Right off, I want to congratulate Daniel Bryan on becoming the World Heavyweight Champion. He’s worked his way up, for twelve long years, through the Independent wrestling scene, to WWE maineventer. He’s easily one of the best technicians currently on the roster. Naturally, I’m a big fan of Daniel Bryan.
Being a fan of a wrestler, makes one more passionate about…well, pretty much their entire careers. Something else I’m passionate about; storylines! Also, championship prestige. All of this being said, I’m pretty much appalled at how things went down at WWE’s Tables, Ladders, and Chairs ppv.
It’s not that I’m not happy that Bryan is the the new World Champion, or that WWE may be heading in a new direction. It’s how the whole situation was handled, and how the company has seemingly missed out on a opportunity to really make a superstar out of Bryan.
When Daniel Bryan won the the Smackdown Money in the Bank ladder match, the wrestling world rejoiced (IWC, “wrestling world,” same difference). If I recall correctly, up until that ppv in July, Bryan wasn’t doing much. So, we all assumed that winning the coveted briefcase, would mean a push of some sorts for our submission expert. Eh, there’s wasn’t a big difference a month later…maybe it’ll be a couple months, they have plenty of time…three, four, nada. We’re now in month five, and still Bryan hasn’t been built up much at all. At TLC though, WWE threw the World title on him.
“J, why are you complaining? CM Punk is our WWE champ, and Bryan’s the World champ.”
I have a few issues with this whole debacle. First and foremost on my list, is the fact that Bryan gave his word that he would be cashing in his MITB briefcase,in Miami, at WrestleMania 28. His character, is not the type to go against his word; he’s more honorable. So now, he’s a liar, or as Michael Cole has been preaching, a hypocrite. And it eats me up that I have to actually agree with Cole here. His character has been devalued. Not to mention, wrestlers who have been rushed into the mainevent level in recent times, have quickly fallen flat soon after. RAW MITB case winner, Alberto del Rio, is the most recent example of this occurrence.
Once again were treated to a cheap MITB cash-in. I mean, I get that it’s the “smart thing to do,” to capitalize on a downed opponent. However, it’s making the concept less and less interesting each time. Bryan was someone who could have gotten away with taking the high road, due to what I previously mentioned about his character. Considering the last two sentences, would it not have been preferable to hold off until WrestleMania? It could of made Bryan stand out from the majority of former MITB winners.
Another problem I have, pertains specifically to the championship. What was the point of having Big Show win the gold in the first place? To have yet another pointless, incredibly short, futile reign, added to the record books? Because that’s all it accomplished. Oh sure, there’s probably some sort of future feud between Bryan and Big Show now etched in, but I can think of a couple different scenarios that could create the same feud.
Now, yes, I am aware of Mark Henry’s injury situation, however, I don’t believe that this was the only way to go about handling this. Chances are, Henry will be back in time for WrestleMania, most likely well before. So, here’s an idea: due to Teddy Long’s negligence, Henry is now too beaten up to defend his championship gold. He hires resident WWE lawyer, David Otunga, to represent him, and goes on his own little wrestling hiatus (he can still appear). The title’s compete clause is put on lockdown, or some good legal term that can be thrown around from week to week. Then proceed with the Bryan/Henry story, culminating at WrestleMania, where Bryan could then defeat the behemoth, via submission.
That’s the short version.
Anyway, basically it just seems that this whole thing was rushed, poorly planned out, and worst of all, uncreative. WWE had a grand opportunity to create a WrestleMania moment with Daniel Bryan, which could have potentially created a true superstar, but instead, went with the same old, cheap, MITB cash-in, at a ppv they didn’t even care for (which actually turned out to be my second favorite WWE ppv of the year). Hopefully, this doesn’t end up hindering Bryan’s future in any way.
Drowning in a Sea of Uncreativity,
J.
@J712v2
J Classic, Episode 9, Featuring the NEW, United States Champion, “The Long Island Iced Z” Zack Ryder: http://wrestlingrambles.com/videos/jclassics/j-classics-episode-9/
Ringsidehustle.com 
I agree, J, fully really.
I was delighted he won to but when he won it, I got the felling ”It didn’t feel right”, I was watching this with my little brother who isn’t as skeptical and passionate as I and he said, what was the point in him winning the title? And I said, exactly, good you could see that.
From what I thought as Big Show won it, the point of that IMO was to make the title worth winning for Bryan, as Big Show was built up heavily and all but the crowd was pretty dead IMO to be honest.
Whatever about uncreativity, I just think it was downright stupid because they really could of made a ”safer” chance of Bryan being a star. However, the reason why I am not so critical of WWE, I like to see how things are going to palm out regardless, like we don’t know what WWE have planned. We are in a changing era IMO so something incredible could happen.
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I certainly hope something incredible, era changing happens. They definitely have a good set of young champions on their hands (Punk,Bryan,Rhodes,Ryder,Beth,Bourne/Kofi). However, the booking process must change, and be committed.
