I really like the directon Daniel Bryan is going at the moment.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I like Team Hell No, and I was worried that their momentum might stall after finally dropping the tag straps to The Shield, but they've seemed to actually kick it up a notch since then. I like the new dynamic between the team of Daniel Bryan feeling like a weak link and Kane (of all people) trying to convince him that he's not. Bryan was a man on fire during the six man tag on Raw, and even though nobody watches Smackdown, he went apeshit versus Jack Swagger, and it was also awesome.

The relationship between Kane and Bryan has been one of the most sensical (:lol:) and well-sustained things in recent WWE history, and the team really has seemed to do wonders for both guys. This will inevitably lead to a break up of the team, but it will actually feel like a moment when it happens, I think. Kudos to all involved.

That said, this fire that Bryan has been showing as of late has really gotten me amped up. I think that once Team Hell No dissolves, he has potential at being a top tier champion once again. I really wouldn't mind him as WWE champion at some point. He's ridiculously over, ridiculously talented, and extremely versatile. I really think the momentum from this "feud" can propel him into the main event as a mainstay for the rest of his career.

Your thoughts?

[The Condor]

Bryan is great, damn entertaining and the angle has shown how glaringly inept the writing has been for sometime in WWE due to the fact that it is maybe the only thing beside Punks original pipe bomb push that has made sense and made people excited. A Bryan push makes sense due to the fact that he is seemingly over with both smarks and casual fans aka a good business decision. Damn good stuff lately

[mike adamle]

If you like him so much why don't you marry him??

[Anybody Thrilla]

That's your contribution? Really?

[mike adamle]

I'll delve into my opinions later when the thread really starts up, right now is the time for corny jokes

[Tom Guycott]

Bryan is great, damn entertaining and the angle has shown how glaringly inept the writing has been for sometime in WWE due to the fact that it is maybe the only thing beside Punks original pipe bomb push that has made sense and made people excited. A Bryan push makes sense due to the fact that he is seemingly over with both smarks and casual fans aka a good business decision. Damn good stuff lately

I just hope they don't feel obligated to break them up by a heel turn. Too much of that. It could either be amicable, or Bryan gets completely disheartened and goes "soul searching" (complete with vignettes of wrestling bears and goats or whatever). They shouldn't need to make one go heel, because both guys are so damned interesting right now. Already gave my opinion on that in the "who thought they'd last this long?" thread.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I just hope they don't feel obligated to break them up by a heel turn. Too much of that. It could either be amicable, or Bryan gets completely disheartened and goes "soul searching" (complete with vignettes of wrestling bears and goats or whatever). They shouldn't need to make one go heel, because both guys are so damned interesting right now. Already gave my opinion on that in the "who thought they'd last this long?" thread.

Smackdown sort of gave me the feeling that Bryan may end up a heel. If that's the way it has to be, I'd like to see him being a delusional heel that doesn't understand why people don't like him, even though his acts are blatantly heinous.

[mike adamle]

Already gave my opinion on that in the "who thought they'd last this long?" thread.

Yeah that thread was AWESOME!!!

I think this thread should be moved there.

[Wishbone]

Bryan has evolved into one of the most entertaining things in WWE today. His snap on Friday where he killed Swagger was probably the most awesome thing I've seen in a while from Smackdown. That being said I'd love to see Bryan propelled into the main event again with this, just not at the expense of turning him heel. WWE has plenty of good talent that can play heels (Henry, Big Show, Ziggler, Punk, Orton if he ever turns, etc.) but few that can really get the crowd behind them like Bryan can. Honestly if he turns it'd probably just serve to send him back down the totem pole into upper mid-card limbo again.

[Skippord]

that stomping he gave to Jack Swagger was pretty badass

[Theo Dious]

I just love how Bryan is the one losing his mind and KANE is the one trying to hold him back. Glen Jacobs is fucking magical in how his performance and attitude have kept Kane as a viable top character when there is no logical reason he should still be one.

[Nowhere Man]

I really think Daniel Bryan will be this generation's Mick Foley-- a guy who's pretty much loved by everyone, with an entertainingly weird character, and the goods to get it done in the ring and on the mic with pretty much anyone. The guy that you can see mixing it up with all of the main event guys and never feeling out of place, even if he'll never be the face of the company.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

I've not really watched too much lately but he has definitely become one of the most interesting guys going right now. Has he snapped and become a badass submissions chime like everyone really wanted though?

