Using Daniel Bryan's MMA and grappling skills as a draw for SummerSlam

I appreciate what WWE is trying to do with Daniel Bryan as we lead up to SummerSlam. They build him up as an underdog who is persistent. That is fine.

Now it is time to put over how dangerous he is. His grappling skills are well known and celebrated.

The Xtreme Couture MMA gym has put over how good he is. So why is this not being promoted on tv? This would do a lot for Bryan's credibility, and build him up as a real threat to John Cena. This surely would lead to more people watching SummerSlam, in the interests of seeing whether Bryan can unseat Cena?

The Kings of Wrestling - a solution to WWE's tag division stagnation?

It is clear. WWE's tag team division is not what it used to be. Since the glory days of the Smackdown Six (Benoit & Angle, Los Gurerros and Edge & Mysterio), something has been lacking. Many fans will also recall the days of the Dudleys, Edge & Christian and the Hardys.

Despite reports over the years of WWE refocussing on the division, nothing really came of it. The number of established teams was minimal. An exciting tag division can add real depth to the roster, and provide fans with variety.

There is now an interesting opportunity at hand. The Shield have been dominating the tag division over the last year. Harper and Rowan from the Wyatt family have been introduced. The Usos are getting a push it would seem.

Now could be the time to make the division into something special. Break Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno) out of developmental. Team him up with Antonio Cesaro. Re-kindle the magic that they had as the Kings of Wrestling. Yes, it is probably too much to ask for Vince to pay for Queen's 'We are the Champions'. Regardless, the Kings of Wrestling would be fresh and interesting. Battles with the Shield, the Usos and the Wyatts would make for good matches at least.

WWE needs to trust in Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan has seen a meteoric rise to the top of WWE. In a time when WWE is lacking legitimate top tier main-event stars that can draw, it is time for WWE to take a chance on Bryan.

Think back to the Attitude Era - Mick Foley, HHH, The Rock, Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Vince McMahon, Kurt Angle, Kane, Chris Jericho, and others were all a staple part of main-event WWE programming.

The number of current established main-event stars could be described as: Cena, Punk and Orton as the top three, followed by Del Rio , Sheamus, Big Show and Kane. In my opinion, once Orton / Cena / Punk are removed from the picture, the current group really struggles to compare to the previous era. The depth of talent at the top is clearly smaller.

 It is clear. WWE needs to build to the future. How much longer does CM Punk have in the ring? This is man who has one goal left in the business, to main-event Wrestlemania. His frustration dealing with the system is well documented. This is a man that could leave when his contract is up and not look back.

John Cena started wrestling for WWE in 2002. He grew into the company's number one star. Years of carrying that mantle must take a toll on the mind and body. Whilst Cena appears to thrive under the pressure, how much longer will his body hold together? Steve Austin remarked on Twitter recently that Cena should look after his health - perhaps implying the need to slow down to preserve his long-term career.

Randy Orton  is on strike number two of the Wellness Policy. It is indeed surprising that he won Money in the Bank, indicating perhaps that the company is willing to trust him as a firm fixture in the main-event scene. However, how long till strike three?

So, if Cena, Punk and Orton all departed, what would the WWE be left with in the main-event scene? Del Rio vs Big Show for an eternity?

Therefore, the WWE must take a risk with Daniel Bryan. Arguably, he rivals Cena in terms of crowd reactions. Some would say he is already a main-eventer based on reaction alone. It's just that WWE does not seem to fully accept him as a main-eventer. Bryan's road to SummerSlam hopefully allows for complete company and fan acceptance of his main-event status. If WWE are to build for the future, Daniel Bryan needs to win the title. Cena will not lose any momentum. Not only that, Bryan should walk out of SummerSlam still as the champion - i.e. no Orton cash-in.

Let him run with the title for two or three months. See what impact this has on ratings, house show attendance and PPV buys. More importantly, make him look strong. Daniel Bryan presented as a lame duck champion who struggles to win matches convincingly will not help his cause. WWE need to take a chance with Daniel Bryan as a fully fledged main-event star who overcomes John Cena. They have no choice. 

The future will soon be calling, and if WWE are not careful, they will have little  to show for it in the main-event scene.

Bray Wyatt - the next Austin? Punk? Cena? No. The next Bray Wyatt.

Bray Wyatt. An incredibly charismatic performer. A man who knows how to entertain on the mic, and he certainly is not too bad in the ring either.

Since watching his two promo videos on Raw, I went looking for some of his NXT material. Watching him come to the ring cutting promos made me think: in one year, this man will be your world champion. He will also be one of the most over guys on the WWE roster - in my opinion.

