3 Reasons Why Daniel Bryan’s Heel Turn Was The Right Move

The go-home SmackDown to Survivor Series ended in shocking fashion as Daniel Bryan re-captured the WWE Championship. What stunned fans even more is the low blow Bryan used to win it.

After multiple concussions forced Daniel Bryan into retirement, he was finally cleared to compete in March of this year. Bryan would eventually turn his attention to AJ Styles and the WWE Championship.

That WWE Championship match came on the October 30th edition of SmackDown, which AJ Styles won. Samoa Joe’s attack on both men afterwards planted the seeds for Bryan’s growing frustrations.

Bryan and The Miz were named co-captains of SmackDown’s Survivor Series men’s team on the following episode of SmackDown. In the main event between Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy to determine the final member of Team SmackDown, Joe emerged victorious.

A confrontation between the former NXT Champion and Bryan prompted the latter to unleash an assault on Joe, The Miz, and even Shane McMahon before walking out.

The following week, a debate between Paul Heyman and AJ Styles led to a brawl between the year-long WWE Champion and Bryan. The tension between the two forced Bryan’s removal from Team SmackDown and prompted a rematch against Styles for the WWE Championship.

Both men put forth hard-fought efforts but it was a cheap shot and a knee from Bryan that netted him his fourth WWE Championship. To solidify Bryan’s shift in attitude, he continued attacking the former WWE Champion after the match. The surprise was evident on the faces of those in attendance given how widely adored Bryan is. However, Bryan’s newfound mean streak is the best possible move for not only himself but SmackDown as a whole.