According to F4WOnline.com, while WWE did not anticipate or plan on there being as negative a reaction to the finish of the Royal Rumble match as there actually was, it's being said that keeping Bryan out of the Rumble match is in fact part of WWE's current story line plan of Bryan having to overcome the "machine" that's holding him down.

The idea is behind the angle is WWE wants fans to be outraged that Bryan isn't being pushed more.

While not confirmed, this is likely why Bryan referred to the WWE "machine" on Twitter, to help put over the story line that everyone, including Bryan himself, realizes that WWE is holding him down.

I assumed that was what it was months ago, however I also assumed him winning the Rumble would be the first step in defeating "the machine"... Him vs Orton/whoever WWE's face is at Mania.

Bullshit. They would have spun it around beforehand, but what do I know.