Daniel Bryan Addresses His Heel Turn on WWE ‘SmackDown Live’

Daniel Bryan addressed the WWE faithful on the November 20 edition of SmackDown Live. The  current WWE champion won the title as the result of a low-blow against AJ Styles just one week earlier.

The move was sudden, it was shocking and it left many fans wondering why. Why would one of the most popular Superstars in the company take the easy way out against another wildly popular babyface? Bryan finally answered that question and it may not have been what anyone expected.

The fact is Daniel could have said anything and it may not have been enough. Bryan was indeed one of the top faces in WWE and his struggle to get back in the ring was felt by so many fans that supported him from the very beginning. They knew how much he loved the business, just as they knew it was killing him to be on the outside looking in.

But Bryan’s return brought a renewed sense of hope to anyone that had ever dared to dream of something bigger. That fact was not lost on the company, who used it to promote Daniel’s return to the ring. Now that inspirational mantra is being used against the same fans that held it so close to their hearts.

Watch Daniel explain his actions on SmackDown:

Daniel Bryan explains his actions: SmackDown LIVE, Nov. 20, 2018

Daniel’s explanation on SmackDown was more of an ego trip. He realized that he didn’t need the fans, which was really what everyone expected him to say. But he also spoke in the third person for much of the promo, which likely left many fans puzzled. Daniel was obviously attempting to tap into something sinister. After all this is a new direction for his character. 

He’s really not built to be an overly aggressive, intimidating heel. He’s also past the point he was at before he turned babyface with Kane for Team Hell No. That Daniel Bryan had been a comedy heel who transitioned to a popular comedy babyface. However none of that even remotely fits his character now. So instead, Daniel is trying something different. Not only has his way of speaking changed, but his mannerisms and body language have changed as well. 

The question is will this stick? When fans think of Daniel Bryan as a heel, do they think of an eccentric antagonist with a flair for the dramatic? Or do they see a humble, good natured person playing a heel on TV? So much of Bryan’s personal life is known now thanks to social media and to Total Bellas. Daniel is just a regular guy that wanted to live his dreams. Everyone can relate to that in some way.

Watch Daniel turn on AJ Styles:

Daniel Bryan wins WWE Championship in shocking fashion: SmackDown LIVE, Nov. 13, 2018

But this is the way that WWE is going with Daniel Bryan now so fans can only watch and see how it plays out. The “new” Daniel Bryan faced Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series on November 18. Though he lost the match, he may not have lost any ground with fans who are curious to see what happens next. Bryan will defend his WWE Championship against AJ Styles at TLC on December 16 in San Jose. It’s AJ’s rematch for the title and the third in this championship series.

However Styles is probably not going to win the title back. If he did, then he could feud with Bryan for several months and possibly drop the title back to him at WrestleMania 35. The timing may or may not be perfect. But the situation itself is less than perfect because of Daniel’s heel turn. Bryan is fresh into that role and it’s hard to imagine that the company would just suddenly interrupt it now. So what happens after Daniel is move on from AJ?

Many fans are surely hoping that The Miz will step up to challenge Bryan for the title. It’s a feud that began when Daniel first came to WWE and it’s a feud that really never ended. Interestingly enough, The Miz has not addressed Bryan’s heel turn on TV, though he did briefly comment on social media.. But perhaps his silence on the subject is by design. After all, what can he say?

Watch Daniel vs Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series:

Daniel Bryan floors The Beast with a vicious Running Knee: Survivor Series 2018 (WWE Network)

Miz is a heel as well. So even if the two cross paths again at some point, would Miz actually admonish Bryan for taking a cheap-shot to win the WWE Championship? The Miz would likely do the same thing if it meant becoming WWE champion again. So if Miz is not the man to face Bryan then maybe the shot will go to Rey Mysterio. He and Bryan have never feuded before so it would he a fresh change of pace for fans. Then there’s the fact that they would surely have some epic matches thanks to their styles and their experience.

Of course there’s always Jeff Hardy. Hardy is another highly popular babyface in WWE and he just so happens to be one of the top faces on SmackDown Live. Jeff Hardy versus Daniel Bryan would indeed be a marquee matchup anywhere in the world. But after that, who’s left?

Randy Orton is a heel. The same is true of Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe. If these men are the top players on SmackDown Live, then does that mean the WWE Championship will now be up for grabs between heels from this point on? Maybe there is a face turn on the way for someone on SmackDown Live. That would be a change of pace, especially considering the sheer amount of heel turns over the past few months.

Despite what happens, Daniel Bryan’s new character has a long road ahead. It’s not that he can’t pull it off. But fans are so accustomed to seeing him as the Yes man that seeing him in this new role may be too much. The fact that he really didn’t have a good reason to turn doesn’t help matters any. But maybe none of that will make a difference in the end. This is the new Daniel Bryan. Maybe fans will learn to say yes to that.

 

 

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes,YouTube, iHeart Radio, boinkstudios.com and live every Friday at 12pm EST on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live