Alright, let’s set the stage. The year is 2014, and the WWE Universe is fuming after another Royal Rumble where Daniel Bryan isn’t even in the match. You had the crowd chanting his name for months, pushing for the underdog, the yes movement, and yet, when it came to the Rumble, Bryan was nowhere to be seen.
The fans were outraged. It’s one of those moments where WWE had a massive opportunity to listen to its audience, and they chose not to. But what if they had listened? What if Daniel Bryan had won the 2014 Royal Rumble?
The Build-Up
Daniel Bryan has been on fire since 2013. He had that incredible run with Team Hell No, turned face after being a lovable underdog, and delivered some of the most memorable moments in WWE history.
His match with John Cena at Summer Slam 2013 for the WWE Championship, a match that many consider one of the best of the decade, only solidified his place as the guy.
And despite the great work he’s done, WWE is still booking him in mid-card storylines while the chosen one, Randy Orton, holds the title.
The fans are frustrated, and Bryan is more over than ever. You can hear the “YES!” chants echoing through every arena, and the fans want nothing more than to see Daniel Bryan on top.
But, at the 2014 Royal Rumble, WWE makes a mistake: they book the Rumble match to be won by Batista, a part-timer returning to reclaim his spot in the main event scene. The problem? Fans don’t want Batista. They want Bryan.
They want the ultimate underdog story. They want the guy who’s fought tooth and nail, who has been the best performer in the company, to finally win the Royal Rumble and headline WrestleMania 30.
So, let’s change that.
The Build-Up (Part 2)
The 2014 Royal Rumble kicks off with all the usual excitement. CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Sheamus, and all your favorites are involved. But instead of Bryan being inexplicably left out, Bryan is inserted into the match at the last minute.
The storyline is simple: Daniel Bryan, after weeks of getting screwed by The Authority, gets one last chance to enter the Rumble and prove he belongs at the top. The fans go nuts.
The Rumble match itself is full of excitement, with Bryan tossing out a mix of stars like The Miz, Big Show, and even Kofi Kingston (who always brings some insane Rumble spots). However, it’s not just about the high spots. It’s about Bryan’s will to win.
This isn’t a fluke. This is a culmination of everything he’s been through in the past year. And when it comes down to the final moments, Daniel Bryan faces off against Batista, and the crowd is losing it.
The two battle back and forth, but Bryan pulls off a shock elimination, sending Batista over the top rope.
The crowd erupts. The YES! chants are deafening. Daniel Bryan has won the Royal Rumble.
The Promo
On the next Raw, Bryan cuts a promo that we would never forget. He doesn’t go out there and apologize for not being the “chosen one.” He doesn’t play the humble underdog. Instead, Bryan says:
“You want to know something, Vince? You thought I couldn’t do it, didn’t you? You thought I wasn’t good enough, that I wasn’t big enough, that I wasn’t the guy. But I’m here, standing in front of all of you, and I’m not just a guy—I’m THE guy.
You’ve tried to hold me back, you’ve tried to bury me, but it doesn’t matter anymore. The fans wanted me, and tonight, I’m going to WrestleMania to prove that I am the best in the world. I’m going to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, and nothing is going to stop me.”
Bryan becomes a man on a mission. No more submission holds to please The Authority. No more second guessing. No more “underdog” gimmicks. He’s pissed. He’s ready. And now, he has the WWE Universe behind him more than ever.
The Fallout
Now, things really start to change. WWE realizes the fans have spoken, and Bryan has the momentum. The weeks leading up to WrestleMania are electric. The Authority, led by Triple H, isn’t backing down, and they go full-on heel mode, attempting to sabotage Bryan every step of the way.
But Bryan is on fire. He dismantles Triple H in a match at Fastlane (or however they’d name the PPV), solidifying his WrestleMania spot in a huge way.
And now, WrestleMania 30. Bryan faces Randy Orton and Batista in a triple-threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. We’ve seen the build-up, we’ve seen the struggles, and now Bryan finally gets his moment.
It’s a brutal, hard-fought contest. Orton is trying to play his mind games. Batista is dominating with his power, but Bryan fights like a man possessed. He survives the odds. Bryan taps Batista out with the Yes Lock, and for the first time ever, Daniel Bryan is crowned the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
The fans go ballistic. The emotional payoff is everything fans dreamed of.
The New WWE Landscape
With Daniel Bryan as the face of the company, WWE shifts its focus. The underdog is now at the top of the mountain, and suddenly, the entire mid-card scene feels fresher.
The likes of Cesaro, Bray Wyatt, and Seth Rollins are given more spotlight as legitimate threats to Bryan’s title. The Daniel Bryan vs. The Authority feud continues, but now it’s deeper, as Bryan is the champion and has everything to lose.
Triple H, feeling threatened, tries to build a new corporate champion. But Bryan keeps proving why he deserves to be in the main event.
Meanwhile, the YES Movement is unstoppable. It’s no longer just about chants—it’s a full-on revolution. Bryan becomes a symbol for fans who’ve been left behind by WWE’s traditional booking formula. He’s the working-class hero that represents everything the company had been missing.
The Impact on the WWE Universe
The ripple effect of Bryan winning the 2014 Royal Rumble is profound. No longer is WWE stuck in a stale cycle of part-timers and aging stars dominating the main event.
Instead, Bryan’s success elevates the entire roster. Young talents get their chances to shine. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns all become bigger stars, each challenging Bryan in their own way, pushing the narrative forward.
We also see Bryan in dream feuds against the likes of Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, and even a later program with Samoa Joe, which feels organic, fresh, and exciting. WWE is now in a position where they have a champion who embodies the heart of what professional wrestling is all about—determination, heart, and passion.
Legacy Change
Bryan’s legacy is transformed. No longer does he just have the “what if?” storyline; now he’s a mainstream champion. His run as the face of WWE has a lasting impact on the product, and fans feel like they finally got the hero they’ve been begging for.
Bryan’s influence extends beyond wrestling, and his impact on the fans’ perception of WWE is indelible. He becomes one of the most beloved and respected champions in history, and his story is one of true perseverance, taking the spotlight from corporate decisions and putting it back in the hands of the people.
Conclusion
If Daniel Bryan had won the 2014 Royal Rumble, the entire trajectory of WWE would have changed. The fans’ voices would have been heard in the most impactful way possible, and Bryan’s underdog story would have reached its peak in front of the largest possible stage—WrestleMania.
The company could have shifted its narrative towards the heart and soul of professional wrestling, introducing a new era of fresh faces, emotional storytelling, and meaningful championship reigns.
In the end, Daniel Bryan winning the Royal Rumble would’ve been the catalyst for a new wave in WWE, where the best performers—not the biggest names—took center stage. It would’ve been one of the most important moments in WWE history, and something fans would’ve never forgotten.
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