This is a superstar in the making. Just listen to this promo. It reminds me of Mick Foley, Raven and others - all masterful on the mic.

Ah but wait... he has to negotiate the road through WWE Creative.

Oh dear.

Daniel Bryan - Yes, Yes, Yes - Push him now!

In replying to a post at www.wrestlingforum.com, I came to an interesting realisation. 

The evidence base for pushing Daniel Bryan to the main event is overwhelming.

To quote from my reply:


"Seemingly, the 2nd most over guy in the company.
One of the best wrestlers on the roster.
One of the most charismatic guys on the roster.
Works well with any other worker.
Has made Kane look like a million dollars.
Has been comedic gold - which is a huge achievement, considering that most WWE comedy falls flat.
Has remained consistently over for more than a year now."

So... what is WWE waiting for?

Daniel Bryan's new found aggression could be WWE's way of getting fans to take him more seriously. It is also predicting a heel turn. 

However, my preferred version of Daniel Bryan as a heel is the character he played whilst ROH Champion - the best wrestler in the world, methodical and submission based, who could tie you up in knots and make you tap, whilst being very smug about it - getting under the fans' skin. He pulled that off with great success - a heel character that is very different to his current more energetic  and comedic role in WWE.

Wyatt Family - Fantastic debut promo

I have watched this several times since it aired on Raw. An incredible promo, a true credit to the WWE production team. Also, a testament to the talent of the Wyatt Family.

This appears to be something a little more mature than what we are accustomed to in the PG era.

I can't wait.

Chris Jericho vs CM Punk at Payback - has WWE booked itself into a corner again?

WWE Payback is the next PPV from Chicago. As of Monday night, Chris Jericho vs CM Punk has been announced for the show, with Paul Heyman accepting on behalf of his client. 

CM Punk wrestling on this show is a good thing. It will please the Chicago crowd, and the match has the potential to be the best of the night.

However, I would argue it is too much too soon. For Punk's return to feel special, you don't want him wrestling too soon. Although, I have a feeling that WWE has something else in mind.

A viable option for WWE would be for Punk to refuse to wrestle, given that he never personally accepted the match. Heyman would then have Curtis Axel take Punk's spot and gain a victory over Chris Jericho. WWE seems high on Axel. In a two week span, he has faced HHH and John Cena. He even beat Cena!

If WWE does follow this path, then it sets up a potential Punk / Axel feud for SummerSlam.

One small problem... WWE have promoted Jericho vs Punk - fans will buy the PPV expecting to see this. The Chicago crowd will also not be happy if Punk does not wrestle, given the fact he has been advertised in advance. WWE need to be careful here. There are other ways to promote a Punk / Heyman feud.

Then again... I could be wrong. Perhaps Punk will appear and wrestle as advertised. Either way, WWE Creative need to be cautious. I still feel a promo by Punk is the best way forward - as explained in my previous article.

CM Punk's return - timing is everything? WWE Payback PPV in June?

So the WWE Payback PPV is scheduled for 16th June 2013. It is being held in Chicago. No doubt, the crowd will be loud. No doubt the crowd will be a 'wrestling' crowd. As interesting as the post-Wrestlemania crowd? Probably not. But certainly, they will make themselves heard.

So what do you do with CM Punk? Punk is currently on a leave of absence - seemingly relaxing, recovering from burnout and healing his knees after that horrific bump onto the announcer's table at Wrestlemania.

Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Will his return mean anything if he returns in time for June? In my opinion, the answer is no. Punk needs to be away at least till SummerSlam if his return is to mean anything significant. 

The problem is: 

a) WWE needs to fill tv time, and Punk has been consistently one of the most entertaining personalities to grace WWE tv in the last 2 years. 

b) It is Chicago. The crowd will want Punk to be there. If he is not there, they will react accordingly. 

My suggestion? Have Punk show up at the PPV unadvertised - not to wrestle, but to cut a promo. He could go into detail about why he walked away post-Mania. He could cut an emotional promo, reminiscing over the good and bad times in the last year. He could thank Paul Heyman, and then leave again. Give him 10 minutes to pour out the emotion, and you have something meaningful to build on when he does return full-time.

What does this accomplish? 

a) He appears once on PPV and disappears again - so his extended leave of absence is still intact. Punk doesn't return to tv - this is a one-off appearance.  

b) It gives fans the impression that PPVs are worth buying - since anything can happen.

All in all, I see this as the best compromise as far as keeping Punk off WWE tv and giving the Chicago fans what they want. Otherwise, it is easy to see CM Punk chants starting up throughout the night in June. Best to give those fans what they want.

Daniel Bryan's conversation with WWE Creative - as it is currently being played out in my mind...