It'd be great to see the writers be a bit original and not just throw a heel turn in there for no reason, and keep both he and Kane as faces with a loose alliance, teaming together when necessary but not all the time.

[Lock Jaw]

http://www.wwe.com/f/widget/itout/2013/05/20130523_SD_Backstage_Fallout_Bryan.jpghttp://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3339/20090520005419sweetumsp.jpg

[Shindig Jeff]

i would like it if Bryan shaved his beard. Its distracting u know?

[dronepool]

I'd love to see that happen, he's the best guy there now.

[Fignuts]

I like that ABT's new thing is really liking things. We could use more positivity around here.

As for Bryan, I've been following him since the first ever ROH show. I even saw an ROH event where he defended the title. Was always a huge fan of his in-ring work. That said, I never thought he had what it takes to be a major star in WWE. Even when he got here and first started showing signs of a personality, I didn't buy it. But god damn this whole thing with Kane has completely proved me wrong. He and Kane are probably the only reason I follow wrestling anymore.

[mike adamle]

I'm guessing since Bryan will turn into a vicious monster that Kane will stay the playful face. I could see him feuding with Fandango and eventually having a Team Hell No-esque team with Fandango. Maybe call the team Dancing with Fire or something.

[Rammsteinmad]

Daniel Bryan could very easily become WWE champion, and I would totally love it. He has fantastic matches with everyone, and his match with Ryback a few weeks back shows how "legit" a small guy could potentially fight a huge guy in real life. Suspend all belief, and similar to Rey and HBK, I could totally buy it.

[mike adamle]

I hope at some point with this Bryan-Shield feud going on Bryan busts out Cattle Mutilation on Rollins. Would probably mark out.

[Rammsteinmad]

He's already done that move a few times in the WWE, so there's no reason why wouldn't anyway.

[mike adamle]

Yeah but I'm saying I hope it's put over, it's a lot different for JBL or the King to put over a hold than Matt Striker.

[Rammsteinmad]

Why would he need to? He has the No Lock, which is a much better submission as it has the appeal of being applied from "nowhere". The Cattle Mutilation was nice, but meh, whatever.

[mike adamle]

He doesn't need to, but what's wrong with having another dangerous submission in your arsenal?

[mike adamle]

I'd love it if they ever decide to give him a 60 minute iron man match that and he sets up for cattle mutilation the whole match and finally sets it in in the closing seconds for a tap out.

[Ultra Mantis]

I remember when he busted it out on Darren Young during his NXT jobber run and it was completely no sold.

[Lock Jaw]

I remember he did the Cattle Mutilation on The Miz.

Matt Striker called the move by its name and Michael Cole ripped him apart for some reason.

[Lock Jaw]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TuYub5UGSRM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Actually it was Cole and King.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Kane is probably getting close to retirement, and assuming his last match isn't with the Undertaker, it would be epic for DB to "retire" him.

Seriously, imagine if DB could keep the character he has now, this sort of playful, sporatic, random dork, but with a vicious streak so intense that he forced Kane into retirement.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It seemed that the plan would have been to go with a Daniel Bryan heel turn, which I can still see them doing, with Bryan turning on Kane and breaking all the fans' hearts. Few people can go between face and heel as effectively as Bryan, and he does work so well as a heel. He'd always just be one No Lock on a heel from turning face again. But part of me is thinking that the way the fans have reacted to Bryan's badassery might actually change the WWE's mind.

Just watch the ending to SmackDown this week. Bryan was on fire and had the entire crowd pumped and on his side. They want to see him on a tear. On RAW, a logical direction seems to be to have Team Hell No team up with Randy Orton to face The Shield in a six-man tag team match. Since Orton seems to be re-emerging as a challenger to The Shield, you could have Orton pin Rollins after he catches him coming in with an RKO off the top rope out of nowhere. In a weird twist, Bryan could be given a US Title shot against Dean Ambrose, while Kane & Orton are put against Rollins & Reigns as Tag Team Title challengers. It'd be thrown together, but so have a lot of partnerships lately.

