WWE is confirming that Daniel Bryan's return match will be... on a Smackdown taping...

What do you think? Good move? Bad move? What would you do?

Dumb as hell.

He's like their second top guy...and he returns on freakin' Smackdown? Would you see John Cena doing that? Nope.

Should have returned at the Rumble as a surprise entrant at No. 30. The pop would have been insane.

I think it could still work if you want to Russo swerve the fans... Have Kane beat the shit out of him on the Smackdown taping. Have it officially announced that he's no longer an entrant. Then, the Raw before, have a return attack on Kane by Reigns that may-or-may-not eliminate Kane from the Rumble, and then have Daniel (Or Dolph Ziggler, who would work too) enter late and win.

But it won't work. It's once again a clear sabotage of any competition for the chosen one. It's like Gene Okerland screaming Hogan's name and speaking everyone else's all over again. They're all in on the guy who isn't as talented as some of the others and they're not going to back down.

It's stupid. But hey unlike TNA they at least advertise shit.

Chilly wrote:

Should have returned at the Rumble as a surprise entrant at No. 30. The pop would have been insane.

He actually flat out stated on RAW that he would be in the Rumble. Not sure if you knew that, as I don't know if you watch WWE.

I get what you're saying, but perhaps the knowledge that he's going to be in the match is going to entice more people to buy the show, and it's going to add that anticipation of "when is Bryan coming out?"

I do agree that having him compete beforehand is dumb though. Make people wait for the big show to see him wrestle again.

Yeah, I already knew. I just got to that point on Raw the other day (I'm a week behind) before I posted that. I understand it makes people want to buy the Network to see the Rumble more now because he's in it, but I miss the old fashioned mark out moments of someone returning.

They could have done it another way by hinting in some form he'd be there, but never directly mentioning him.

I am not 100% sure he'll actually make it to the Rumble. I can't imagine they're dumb enough to go with him and not have him win, so I figure if Reigns is still the guy Bryan will be removed from the Rumble before it starts.

TBH, as long as he wins, I don't care what they do.

Eeyen wrote:

I am not 100% sure he'll actually make it to the Rumble. I can't imagine they're dumb enough to go with him and not have him win, so I figure if Reigns is still the guy Bryan will be removed from the Rumble before it starts.

I think having him eliminated in the Rumble match via some sort of screwjob might be a good way to go. Then he's at least in the thing.

There's definitely a reason behind why they're gonna give him a match (or matches) before the RR, and Ian's probably right that they'll have him taken out before the RR so that he can't compete in it. (or have him make the "surprise" appearance at the RR despite the attack)

Btw did his first match back happen yet?