Daniel Bryan's recent aggressive actions on Smackdown appears to be WWE Creative's way of saying:



Creative team staff:

"We are turning you heel soon. You will feud with Kane. You will still exist in mid-card hell despite being the second most over guy in the company. Vince just doesn't see anything in you. Yes I know the crowd still reacts to you - over a year after you came up with the Yes catchphrase. That is impressive. However, Vince didn't invent the catchphrase. You did. That was a big mistake. Anyway, after feuding with Kane, Vince will push you again since the Internet fans will be up in arms if we don't. But do not worry - he will try and kill your heat by making you lose in less than 60 seconds again at WrestleMania."



Daniel Bryan:

"Ok, I have no problems with that. I will do what I am told. However, you do realise that I could draw money for you by feuding with the likes of Randy Orton, John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Chris Jericho. I think the fans react positively to me as a face or heel."


Creative team staff:

"I know, but Vince does not understand you. You are small with no muscles. And you have a goat face."



Daniel Bryan: 

"Yes, but that is the gimmick you gave me!"



Creative team staff:

"Yes... well... Vince does enjoy some comedy."

Daniel Bryan: 

"Look... I think it is important that the WWE offers something for everyone. There is still a market out there for good quality wrestling. There are fans out there who will buy into the product if you let me wrestle."



Creative team staff:

"Oh no - you are not allowed to say that w word. You are an entertainer. NOT a wrestler. How many times have we been through this?"

Daniel Bryan: 

"I am MMA trained - there is a potential crossover audience there who will invest in our product."

Creative team staff:

"Oh... MMA and UFC - it is not competition for us. Vince said so..."

Daniel Bryan: 

"I have some ideas of how you could book me... I have mapped them out. Could you at least show them to  Vince?"

Creative team staff:

"Ummm well that is not a good idea. The last Head of Creative only lasted 6 weeks. Vince is in a bad mood - and he has already decided what to do with you for the next year. You see, we at WWE pride ourselves on long term planning. We know how to book money making feuds."

*crickets chirping in the background*

Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk? Will WWE rush it?

So, there are rumours over who CM Punk will feud with when he returns to the WWE. Brock Lesnar's name has come up as a logical choice. After all, Lesnar and Punk are both connected through Paul Heyman. It is interesting to note that neither Punk or Lesnar have appeared on-screen together. You would think that WWE would have seen Dollar signs in promoting such a pairing. Remember the 'two man power trip' from 2001? Steve Austin and HHH were built up as an unstoppable pairing, taking over and ruling the WWE. They were unseated by Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit, through a classic tag match on WWE Raw, which saw Jericho and Benoit win the tag titles.

So why have Punk and Lesnar not been seen together? Did WWE want to keep them apart with the intention of having them feud later? Were they kept apart because both wrestlers had such different characters and philosophies? Lesnar, the part-time main-event fighter going after the big dollar fights. CM Punk, striving day in and day out to be the best in the industry. Punk was on every show, celebrating his lengthy title reign. Lesnar appeared sporadically, feuding with John Cena and then HHH. Lesnar's appearances were designed to shock and awe - drawing the biggest box office dollars.

If WWE decides to pit Punk against Lesnar, I am happy with that. However, as always, it is the process that matters the most. Am I confident in WWE's ability to book this feud successfully? No. What would I want to see? Firstly, this feud should not be rushed. In an era where the immediate concern is how to fill three hours of WWE Raw programming on Monday nights, I am sure WWE will rush this feud through.

In my ideal world, we go through the following stages:

1) Punk returns - confidence returned. Attacks a popular WWE face - e.g. HHH. He realigns himself with Paul Heyman.

2) We build up to SummerSlam with Punk and Lesnar as a team. They are billed as unstoppable. In the main-event, they destroy HHH and another face - e.g. John Cena. HHH's concussion story can play a part in the outcome.

3) We lead to Survivor Series - team HHH vs team Heyman. Punk plays a part in accidentally costing his team the match. Heyman and Punk start to have issues - yet still stay together. However, the tension is evident.

4) Come the Royal Rumble, Lesnar wins the world title from Cena (presuming he has not lost it to Ryback). Punk wins the Rumble.

5) The next night on Raw, Heyman turns on Punk - believing Lesnar to be his one true meal ticket. Lesnar attacks Punk.

6) We build to Mania - with an incredible series of microphone showdowns between Punk and Heyman.

7) At Mania, Punk beats Lesnar and wins the title in the main-event.

