at a point where we have the biggest Wrestlemania to date on the horizon. This is the opportunity to make the next Steve Austin, or more appropriately, the first Daniel Bryan. I don't remember the last time that someone got the red-hot reactions that Bryan receives week after week and this must be capitalised upon.

I think we've got a very unpredictable couple of months ahead of us; there doesn't seem to be locked-in matches for Wrestlemania yet (only pencilled-in ones), and with the returns in the coming weeks and Daniel Bryan's freedom from the Wyatts, things are looking very positive and interesting. Add the introduction of the WWE Network next month and it is safe to say that it is a great time to be a wrestling fan.

@jimmosangle