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The "Excellence in Column Writing" is back and once again, it's time to tell the Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) a big fat I TOLD YOU SO. Even when Daniel Bryan was screwed at SummerSlam in favor of Randy Orton ending the night as WWE Champion, the IWC was creaming all over itself thinking that Daniel Bryan was the WWE's #1 guy and would have a lengthy WWE Title reign. I even heard repeat calls by the IWC that Daniel Bryan was going to become the "next Stone Cold Steve Austin". I laughed... I had a much different perspective... From the moment the Randy Orton won the Money in the Bank briefcase AND didn't have a match at SummerSlam 2013, I knew that the fix was in. The WWE had fallen back in love with Randy Orton. Orton went from a guy who appeared stuck on the Smackdown brand and being suspended for a Wellness Policy violation to being considered for a WWE Title all within a few months. After Daniel Bryan failed repeatedly at capturing the WWE Title from Orton at repeat Pay Per Views, Orton was able to unify the WWE Title and World Heavyweight Title. Now, Orton gets another high profile match with John Cena. If you still believe that Daniel Bryan's time is coming, that he'll win the Royal Rumble and get a WWE Title shot at Wrestlemania, or even if you believe that joining the Wyatt Family will help Daniel Bryan's career... Consider this. Brock Lesnar just cut a promo that he wants a WWE Title shot and will disregard the Royal Rumble to get his shot. Wow, that's a statement... Then, you have Batista returning. In a WWE where John Cena, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Batista are on the SAME roster again, where does that leave Daniel Bryan? Where does that leave the rest of the roster? WWE has fallen back in love with the "Class of 2002" Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental wrestlers. The "Fab 4" of that era are now going to compete together within the WWE and that hasn't been seen since 2004 when the wrestlers were on separate brand extensions. Never before have we seen all 4 competing on the same WWE roster together or at least at a Main Event level. We're now going to see that. Don't be surprised if we see a Fatal Four Way at Wrestlemania. Vince McMahon will shift his full focus on these 4 wrestlers. Cena is the #1 babyface, Brock Lesnar has a huge contract, and Orton/Batista are Triple H personal favorites (hence, their Evolution memberships and early World Title reigns). 2014 might be just multiple combinations of matches between Batista, Orton, Cena, and Lesnar and that's fine. Someone short and not in the WWE Management's favor, like Daniel Bryan, doesn't stand a chance. I believe that the WWE will push the "Class of 2002" hard but also utilize 2014 to push specific developmental wrestlers who have debuted within the last 2 years along with other developmental wrestlers yet to debut. Specifically, I believe that Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt are going to be pushed HARD during 2014 with a good possibility of Big E Langston being right up there. Big E almost had a WWE Title shot against John Cena, for example, and Wyatt is actually being discussed to wrestle John Cena at Wrestlemania 30. Of the Shield members, WWE Management obviously likes Reigns the best due to his look and intensity of his character. I believe that the other 2 Shield members, Rollins and Ambrose, have too much of that Indy look to them that Vince McMahon specifically despises. There's a logjam forming at the top and Daniel Bryan will struggle to get his shot, especially if there's only one World Title now. You can chant "YES! YES! YES!" all you want but what the WWE sees in Bryan is a guy under 5'10" who used to wrestle for Ring of Honor. I'll be honest with you... I'm fine with Brock Lesnar and Batista in the WWE Title scene. Both guys look dangerous and I would struggle to ever believe that Daniel Bryan could take either guy in a real life fight. That's the problem of pushing shorter wrestlers... That's why Eddie Guerrero didn't move the meter as WWE Champion during 2004. Ditto for Rey Mysterio Jr.. Daniel Bryan has the striking kicks but the WWE announcing team barely makes mention on how they could be an equalizer against larger wrestlers. Image is everything... Daniel Bryan is not only short, but the hair and beard hurts his look. Chances are that Bryan's refusal to shave or cut his hair probably allowed WWE Creative Team members to think "hey, he looks like a Wyatt Family member". Here we are today... Royal Rumble 2014 just became VERY interesting. Randy Orton will take on John Cena... The question is this: will that match occur BEFORE or AFTER the Rumble match? That's important because the loser of that match could enter the Rumble match if the Rumble match is the main event. Brock Lesnar just mocked the Royal Rumble and declared himself the #1 contender. Then, you have Batista returning... Who knows what the WWE is doing with the Elimination Chamber? With Brock declaring himself as the #1 contender, another OVW wrestler could win the Rumble while another wins the Elimination Chamber. There's your Fatal Four Way... Although, I'm quite certain that Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar is still going down to disrupt that. But you never know with the WWE... I'll take Batista returning and Brock Lesnar over Daniel Bryan, any day of the week. Sorry... I like Bryan but I agree with the WWE. He's undersized. He would be a perfect Cruiserweight Champion, if that title existed, but he just doesn't feel credible as a WWE Champion and wrestling guys over 6'0". Both of the Wyatt Family members looked like towers compared to him tonight. If you think that I didn't predict Daniel Bryan's future, just check out my August 20th, 2013 column. Bryan was just Orton's "something to do" before John Cena returned. It's a fact now... Disappointing to see the WWE crap on Daniel Bryan so much... But damn, it's exciting to see Batista and Brock Lesnar back. Comments and debates are welcome on Twitter. Bring it on. @titowrestling SO JUST CHILL TILL THE NEXT EPISODE! MR. TITO COLUMN ARCHIVES on LordsofPain.net/WrestlingHeadlines.com FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @titowrestling
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