The above is unlikely to happen for two reasons:

a) WWE will likely hotshot this feud and make it happen instantly to fill immediate storyline needs presented by the damning three hour Raw schedule.

b) WWE would not be able to afford to have Lesnar appear so many time in a one year span to build this feud for Wrestlemania. His contract has limited dates after all.

Regardless, there is one thing I hope for here. WWE can't afford to turn Lesnar face. He does his best work as a heel.

But then again... so does CM Punk...

So perhaps, Punk vs Lesnar is not ideal after-all.

Dragon - The Bryan Danielson Story

One of the most inspirational videos I have had the pleasure of watching. The journey of Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) early in his WWE career. It ends by going full circle and celebrating his independent career.

Antonio Cesaro - Unlimited Potential

From the dizzying heights of headlining Ring of Honor as the Swiss banker Claudio Castagnoli, to the drudgery that is WWE mid-card. Poor Antonio Cesaro. It is hard to see where it all went so wrong. Cesaro is one of the most gifted wrestlers I have ever had the privilege of watching. His move set in the ring is phenomenal. His strength is uncanny. Watching his workout regime is inspiring:

After purchasing DVDs from Ring of Honor, and watching Cesaro's matches, I was hooked. Much like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, Cesaro's performances on the independent scene made a believer out of me. He showed a natural talent in the ring. A natural charisma too. Some call it the 'X factor' or the 'It factor'. The same 'factor' that was noticeable with Daniel Bryan and CM Punk.

So, how could the WWE take such a talented performer, and waste him away? They have something rare in Cesaro. A man that can wrestle and entertain at the same time. His verbal skills are good - not great. That is enough. His ring work does the talking. He does not need to be Steve Austin or The Rock on the microphone.

Interestingly, Steve Austin's recent endorsement of Cesaro should be an eye-opener for WWE Creative. Austin endorsed Cesaro's talent. Austin also derided his poor gimmick. The failure with Cesaro's character is more of a reflection of the failures of WWE Creative. If you can't book for someone as talented as Cesaro, then you certainly can't book for anyone else. He started out as a rugby player - not the easiest gimmick to pull off. He made it work though. The passion and determination was there.

Then came the US title reign. So far so good. Several months as champion. Then it all fell apart. He starts yodelling. He then loses the title with no build up to Kofi Kingston. As much as I appreciate Kingston's talent, a loss with no build-up was foolish. Incredibly foolish. It exposed two things. Firstly, WWE's neglect of Kingston and Cesaro as characters. Secondly, it exposed WWE's unwillingness to take the US Title seriously. Cesaro had held the title since last August. His loss should have meant something. Anything.

It was rumoured that after a rematch with Kingston, with Cesaro carrying the match, WWE Creative took notice.  Cesaro beat Zach Ryder in two minutes and cut a promo, putting the WWE roster on notice. Fans rejoiced. He faced Randy Orton in a nineteen minute match. He lost, but still had a fantastic outing. Fans rejoiced.

Oh wait. Here we go again. Cesaro loses in two minutes to Orton on WWE Raw. Rumours surface that Vince McMahon finds Cesaro boring. So his push is derailed. Wonderful. Your roster is depleted. Top stars are injured. You take a bright prospect such as Cesaro and can't see his value. In much the same way you did not see the initial value in CM Punk or Steve Austin. Look at what happened with both of those wrestlers. Give them the right gimmick and story, and they excel to superstardom. 

That to me is evidence of one thing. Vince McMahon needs to look to the past. If he had noted Punk's ability in ROH and Austin's charisma from ECW/WCW, he would have known what amazing talent he had to work with. It is worrying that Vince does not seem to pay attention to these past performances. Evidence of this? Watch CM Punk's WWE DVD documentary. Vince gave Punk a challenge - a challenge of playing a heel. He did not think Punk could do it. It was patronising. If Vince had done his homework, he would have known that in 2005, through the 'Summer of Punk', Punk played one of the most hated heels on the independent scene, using a WWE contract as a way to rile up Ring of Honor fans. His 'snake' promo is infamous.

So WWE Creative has Cesaro on the roster and appears clueless as to how to best utilise him. So what is the solution to this problem? The solution is Paul Heyman. Put Cesaro with Heyman. Let Heyman talk for Cesaro - similar to what Ric Flair did for Batista in 2003 (before Evolution was formed). Let Cesaro be a machine in the ring. Let Heyman do the rest. What will this lead to? The potential for a Cesaro, Punk and Lesnar coalition. That would be something which would rock the foundations of the WWE. Paul Heyman was rumoured to have proposed such a coalition last year. CM Punk was wearing a Cesaro t-shirt during Wrestlemania weekend. 

Vince, please make it happen. lf not for my entertainment, then do it for the future of your company.