10 Reasons Daniel Bryan Will Not Be WWE Champion After SummerSlam

6. Smaller World Heavyweight Champs Usually Receive Short Runs

When it comes to smaller world champions, the WWE certainly has a checkered past. During the early years of the company, it would have been inconceivable to book a smaller competitor as the heavyweight champion. That has changed a bit in years past, but the company still has a tendency to favor larger competitors, which is likely part of the reason why Daniel Bryan was not originally part of the WrestleMania main event plans, despite the fact that he was the most over superstar on the roster at the time. There have been smaller competitors who have captured the company€™s top prize, including Shawn Michael, Chris Jericho, and Rey Mysterio. Others have not been so lucky, however, as many of the best small wrestlers in the company€™s history, such as Ricky Steamboat, never had an opportunity to carry the strap. Even when small superstars occasionally do break through, their reigns do not usually last long, as was the case with Rey Mysterio when he won and lost the WWE Championship on the same night. CM Punk was an exception when he held the title for 434 days, but he did not headline most pay-per-views during his reign because the company was unwilling to fully commit. Ultimately, the WWE rarely pushes smaller superstars to win the heavyweight championship. They did not want Bryan to be the face of the company, and likely still feel the same way.