The Damning Legacy Of Braun Strowman

Triple H Daniel Bryan
WWE.com

In the wake of the departing 'Ruthless Aggression' main event set, certain acts did get over in spite of the stilted polish inherent to the company's presentation. CM Punk was a unique, captivating presence with a state-of-the-art in-ring game and the confidence to excoriate everything around him. That so much of the bullsh*t needed to be excoriated bonded him to the audience. As pushed as Punk was, his "co-main event" role always scanned as appeasement more than reward. By 2014, he saw through it and left as a disenchanted husk of the man who was once so driven to realise the promise of change. He knew it was pointless.

Daniel Bryan got all the way over as an incandescent in-ring virtuoso who nailed the broader rhythms of the WWE style. His humble, self-effacing persona was the perfect antidote to Cena's domineering cockiness. His push happened and it didn't; even before WrestleMania XXX's 'Miracle on Bourbon Street', Vince took him aside and told him that he wasn't going to be the man for long. Roman Reigns was the long-term play. Unlike Punk and Bryan, he had the look.

Despite the air of "For f*ck's sake, fine, have him" that surrounded Bryan's main event push, the hardcore fandom was mobilised - or conned - into believing that change was feasible through the revamped NXT. The wonderful peak of the third brand did not inform any fundamental change, as evidenced by virtually every single bungled main roster promotion.

This change did not materialise. WWE no-sold the clamour.

CONT'D...(2 of 6)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!