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WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt is set to defend his Universal Championship title against Daniel Bryan at the Survivor Series, this Sunday.
Two weeks ago, 'The Fiend' attacked Bryan with his signature Mandible Claw. The following week we saw Bray Wyatt mock Bryan’s ‘Yes!’ chants during the latter’s appearance on the Miz TV. The reigning Universal champion clearly has a bone to pick a bone with Bryan and he is trying everything he can to get under his skin.
Interestingly, both these Superstars represent instability inside the ring. They are similar in so many ways and yet possess notable differences in their respective personas. This rivalry between Bryan and Wyatt for the Universal championship could turn into a memorable feud if the WWE Creatives play their cards right.
In this article, we take a look at five reasons why the budding feud between Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt’s alter-ego, ‘The Fiend’ is best for WWE’s overall business.
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#5 Puts Adam Cole in a balanced fight
Ever since The Fiend defeated Seth Rollins at WWE Crown Jewel to become the Universal Champion, speculations about a triple-threat match between Brock Lesnar, The Fiend, and Adam Cole started doing rounds.
However, WWE had other plans. It was announced that Lesnar will defend his WWE Championship against Rey Mysterio and The Fiend will defend his Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan.
The WWE Universe saw NXT Champion Adam Cole successfully defend his title on both SmackDown and RAW. That booking certainly allowed the leader of the Undisputed Era to stand tall and enjoy his moment in the invasion storyline heading into Survivor Series. But that wouldn’t happen again if he was to share the ring with Lesnar and The Fiend at the upcoming PPV.
Now that both Lesnar and The Fiend are defending their titles against other challengers, it allows the creatives to put Cole in a much more balanced fight. He will now face the winner of a triple threat match between Pete Dunne, Killian Dain, and Damian Priest scheduled to take place at Takeover: WarGames to determine the No. 1 contender for Cole’s gold.
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#4 Neutralises Brock Lesnar’s ‘special’ booking
Brock Lesnar’s ongoing feud with Rey Mysterio has seen both Superstars get more and more violent with each passing day. They are now set to compete in a No-Holds Barred match at Survivor Series which will test both their resilience.
When this match was first announced, it fetched a mixed response from the WWE Universe. After all, fans wanted to see the 'Beast Incarnate' square off against The Fiend. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and it prompted fans to point out the special treatment offered to Lesnar despite his sporadic appearances as the Champion.
But the same fans quickly changed their tune when they realized that SmackDown’s most coveted prize will also be defended in a brand-specific match. Booking The Fiend vs Bryan at Survivor Series allowed the creatives to let the champions of both brands compete against a member of their own roster.
Naturally, the idea was extended to NXT as well which is why all three champions are now set to compete in Singles match to defend their respective titles.
#3 Establish The Fiend as the WWE Universal Champion
Yes, we saw The Fiend defeat Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship but following that, we have not seen him defend his title on the television.
Although he is the hottest name in the pro-wrestling business right now, limited title defenses are bound to force people to turn on Bray Wyatt in the future. After all, the WWE Universe’s response to Brock Lesnar’s title runs speaks volumes about this type of booking.
WWE’s rule states that each championship has to be defended at least once every 30 days. If that rule is applied to The Fiend, it will be a perfect opportunity to establish him as the WWE Universal Champion.
Daniel Bryan has fantastic in-ring skills and he can narrate a story very well. Even though their feud has just begun, the two can deliver a great match at the upcoming PPV. The Fiend will most probably retain his title which will kickstart his reign with a notable rivalry, thereby helping his entire championship reign in the long run.
#2 Explore Daniel Bryan's future on SmackDown
The Fiend attacked Daniel Bryan while the latter was in the middle of deciding if he needs to form an alliance with Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn. It was unexpected but this new storyline certainly has a lot of potential.
After being betrayed by Erick Rowan, and a brief stint with Roman Reigns, Bryan looks slightly clueless when it comes to his next move. In his own words, he is no longer the man who started the ‘Yes!’ chants and in addition, he has also denied the heel persona that saw him become the ‘Planet’s Champion’.
Now, Bryan is someone who is looking for something new and this storyline might just be the thing that he needs. It will be interesting to see how Bryan manages to cope up with the threat posed by The Fiend. Will he continue as a face? Will he become an anti-hero? Or will he turn into a heel once again?
The creatives can explore a lot of possibilities which also includes him relying on an alliance with Nakamura. The WWE Universe was thrilled when this idea was first introduced on the Blue brand and maybe, Bryan will be forced to seek help from an old friend after all.
#1 Set up a credible title feud
The Fiend is extremely over with the crowd and he received overwhelming support during his feud with Seth Rollins. Although Bray Wyatt isn’t a regular babyface, a major chunk of fans passionately backs him and his title reign. It is natural to expect that this rivalry between the two popular Superstars of the Blue brand will quickly turn into an extended personal rivalry.
Having him feud with Daniel Bryan will allow WWE to add a notable name in The Fiend’s quest to conquer the entire SmackDown roster. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that he is the only one who will be cheered throughout this storyline.
If there’s anyone who can manage to make the crowd boo The Fiend, it is Bryan. He is widely popular amidst the fans and can easily convince them to get behind him in his bout against Bray Wyatt. Both Bryan and Wyatt’s in-ring persona depicts an unstable mind. Therefore, this is the type of booking that pits two equally interesting Superstars against each other. Can you imagine the mind games they will play inside the squared circle?
This rivalry has the potential to divide the entire WWE fanbase into two halves. Both these Superstars can tear the house down and earn more and more viewership with each passing week. Moreover, it’s a guarantee that their feud will be intense, thereby keeping the fans invested in the product for a long time.
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