This pop would be absolutely huge! Ever since Daniel Bryan has been out of action, all anybody can say is how much they miss him. Fans spent years trying to establish Daniel Bryan as a star, seemingly with some resistance from the WWE; but the fans remained vigilant and bullish. They were going to make Daniel Bryan the guy if it killed them. It all culminated at WrestleMania 30, where he captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, cementing his place atop the WWE. A place the fans had wanted to see him for years. Then he got hurt. Hes been out for the majority of 2014, and while his absence isnt the reason for the post Summerslam doldrums in the WWE, its impossible to deny that it isnt a big part of why its been hard to get into anything the WWE is doing. Which brings us to what his return pop will be. It will be loud, it will be frenzied, it will be long and it will be monumental. Hes been out since May but it feels like hes been out for years. The fans want to chant for him, but cant because hes not around. The circumstances of his absence are tragic, which only lend to the story of redemption waiting to be told upon his triumphant revival. His music isnt the greatest, but in this case it matters very little, because the man himself, and everything he represents to the fans is what matters most. Which brings us to the element of surprise. Weve all got the Royal Rumble tentatively circled on our calendars because that would be the perfect place to bring back Daniel Bryan. Last year he was held out of the match and the fans booed Batista as much for Daniel Bryans absence as they did for their disapproval of his character. Its poetic to have Bryan be the one to return triumphant at the Royal Rumble; but its almost too perfect. It all but kills the surprise right? Not if you make when he appears in the match a surprise. If you have him return to the ring as one of the first 3-4 entrants, fans will be surprised at his entry and go absolutely ballistic. You can sustain that moment of excitement through the entire run if it were done this way. Daniel Bryans return could be the biggest of anybody on this list, mainly because he has a secret weapon, the Yes! chants. Those chants will echo through whatever arena he returns in, and the moment will be one that echoes for the ages.
Matthew J. Douglas is an emerging screenwriter born in Toronto. A lifelong fascination with what makes a compelling story and the Toni Morrison quote "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." led the often opinionated Matthew to the life of writer. Matthew is also a lifelong WWE fan, and a self diagnosed Reality TV Junkie.
