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WWE: Five candidates for midyear MVP – Men’s Edition

By Saksham Karakasia

Apr 11, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Roman Reigns (black pants) and Daniel Bryan (green trunks) and Edge (white pants) during their Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Roman Reigns (black pants) and Daniel Bryan (green trunks) and Edge (white pants) during their Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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WWE, Daniel Bryan
WWE, Daniel Bryan (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images) /

4. Daniel Bryan

Who has, by pro-wrestling standards, an average stature, an average look, is never meant to be in the spotlight but ends up in it anyway?

Daniel Bryan, that’s who.

There’s just something about Daniel  Bryan that makes him such a brilliant professional wrestler. Being one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time certainly helps. On top of that, he’s one of the most over and likable babyfaces to ever lace up a pair of boots.

Even if he hadn’t returned to wrestling in 2018, he would still have had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, and he’s been one of WWE’s top players since then as well.

What makes Bryan so popular with fans is that not only is he one of the best storytellers in the ring, he’s also a highly underrated promo.

Bryan started the year with an impressive stint in the rumble, after which he got involved in a program with Universal Champion Roman Reigns. He won the Elimination Chamber which got him an immediate title match with Reigns, in which he was destroyed.

He got another match at Fastlane, which similar to their Fastlane match in 2015, was excellent. The monster heel Reigns meshed perfectly with everyone’s favorite underdog. Bryan’s popularity rose so much that he was once again inserted into the main event of WrestleMania, with Reigns and Edge in a Triple Threat match, which was the Match of the Night, in my humble opinion.

After Mania, Bryan had some excellent wrestling matches against the likes of Jey Uso and Seth Rollins. He had a series of matches with Cesaro that was so good it propelled them both into the Universal title picture.

Finally, he had another opportunity against Reigns, in a match that had a lot of hype due to the stipulation that if Bryan lost, he’d be banished from SmackDown.

Bryan and Reigns delivered in promos in the buildup and had a hell of a match, which Bryan lost.

Ever since then, Bryan has indeed been banished from SmackDown. There are rumors that he might be leaving WWE. Whatever the case, at the age of 40 and still as good as ever, Bryan is a genius when it comes to wrestling and will continue to be so wherever he goes.

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