Daniel Bryan–Randy Orton feud: The best thing for Bryan?

Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton: Could this be what DB needs?

For the past couple of months, the question on every WWE fan’s mind has been the same – “When, not if, is Daniel Bryan, the most popular character in the business, going to get his chance again to shine at the top of the mountain as the face of the company and, more importantly, as the face of the WWE Universe?”

The growing support for him over the years has gone from the hardcore wrestling fan base to the TV audience, to even the main target of WWE programming these days – the kids! The internet wrestling community (IWC) has been abuzz, and rightly so, because ever since the already-popular Team Hell No began feuding with The Shield, it’s been an absolute treat to watch the WWE product; and while everybody has been pulling their weight in all the matches we have seen so far, it’s clear who has been making the most connect, and thereby getting the best reaction every night – Daniel ‘Goatface’ Bryan!

Over the last month, the support for him has reached fever-pitch; and with Team Hell No losing their titles to their arch nemesis The Shield, the fans were glad that the long-awaited time for DB to be the champion again had indeed come.

The ‘Big Break’ couldn’t have come sooner for DB; and with Team Hell No being unable to recapture the tag titles, it was assumed by WWE fans that Bryan was being primed to be the next challenger after Ryback for the WWE title held by John Cena. But it hasn’t turned out to be that way. Instead, we have DB tackling the Viper, who himself seems to be in a career limbo. While the development has the fans up in arms, let’s try and see if this indeed could help Bryan in his quest to become the next WWE champion.

As entertaining and popular as Bryan is, his role hasn’t been clearly defined for a while and, at times, comes across as a tweener. And while that comedic act has been lapped up by the audience, it’s not something that will hold him in good stead if ever he has to be taken seriously as a babyface WWE champion.

We all know how intense Bryan can be as a worker, and his skills in the ring are outstanding; and with the right storyline and push, his run as a champion could be way better than the previous one he had, where he played the heel. With Randy Orton supposedly on his way to becoming a bad guy again, this feud can be intense and could be an ideal way for DB to get over as a believable serious, yet sympathetic, face. The chants are still going to be there, no matter what offense Bryan throws, and Orton sells the heel act like a pro; and with his slithery cunningness, he could play the perfect foil to the eager DB.

On the other hand, with perennial babyface Cena being the champion (presuming that Mark Henry is not going to dethrone him at the next pay-per-view), a heel turn by the former ‘American Dragon’ could also open up interesting possibilities. A whining, insecure, yet entertaining, Daniel Bryan, who builds up on the present character he is playing, would be interesting to watch against Cena, who receives a mixed reaction on a nightly basis anyways. The heel run could last for a while too, with the likes of Punk and Ziggler joining the face ranks.

But having said that, business-wise it makes more sense to build on Daniel Bryan’s popularity as a crowd favorite and have him pursue the WWE title. But how it can be done in an interesting manner is the question.

When is Cena turning heel by the way?