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WWE Money in the Bank is now just a few weeks away, with one of the most unique events of the calendar set for May 10th 2020.
Originally scheduled for Baltimore, Maryland, the show will now likely follow suit in emanating from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida - though WWE has yet to formally confirm this at the time of writing.
Two matches that won't be held at the PC, however, will be the Men and Women's Money in the Bank Ladder matches - the bouts that give the pay-per-view its name. In the latest example of WWE doing what they can to make the best of an unfortunate situation, they've turned the lack of arenas and live crowds on its head in deciding to air the two marquee bouts from their headquarters in Stamford - and on the roof, no less!
Performers from RAW and SmackDown will clash, vying for the chance to snare the Money in the Bank briefcase, containing a contract for a future world championship match. WWE veteran Daniel Bryan is among the stars in the men's bout and, for my money, he has to be the one to get the win come the end of the night.
While talented Superstars like Aleister Black and Apollo Crews are all also involved, here are 5 reasons why Bryan must be the man to be celebrating with the coveted briefcase.
5. He'd be the only Superstar on the roster to win the match twice
Daniel Bryan, unsurprisingly, has a strong history in the Money in the Bank ladder match, but in 2020, he has an opportunity to make an even bigger name for himself as far as this event goes.
He has won the ladder match before - back at Money in the Bank in 2011, he won the SmackDown version of the bout, outlasting the likes of Kane and Wade Barrett to taste victory. Should he repeat the trick in the 2020 version of the event, however, he'd be the only WWE star on the roster to do so twice.
I know what you're thinking - Edge has held the Money in the Bank briefcase on two occasions, but he only gained one of those by winning the match itself, the other was by securing victory in a singles match. The only other man to have won the MITB ladder match twice is former WWE Champion, CM Punk.
#4. It sets up a brilliant opportunity with Drew Gulak
WWE regularly has something on its programming to cater for all tastes. Those that enjoy a brawl can watch Brock Lesnar and the company's other hard hitters; there's the romance between Otis and Mandy Rose for those that enjoy watching a love story; and for the wrestling purists, there has been the slow-build storyline between Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak.
The two squared off in an excellent match as part of Elimination Chamber not so long ago, with Bryan coming out on top after a superb effort from the relative upstart. The match, we were told, was enough for Gulak to earn Bryan's respect and, ever since, they've been joined at the hip.
If WWE has taught us anything, it is always to be somewhat wary of babyface partnerships. While Bryan and Gulak are good buddies just now, it will inevitably only take one major incident to start sending cracks down the foundation of their relationship. Maybe that incident could be Bryan winning the Money in the Bank ladder match?
Gulak, as one for the future, will surely score a significant win, possibly over Bryan, at some point in his career. It might be worth considering that a Bryan victory at MITB sets the stall perfectly for a Gulak heel turn, and that big win further down the line.
#3. It can be his last, major moment in WWE
While only at 38 years of age, there's little doubt that Daniel Bryan is edging towards the latter years of his WWE career.
Such is the punishment he's inflicted on his body throughout the years - not least his neck - it's understandable that things have caught up with him to the point that he's now considering life after wrestling.
Speaking on The Bellas Podcast not long ago, the Washington native reflected on the upcoming birth of his second child, and how that has left him facing up to the reality of not wanting to perform full time.
He said:
“WWE has been great, they are going to give me six weeks paternity leave. I get to be home that first six weeks, but then after that it’s not long until my contract is up. In my mind, I think I’m just done being a full-time wrestler. I will always love wrestling, and I always wanna do wrestling, but when I say always do wrestling, that means once a month, or once every couple months.”
What better send-off for Bryan, then, than a high-profile victory at Money in the Bank? It would be the perfect 'thank you' for his service to WWE across two spells as an active competitor, and an excellent way for fans to see him in the spotlight once more.
#2. He's the biggest name in the bout
With the greatest of respect to all of the other gentlemen so far announced for this year's Men's Money in the Bank ladder match, I'd go as far as to say that Bryan is the biggest star by some distance.
Aleister Black, while fancied by many to cause an upset and win the match to capitalize on his significant push in recent months, isn't yet in Bryan's league. Undoubtedly, he might get there in time, as he's still only a relatively short way into his WWE journey.
Apollo Crews fits the same bill to a degree, though he is not likely to enjoy years of main event stardom in WWE, despite being another Superstar to enjoy more screen time in recent weeks. Likewise, Drew Gulak is on a great run but has barely scratched the surface of what he's capable of, while King Corbin is a top-quality heel without being hit at the box office.
In fact, of all the names announced, only Rey Mysterio comes close to rivaling Bryan in terms of star power, and I would still argue that, in my opinion, it's the leader of the Yes Movement that wins that particular battle. Indeed, Bryan is the bout's biggest name - let him take the glory.
#1. He deserves it
The chant "You Deserve It!" is one that is all-too regularly trotted out at arenas all around the world by professional wrestling fans. Once a statement fitting of rare and extraordinary achievements, it now seems to be something we hear when a wrestler does something even slightly impressive.
However, one could argue that, in the case of Daniel Bryan, the chant from the WWE Universe would be fitting. We discussed earlier how Bryan is edging towards the end of his active, in-ring career - it is only when you look back on his incredible list of accomplishments in WWE that you appreciate how much he's done.
To name just a few, Daniel Bryan is a four-time WWE Champion, an Intercontinental Champion, a Match of the Year winner, a 12-time Slammy Award winner and, as voted by the Wrestling Observer, the Most Oustanding Wrestler for the years between 2006 and 2010 inclusive.
Simply put, Daniel Bryan should be standing tall towards the end of this year's Money in the Bank pay per view because he deserves it - the stats back that up. In these trying times, would there be any better, feelgood win than his?
