Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz: WWE’s Inevitable SummerSlam Showdown

The Miz officially accepted Daniel Bryan’s challenge to a match at SummerSlam on the August 7 edition of SmackDown Live. The longtime WWE adversaries have waged war only on the mic over the past two years but that war is finally going to become physical.

Fans knew this was issue was going to lead somewhere eventually. From the moment The Miz verbally assaulted Bryan on Talking Smack in 2016, it’s been obvious that WWE had something special happening. Miz and Bryan had incredible heat together and the intensity between them was palpable. But there was no endgame.

Miz and Daniel had no real reason to be at odds. If the intention was to make some compelling television, it was mission accomplished for the company. But it it was meant to be just the prologue to a new story, fans knew there would be no chapters to write. Daniel Bryan could no longer perform in the ring. So why even hook up with Miz at all?

The Miz completely loses it in the face of GM Daniel Bryan: WWE Talking Smack, Aug. 23. 2016

Indeed it seemed as though both guys were just wasting their time by arguing with each other. Miz continued feuding and working with other WWE Superstars while Daniel played the part of SmackDown Live’s General Manager. Each guy had his own role and responsibilities. One really had nothing to do with the other.

But even though there could be no real payoff due to Daniel’s physical condition, he and Miz kept having problems. Their pseudo feud defied all logic yet it just kept going. But The Miz comes back to SmackDown Live and their problems take on a new level of anticipation.

For perhaps the first time, fans saw the potential for an actual physical confrontation between Daniel and The Miz. Maybe there was a reason why the two were always at odds. Maybe they were meant to settle their differences in the ring after all. Though it defied all logic, Bryan versus Miz became an actual possibility in the minds of many fans.

So when Daniel was medically cleared to return, the fans cheered. When Bryan stepped into the ring with Shane McMahon versus Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 34, the crowd erupted. Bryan’s ring career was renewed on the blue brand and the WWE faithful supported him just like before.

The Miz uses a slew of babies to mock Daniel Bryan: SmackDown LIVE, July 31, 2018

But through it all was the inevitability of Daniel Bryan versus The Miz. It is going to happen after all. So as fans wait for SummerSlam on August 19, it’s clear that this match is not only special. It’s not only important. This match is arguably the most well constructed showdown of WWE’s summer spectacular.

Fans of Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar may take exception to that notion and understandably so. After all, The Big Dog and The Beast Incarnate have been mortal enemies for over three years. 

Reigns chased Lesnar when Brock was the WWE champion. Roman continued the chase after Brock became the Universal champion. In both instances, Roman Reigns is the underdog even though fans know he would likely be the man to finally dethrone Lesnar. Those fans may not have been happy about it, but they knew it was coming all the same.

The Miz sounds off on Daniel Bryan during E! News interview

But when it didn’t happen at WrestleMania 34, many fans sat in shock. Even Roman’s critics couldn’t explain the move to keep Raw’s top title around Brock’s waist. Why book these guys in a three year long feud without delivering a real payoff in the end? Their entire rivalry exists to get Roman over. So why deviate from the plan?

Perhaps WWE and Brock Lesnar had an agreement behind the scenes that fans were not privy to. Maybe the company wanted to keep Brock on the hook until SummerSlam and make the title change then.

Or maybe Brock did the unexpected when he barged into the Octagon and shoved UFC champion Daniel Cormier. He forced WWE’s hand. Whatever plan the company may have had for Lesnar and Reigns suddenly changed and SummerSlam was chosen as the best place for their feud to finally conclude.

It may be an interesting story. Fans may be curious about what happens. But do they emotionally invest in this match? Do they really care? When it comes to Daniel Bryan versus The Miz, the answer is “yes” to both of those questions. This is real heat between two very real Superstars and it’s about to get extremely real on August 19.

Daniel Bryan invades The Miz's exclusive interview: SmackDown LIVE, Aug. 7, 2018

Daniel’s job at SummerSlam is to deliver the best match of his WWE career. But that’s his job every time he steps into a WWE ring. Bryan has more heart and takes more pride in his craft than many of his contemporaries ever have. He fought against the odds to return and he wants to prove that he is still the man to beat.

The Miz’s job at SummerSlam is also to deliver but he has much more to prove than Daniel does. That’s because some fans continue to see Miz as nothing more than an entertaining and comical heel. They acknowledge his skill but that’s as far as it goes. They believe The Miz is a second tier Superstar. He may be at the top of that tier, but he’s below the main event nonetheless. Those fans will likely change their opinion on August 19.

This is the showdown that WWE fans have been waiting for. It’s the one feud that went from impossibility to reality. Daniel Bryan and The Miz both take their jobs very seriously and that will be evident at SummerSlam. It may not be the main event. But perhaps fans will hold it in that regard long after the night is over.

 

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