If there's one thing Vince McMahon claims he and other WWE higher ups do, it's listen to their audience. Over the years, something about that statement hasn't always seemed truthful. There have been times when the promotion wish they could ignore what fans want, in favour of doing what they want to do. Often, this occurs when WWE want to push a wrestler, or have no wish to push someone fans desire. Enter Daniel Bryan, the most unlikely WWE World Heavyweight Champion of the modern generation. Upon meeting Bryan for the first time, McMahon didn't see star material. Even though he likely admired his ability between the ropes, the boss wasn't very interested in pushing the wrestler up the ladder of success. Fans had other ideas, desperately crying out that Bryan was someone they wanted to see at the top of cards. Eventually, WWE would give in and pull the trigger on a Daniel Bryan push. That didn't happen before a lot of heartache and poor decision-making. One of the worst was crowning Batista the winner of the 2014 Royal Rumble, expecting that fans would enjoy a one-on-one tussle with Randy Orton at WrestleMania. Fans didn't want that, and Bryan was thrust into the bout as a result.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
