The fans of Daniel Bryan took over Raw again this week, delivering another spectacle of YES! WWE is lucky. It’s not too late to do the right thing.
But will they?
WWE must have Daniel Bryan beat Randy Orton for the WWE world title at the end of WrestleMania, going off the air with the entire New Orleans Superdome turning into an army of YES! There’s no other option. What would work better? The path doesn’t matter. Bryan with the strap must be the end result.
WWE tried its best to minimize Bryan. They beat him. Insulted him. Emphasized his weaknesses. Made him look foolish. Tried to use him to build performers who fit their preferred profile. It didn’t work. At all. The fans won’t back off. They don’t see him as a B-plus wrestler. He’s their guy. YES! YES! YES!
What’s manufactured usually doesn’t beat what’s organic. This is no exception. As a bonus, YES! is crossing over into the mainstream. Bryan is somehow creating an Austin-like frenzy in a PG-13 environment.
WWE can’t defeat Bryan. So, finally…WWE needs to embrace Bryan.
WrestleMania is about giving the fans what they want. About sending the fans home happy. About providing “WrestleMania moments.”
The family probably thinks Undertaker winning (yawn) provides a “WrestleMania moment.” Or that baby oil on Randy Orton’s pecs provides a “WrestleMania moment.” Or that Triple H wrestling (double yawn) provides a “WrestleMania moment.” Or that Hulk Hogan limping (ZZZZZzzzzz…) provides a “WrestleMania moment.” Brock Lesnar? John Cena? Paul Heyman? Batista jumping to the front of the line? (Which is what’s going to happen.)
If VKM believes any of that matters, I’m afraid I’ve got some BAD NEWS.
One thing works: Daniel Bryan wins the WWE world title. For keeps, or at least for the foreseeable future. No screw jobs. No Dusty finish. LEGIT.
Trust your eyes. Trust your ears. Consider what we’ve witnessed and tell me what WWE could invent that works better than Daniel Bryan winning the WWE title and the subsequent reaction. Now THAT is a “WrestleMania moment.”
Don’t be concerned with the future. Don’t worry about the glory of Roman Reigns (double ZZZZZzzzzz…) or the split of The Shield or Ryback getting psychiatric counseling. That’s later. Daniel Bryan is now. Now more than ever.
This is a big test for WWE. The path is SO CLEAR. “The fans choose.” We’ve heard that before, right? Well, the fans have chosen. WWE can give the people what they want, or jam their boring, stubborn vision down their throats yet again.
But, as a consumer, realize this: If WWE doesn’t give you what you want in this, the most obvious of situations, they will probably never give you what you want. That being the case, there is only one answer you can give when it comes to subscribing to the new WWE Network:
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
