What Impact Has Daniel Bryan Had On The Status Quo?

We are nearing the anniversary of CM Punk dropping a pipe bomb on the status quo. It was just three years ago that he shook things up. He doesn't seem to be around at the moment. Even if he was, I want to talk about another guy that has had an impact on the status quo of the company.

Daniel Bryan's story isn't really one of a guy that complained about how he was being treated in front of the whole world. Nevertheless, he was a guy that was not getting that A+ career. They wouldn't even give him a legitimate run with the WWE Championship. And it didn't look like they would have given him anything major for Wrestlemania. What happened? The fans stepped in. Utilizing the "Yes!" and "No!" chants that Daniel Bryan was doing, they made their voices heard. The WWE was forced to change plans. CM Punk walking out also had a hand in things. Daniel Bryan not only got his Wrestlemania moment, but he is getting a title reign that they can't seem to take away from him.

Comparing the Summer of Punk 2011 to the "Yes" Movement, I would say what happened with Daniel Bryan had more of an impact against the status quo than what Punk did three years ago. What CM Punk did was a controlled protest. What do I mean by that? Yes, he went out there and was brutally honest, but the WWE allowed him to do it and was running with it. They were in control. Not surprisingly, the WWE didn't really change their ways. What happened with Daniel Bryan was not something the WWE expected. The WWE could not have expected Daniel Bryan to become so over that fans would react like they did to their mistreatment of him. They eventually did turn it into a storyline, but that was a real shot to the people that control the status quo.

Is Daniel Bryan's success leading to legitimate change in the status quo? CM Punk's pipe bombs didn't. It does seem like the WWE is showing more interest in the talent from the independent circuit. But how about how the talent is being utilized on the main roster? That is what defines what the status quo is really about, not who is signed or not. Is the WWE more open to really giving the fans what they want to see? I would love to see another Zack Ryder. I would love to see another guy just get really over out of nowhere and put that pressure on the WWE to push him. Will the WWE give him the push he deserves? Or play more games and dance around it? I don't see how irritating your fans is a smart business practice. You are just asking for something bad to happen.

Daniel Bryan is still holding his title. He "retained" it at Payback and Stephanie McMahon once again did not just strip it from him on Raw this week. Do I think this is because the WWE is afraid the fans will overreact again? No. Fans did get crazy a few months ago, but I think most of them would realize that taking the title off Daniel Bryan would not be screwing him. He is recovering from surgery and cannot defend it. It looks like this ends at Money in the Bank. He either returns to defend it or they crown a new Champion. For someone that is supposed to be an evil heel, Stephanie's character has been kind of fair to Daniel Bryan. No matter what happens with the title, this won't be the end of Daniel Bryan.