WWE: Daniel Bryan must tread lightly with how often he elevates talent

Daniel Bryan continues to elevate those around him, but is it coming at a cost?

Friday’s WWE SmackDown saw Daniel Bryan eat defeat yet again, this time to Cesaro in singles competition. It was a huge victory for the former United States champion, but whether the company will capitalize on his momentum this time around remains to be seen.

The loss furthered proved why Bryan is one of the selfless Superstars in WWE today. Attempting to elevate younger talent is nothing new to him, as he’s been doing it with everyone from Mustafa Ali and Kofi Kingston to Sami Zayn and Murphy for years.

Bryan was also reportedly responsible for the singles pushes of Big E and Gran Metalik on SmackDown last summer during his period of inactivity. He wants to see talented individuals thrive and get opportunities they wouldn’t be offered otherwise.

There is absolutely something to be said for his desire to give back to the business as he seemingly enters the twilight of his career, but Bryan also needs to ensure that he isn’t losing enough to the point where a win over him is virtually meaningless.

Daniel Bryan needs to save his losses for when they matter most

The last person for that to happen to was Chris Jericho during his 2012-2013 run with WWE. He stacked up losses against the likes of CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, and even Fandango.

WWE’s grand plan for Fandango was for him to become a star by beating Jericho at WrestleMania 29. The follow-up was nearly nonexistent and Fandango faltered soon after, rendering his victory over Jericho completely pointless.

Bryan shouldn’t fall into that same category of wrestlers willing to lose more often than he wins in an attempt to get others over. He’s too valuable of an asset to be devalued, and it can absolutely be argued that he already feels like another guy on the roster due to his inconsistent booking and lack of direction lately.

Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 37?

Bryan’s losses to Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura in the first month of 2021 would have made more sense if he went on to win the men’s Royal Rumble match. Not only did he fall short, but he also wasn’t even among the final four due to being tossed out by Seth Rollins.

Bryan vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship was a story that wrote itself, but WWE going in a different direction with Reigns is fine as long as both men end up in equally important matches. Reigns seemingly has his sights set on Royal Rumble winner Edge, while Bryan may have a ‘Mania match lined up with Rollins based on what has been teased with them thus far.

The former WWE and World Heavyweight champion can win or lose that bout and it wouldn’t matter because Rollins is a perennial main event player, but if he is indeed on his way out, both Bryan and WWE need to do a better job of maintaining his credibility so someone beating him means as much as it should.

The end is near for Daniel Bryan as an in-ring competitor

Regardless of whether fans are into the idea of Bryan vs. Rollins at The Show of Shows or not, it’s at least an improvement over what he’s been doing storyline-wise lately, which is basically nothing. He’s been having stellar matches with Cesaro, Nakamura, and AJ Styles but hasn’t had any direction since returning to the ring in October.

Bryan has gone on the record in saying that he plans to wind down his career as a full-time performer sooner rather than later. If so, he needs to be utilized in a meaningful manner for the rest of his run and not be spinning his wheels the way he has been lately.

Cesaro defeating him on back-to-back occasions may feel like a major deal now, but it will ultimately amount to nothing if Bryan isn’t positioned prominently on the card going forward. Putting everyone over will result in none of them feel special.

The key is in the follow-up with Cesaro and Daniel Bryan

The Leader of “Yes!” Movement wanting to help out overlooked athletes as he nears retirement is commendable, but what happens with people like Cesaro and Nakamura after they beat Bryan is entirely up to WWE. The aftermath is imperative and now it’s time for the company to hold up its end of the bargain.

Cesaro has scored key singles victories before, including over Bryan in 2014, and it wasn’t long before he won the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. That was a prime example of the promotion booking long-term and building to something significant with Cesaro, whereas, in this instance, it’s very possible his recent mini-push is a result of him recently re-signing.

With the remarkable run he’s had since returning to the ring in 2018, Bryan deserves a proper sendoff. Regardless of how many people he puts over as he transitions into the next phase of his career, WWE must ensure his generosity isn’t wasted.