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I do like they are playing around with the MITB stip. if DB had been built up like a top face and won the title at WM, I’m not so sure it would’ve gone over well. Smarks have a way of turning on people when they become popular with casual fans. Waiting that long might’ve given hate more time to mobalize on the net and he possibly could’ve got booed by the time he won the title. One thing’s for certain, it’s gonna be fun to watch. I really think they need to do away with the cash in stip and make it an announced match. It does cheapen the win.
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Since when does WWE give a rat about smarks? I feel like I missed the most important episode of a show now. : \
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When they started selling anti-Cena shirts.
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Hmm, will have to think about that one for a moment….Ah!
Considering half of pretty much every arena (even in his hometown) boo him, the hate must also be coming from the casual fans
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Not really. Smarks cheer differently than casual fans, more vocal. Smarks cheer a punch against somebody they don’t like and boo when somebody they don’t like throws a simple punch. Casual fans wait until until a wrestler does something face-ish or heelish. Plus, “boos” are louder than “cheers”(partially due to so many men doing the booing and women and kids doing the cheering).
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Honestly what matters more is his build-up AS the World Champion, I can agree with you that the way he cashed in was pretty, well…..not what we were looking for, but perhaps now, he will be built into what everyone has wanted him to be built into. We’re entering a new year and are on the road to WM, things will get better for Daniel Bryan.
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I hope so.
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No offense, but that is arse backwards. You’re supposed to build up someone before putting the title on them. Yes, it’s important that he be built up well as champion now (especially since he wasn’t built up hardly at all to begin with) which we’ll have to wait and see how that unfolds. Though, WWE does not have a good track record; this actually reminds me of Christian winning the title this year.
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Well that’s the thing, now that he is champion, his push prior to him being champ or not, is irrelevant. All that matters now is how well he does as a star. Del Rio won the Royal Rumble and was getting pushed, but when he won the big one, how did that turn out? It’s the title reign that matters the most, at least IMO.
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I still be believe the best stars, are those that were built up for awhile, and then went on to have good reigns as well. Austin, Rock, Angle, HHH, Michaels, Hart, Guerrero…the list goes on.
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@J Oh I agree with that, there’s no denying it. I go by that fact as well, but if we truly believe in Daniel Bryan, we can count on him to become a star as a champ, rather than relying on a big push. I wanna see what hes really about now.
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You also have to look at the issue of chance. Henry was supposed to keep the belt for quite a bit longer, but they had to take it off due to injury.
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Along with ADR cashing in MITB, this isn’t the first time WWE has rushed a storyline with great potential. I can come up with a few examples off the top of my head. Bottom line is, he won the World Title and I’m happy for him. I’m glad that WWE is giving him a chance to show that he can hang with the big time players. I just hope his reign is a memorable one.
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Even if it’s not, he can still be rebuilt and win it again. Look at Punk. He had a week first run with the title and now he’s the champ on RAW.
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But, but…what about title prestige?8(
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What about it? Let’s face it. He won the title after laying on toop of somebody who was already out. People won’t buy into him being a dominate champion. Another reason why I think they need to get rid if the “shock cash in” and make it halve to be an announced match.
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The last handful of years have been pretty much nothing but dropped, potentially great, storylines. It’s so annoying.
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Last above comment @wrestling89
@Capt
Exactly! It’s a lose, lose situation.
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Unless you have an established star, it doesn’t do much. I think the only announced match was RVD/Cena and I would have done without Edge and Paul getting involved.
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Eh, they could give a slight build up to someone, have them win MITB, and then go all out push mode. Of course, though, variety is definitely welcomed when it comes to the winners/cash-ins.
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Still shocked we haven’t seen a loss yet.
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Mark Henry got hurt and that’s why this happened. Apparently, Mark Henry’s injury is very severe. I don’t want to agree with what happened but they needed to strip the title off Mark Henry and this was probably the best way. The WWE needed a brand new WHC feud without Mark Henry and they got one.
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“Now, yes, I am aware of Mark Henry’s injury situation, however, I don’t believe that this was the only way to go about handling this. Chances are, Henry will be back in time for WrestleMania, most likely well before. So, here’s an idea: due to Teddy Long’s negligence, Henry is now too beaten up to defend his championship gold. He hires resident WWE lawyer, David Otunga, to represent him, and goes on his own little wrestling hiatus (he can still appear). The title’s compete clause is put on lockdown, or some good legal term that can be thrown around from week to week. ”
They would never do that. When John Cena got injured in October 2007, they took the title off him even though he was back by the Royal Rumble. My guess is that Mark Henry will miss several MONTHS…not weeks.
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Why can’t they do something different? It’s one of their biggest flaws.
Say he is out for months and months, and misses WM (which would be a real shame), they definitely would need the title off of him. However, this can not have been the only/best way to go about it.
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If you had told me that Big Show and DB might be feuding over the title a year ago, I wouldn’t have believed.
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Really funny to read the column and comments 6 months later!
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