Another option is for Orton to RKO an illegal Rollins and then get taken out by a Reigns Spear, with Roman getting to pin the former nine-time World Champion. A frustrated Bryan then turns on Orton and goes nuts on Orton -- one of the few guys Bryan could actually successfully turn on without sending the fans into a frenzy of "YES!" chants. Kane tries to save Orton and Bryan seems betrayed by his friend.

Orton vs. Bryan could then be set up and Orton can tell Kane to stay out of it, because his business is with Bryan and Kane could agree. Orton and Bryan could tear down the house and Bryan could then take issue with Kane not "having his back" after Orton pins him or something. Or Bryan could cleanly beat Orton and emerge as a real singles threat.

I'm just thinking that the conventional booking ideas the WWE may have had for Bryan's immediate future might be thrown out of whack with just how over and effective Bryan is at the moment.

[blake639raw]

Yeah, Bryan is on fire right now. I would actually like Dolph to get a good run with the WHT, and Bryan to chase it for a while. In the meantime, you could have D-Bry win the King of the Ring. It would be a good way to hold off on his title win til Mania, with him winning the Rumble and such.

[Mr. Nerfect]

If the King of the Ring were still around, Bryan winning that would be perfect for him. Especially at this point in time, where taking the tournament would solidify in his mind that he is not the weak link.

[Lock Jaw]

From PWInsider:

SPOILER ON DANIEL BRYAN
By Mike Johnson on 2013-06-05 18:41:09
We've been asked a lot about whether WWE has realized how great Daniel Bryan has looked in recent weeks on TV. The short answer to that is yes.

Sources indicate that the reason Bryan has been given so much time is that he's in line for a big push over the course of the summer, including PPV main events.

So, if you are a Bryan fan, you look to be in luck. Directions always change but stay tuned. "

[Malfeitor]

This pleases me. Bryan was insane good on Monday.

[Mr. Nerfect]

This is good news. No one is as on fire as Bryan is right now.

[Theo Dious]

Ryback wins the WWE title from Cena, Bryan takes it from him in a MOTY at SummerSlam.

[Mr. Nerfect]

That wouldn't suck. I'd actually rather Cena vs. Bryan at this point, though. I think it would mean more for Bryan to beat Cena.

[Theo Dious]

See, turning Bryan heel at this point would be as retarded as... well, turning Ryback heel the way they did. I'd really rather see him ride the "I wrestle heels but I'm nuts and I don't want the crowd to chant "yes" and I have a maniac who has set people on fire and electrocuted balls trying to calm me down" train. Plus if he's up against Cena he's not going to go over as well. If Cena is involved at all, I could stomach a Triple Threat match that ends when Ryback puts Cena through the announce table and Bryan makes him tap after like 3 minutes in the No lock or something. I think we can all agree that Bryan's title win HAS to come like that; not snatching something out of the air, but after an extended intense submission hold where his head is flapping around like a bobblehead doll in Oklahoma.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wouldn't turn Bryan heel. I'd have him go against Cena and make Cena submit, earning the respect of everyone (which he already has, but just doesn't accept it), and proving to himself that he is not the weak link.

[James Steele]

I hope they find a way to give Daniel Bryan a defining moment like Punk had at MITB 2011.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Moments make memories. I'm all for Bryan getting "the moment."

[James Steele]

DB making Cena tap out after an epic war in Philadelphia would be that moment. Cena would be no worse for wear either. At this point, the only thing that would hurt Cena's star power/place in the company is if he got caught diddling kids.

[James Steele]

It'd be like Benoit making Triple H tap out at WrestleMania XX. How less amazing would that moment have been if he had just pinned him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm all for Cena tapping to The "Yes!" Lock (as it would be renamed with Bryan's new confident attitude). I actually thought of Triple H tapping out to Chris Benoit too. Cena actually submitting would be huge for Bryan and probably be the best credibility boost you can give the guy.

I just realised Money in the Bank is in Philadelphia. The crowd would be rabid for a moment like that.

[Theo Dious]

I really, really doubt they'll have Cena tap. If anything it'll be an Austin/Hart moment where Cena passes out. And in the slim chance Cena does tap, we'll spend at least a month hearing Cole screech "he had to tap to Bryan's lethal submission hold! He had no choice! He could have been debilitated for life!"