5 Theories about why WWE Universal Champion The Fiend attacked Daniel Bryan on SmackDown

#4 Rewarding Daniel Bryan for losing to Adam Cole

At #SurvivorSeries:Brock Lesnar vs Rey Mysterio. The Fiend vs Daniel Bryan. Adam Cole right now: pic.twitter.com/alGVsqSTEq

— James 🍕 | fan account (@xBurningStomp) November 9, 2019

NXT has forever been treated as WWE's developmental brand meaning that the Superstars in the brand aren't in the same league as those in the main roster, in the eyes of many. Therefore, for NXT to realistically invade SmackDown, they had to make a great opening statement. And this happened in the form of Adam Cole defeating Daniel Bryan. Bryan lay down to put over the NXT Champion.

We often hear stories about how Ric Flair wouldn't lose the title to Lex Luger and how Bret Hart wouldn't lay down for Shawn Michaels. For Daniel Bryan to be such a massive star and do the job is a big big indeed. People don't commend just how often he does stuff like this.

And so Vince McMahon may have decided to fast-track the man into the Universal Championship picture for eating the pin against Adam Cole.