An instantaneously recognizable performer who is universally accepted as a great talent and likely done everything they can feasibly do in WWE. No, we're not talking about Randy Orton. We're talking about Daniel Bryan. There's nothing greater that Daniel Bryan can do in WWE than what he achieved at Wrestlemania 30. Similarly, somewhere between punting Vince McMahon in the head and RKOing Stephanie McMahon in the build to wrestling Triple H at Wrestlemania 25, Randy Orton peaked as a WWE performer. Orton's role in The Authority was great because of this, as he was literally the absolute last person that any fan could appreciate as champion, thus giving his title matches great heat. Daniel Bryan needs to be a heel because as a babyface, he will forever be known as "that guy who one time was an underdog that made people believe in pro wrestling again." With no greater value to be found as a babyface, he's likely (just as is Orton as a babyface after being the most vile heel of the past decade) much better off switching presentations.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.