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The return of Daniel Bryan from his retirement was nothing short of miraculous.
After being told he'd never wrestle in WWE again, Bryan worked hard for the company, though hinted at leaving so he could wrestle elsewhere.
Making his big in-ring return at WrestleMania, Bryan has been on fire since, though shockingly turned on the WWE Universe when he won the WWE Championship from AJ Styles in November.
Now a fully-fledged heel, fans have been left wondering who will Bryan face next in 2019, and whilst he has a rematch with the Phenomenal One at the Royal Rumble, most are expecting Bryan to once again defeat the former champion.
If he does, that does leave the question of who will be the one to beat Bryan, and finally shut the former YES! Movement leader up.
Here are five Superstars who could dethrone WWE Champion Daniel Bryan in 2019.
5: The Miz
It may be impossible to believe, but there have been rumors of a face Miz Vs. heel Daniel Bryan match for WrestleMania.
Currently teaming with Shane McMahon, 2018 was a big year for the A-Lister, who, despite having just one title reign (the Intercontinental Championship), also had a high-profile feud with the then-face Bryan.
The two clearly have history past last year though, as Bryan joined the WWE in the original NXT, as the rookie of The Miz, despite having much more experience, and even defeated the Cleveland star to win his first title in WWE, the US Championship.
That said though, a match like this would be difficult to pull off, as regardless of how much the WWE may want these two to change, they'll still be fans who'll always boo Miz and cheer Bryan.
4: Samoa Joe
2018 was not exactly the best year for Samoa Joe.
Despite dominating on SmackDown Live, Joe constantly came up short in title matches, losing multiple times to AJ Styles in enjoyable though predictable bouts.
A former Impact and NXT Champion, Joe has had championship success everywhere except SmackDown, something he'll be hoping to rectify in 2019.
If he does, it'd be a huge win for Joe, though the company would have to tread carefully with a heel Vs. heel dynamic.
Although, if WWE wanted to turn Bryan face, or even turn Joe face instead, having the Samoan Submission machine destroy Bryan could be the way to do it.
Whichever way the company goes, hopefully 2019 will be the year where Samoa Joe takes his rightful spot on top of the SmackDown Live food chain.
3: AJ Styles
He may have held the WWE Championship for over a year, but it's obvious by the fans' response that they are not tired of main-eventer AJ Styles.
After being drafted to the Blue brand in the 2016 Brand Extension, Styles has made SmackDown his show, constantly being one of the main fixtures of the show, whether it be feuding with John Cena, as US Champion, or as WWE Champion.
Now showing a new mean-streak after slapping Vince McMahon, Styles could be in line for a character change, perhaps a darker side, more akin to the lone wolf gimmick he showcased in his final year of TNA.
If so, it could be this character change that allows him to finally defeat Bryan, and take the WWE Championship that was unceremoniously stolen from his via a low blow.
2: Rusev
Already the United States Champion, it's safe to say that Rusev had been one of the most popular Superstars on SmackDown Live in 2018.
Feuding with the likes of The Undertaker and Andrade 'Cien' Almas (both feuds that the Bulgarian lost) in 2018, Rusev finished the year on a high, capturing the star-spangled title from Shinsuke Nakamura on Christmas Day.
For years, fans have been itching to see the Bulgarian get a World title, and whilst he'd not have a chance on RAW against the likes of Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman, SmackDown may be just the place for it to happen.
Defeating Bryan, after a few more months of his heelish antics could be the perfect moment for Rusev, who, at just 33 years old, isn't showing any signs of slowing down, anytime soon.
1: Mustafa Ali
The newest member of the SmackDown Live roster, Mustafa Ali's time on the brand has been enviable.
Despite coming up short in his debut match against Bryan, Ali has impressed everyone, earning himself a legion of fans.
If booked properly, Ali's story in 2019 could be of the young underdog, overcoming all the odds, to shockingly win the big one, it what would be considered a huge upset.
It would also mirror Bryan's own rise to the main event that took place between 2013 and 2014, and with Bryan now a heel, these two could tear the house down both with their in-ring skill, and with excellent storytelling.
It may seem unlikely, and Ali may still be new to many fans who didn't watch him 205 Live, but in an era where fans complain about predictability, Ali as WWE Champion would be a sure-fire crowd pleaser.
