10 Ups & 7 Downs For Daniel Bryan’s WWE Career
5. Remember The Rumble(s)
Between 2013 and 2014, Bryan, the deafening choice of the WWE Universe, was ignored by a company that jammed their fingers in their ears to avoid the noise—which took some discipline, since management was so appalled by the sight of the short, pale Bryan that they could barely bring themselves to look at him in 2010.
Four years later, anticipating a backlash if he didn’t win, WWE simply removed him from the match. Discounting his popularity even when all too aware and resentful of it, this was Vince McMahon at his cruelest and stupidest. He didn’t even have the sense or inclination to book a stretcher job, or something to condition his audience to adjust to his plan.
One year later, Bryan lasted just 10:36. To WWE, the most organic babyface of the post-Attitude Era was just a face in the crowd. His elimination didn’t even act as the impetus behind a WrestleMania midcard singles match; tossed out by Bray Wyatt, who himself was removed by Kane and The Big Show, Bryan was subsequently tasked with endorsing Roman Reigns before being handed a consolatory run with the Intercontinental Title, perhaps as a way of easing Bryan back into it all, if we’re being careful not to immerse ourselves too fully into the anti-authority narrative.
Before plans went awry…