5. The Future Has Been Sacrificed For The Past
In 2005 there was an up and coming star who was getting loud fan reactions, and he ended up getting pushed all the way to a Rumble win. In 2014 there was an up and coming star who was getting loud fan reactions, and he ended up losing clean in a Rumble opening match and not even entering the Rumble. How can the WWE be so dumb when they know it is a proven formula to have someone of Bryan's popularity win the Rumble? Batista's time was nine years ago, and yet he has emerged as the Rumble winner this year when Daniel Bryan should have been getting the push. It doesn't make any sense. I can understand WWE's thinking to an extent - Batista is a proven draw and nostalgia sells. But right now nothing would sell pay per view like the chance to see Daniel Bryan challenging for the WWE title. The fans just want it so much, it would be a license to print money, especially in the already hot Mania season. Instead we get a guy who is nearing 50 getting all the WWE chips invested in his run. What a shame for Daniel Bryan who could have really reigned long term.