Re: Best way to capitalize off Miz/Bryan?
I agree Daniel needs to throw challengers at Miz almost weekly. First they need to suit the mold of Bryan. This finally could be the Austin vs. McMahon they have been looking for.
Phase 1: The Cruiserweights
I´d start with Drew Gulak, Kota Ibushi and Zack Sabre Jr. Miz wins clean over Gulka and Ibushi, but it´s hard matches on Smackdown. Miz gets on the stick: I know your little fancy cruiserweight tournament, but stop insulting the greatest IC champ and at least get me the midget champion. (Assuming it will be Zack Sabre Jr. Match on Smackdown. Miz sells it: I fact checked you do not have a valid WWE contract, I´m not obligated to fight you. Bryan signs Sabre Jr. to a contract. Now it´s PPV: Champion vs. Champion. Miz says One Time Only. Bryan agrees. Miz loses by DQ due to outside interference by Maryse. Sabre Jr. is made. Cruiserweight belt established. Long-term story in place that can be re-visited.
Phase 2: NXT.
Smackdown match first with somebody like Oney Lorcan. Miz beats him clean. Up next Austin Aries Smackdown Main Event. Miz again working it: Oh right. You are the guy that made Daniel almost quit the first time. Miz goes over. Daniel is getting upset. He makes a trade. Randy Orton and a future pick for Sami Zayn. Miz makes fun of it. You trade a veteran, a x world champion for Sami Zayn and you give them a pick too. Now Miz makes "one time only" his PPV stipulation. Bryan counters "No DQ and No Countout" this time. Survivor Series: Sami Zayn vs. Miz. They put on a 30 minute match. Time limit draw. Next night on Smackdown Miz start messing with Daniel: Gotta read the fineprint my friend. You can still read, my braindamaged friend, right?
Phase 3: Veterans. Daniel sells out.
Now Daniel has reached the point, where it drives him insane that he cannot get the better of Miz. So he makes another trade. This time he trades a young piece for a RAW veteran. Goldust for Crews. Obviously Miz makes fun of the fact that Bryan is turning his back on the indy darlings. Obviously Miz wins easilyin a squash, but now he says: Wow that was the toughest match yet. These WWE veterans. They know their stuff. Next Smackdown backstage you see a slumped over Daniel Bryan. He´s defeated. Somebody walks in. He looks up. It´s the Big Red Machine. Yes.Yes.Yes. It´s Kane vs. Miz. And again Miz goes over.
We are at the point Daniel is completely selling out. All he wants his Miz beaten and the IC title taken. Miz makes him an offer. Royal Rumble. Veteran of his choice, BUT 1.) One time Only. 2.) Miz automatically gets the #30 spot in the Rumble 3.) And he gets off until Wrestle Mania. No more title defenses.
Daniel is so desperate he agrees to all of Miz´s conditions.
Bryan picks the Anti-Daniel. It´s Miz vs. a returning JOHN CENA for the IC title at the Royal Rumble. Miz wins again. In the Rumble itself Sami Zayn not only eliminates Miz, but shockingly goes on to win the Rumble.
Phase Four: The Pay-Off
Next night on Smackdown. Miz has a huge celebration. Daniel is in the ring. At this point he has nothing left. He is a broken man. He´s sold his soul to the devil John Cena. Bryan says it´s over. You won, Miz. He starts to walk away from the ring as Miz continues to lay into him verbally. Suddenly Sami Zayn´s music hits. Daniels head goes up. He feels hope. Obviously Miz says: What are you doing here. You can´t have a match I already beat you. No rematch clause. Daniel´s shoulders slump again. He starts walking away again. Sami says: Not so fast. Pulls out a piece of paper. Royal Rumble stipulation. Winner of the Rumble gets a title shot. Doesn´t say which title. Everybody just assumed it´s the world title, cause that´s the obvious choice. You gotta read the fine print. Daniel confirms.
It´s on. WRESTLEMANIA: The Miz vs. Sami Zayn. The rematch for the IC title. And this time NO DQ, NO Countcout, and NO time limit, cause it´s a ladder match.
Next week on Smackdown Miz walks into the video room and there is Zayn and Bryan studying ladder match tape. Miz gets upset. He´s a bit nervous. He needs help. So for the WrestleMania build up he starts seeking advice. First up the greatest IC Champion of all-time: The Honky Tonk Man. Honky tells him he has no experience in ladder matches. He needs different advice. Up next Edge and Christian, the ladder match kings. They point out to him that well tag ladder matches are different maybe he needs to ask a singles expert. They ask Miz whether he´s okay. He seems in distress. Miz in deep thought. Say no he´s fine. They are correct. He needs the greatest expert on ladder matches Shawn Michaels.
Final episode of Smackdown before WrestleMania.
So Miz is off to Shawn Michaels place. He rings the door. Nobody opens. Miz starts losing it. He´s yelling. Finally Shawn opens the door. Miz is happy. Explains the problem to Shawn. Sucks up to him. Eventually Shawn only says: You know I trained Daniel Bryan, right? Miz is starting to lose his composure. But he´s not the greatest IC champ for nothing. He recovers: You know Shawn. You are right. I don´t need you. I need to talk to the guy who beat your sorry ass at WrestleMania X. I need the Bad Guy. I need Razor Ramon. Shawn turns into his house and says: Scott, there is somebody at the door, who wants to talk to. Miz looks at Shawn. He´s fuming. He turns around and starts to walk away. Razor appears in the door and adresses Miz: Hey, Yo.
Shawn says: You know this is going to be the greatest IC match since our match at WrestleMania X. Razor just puts his arm around his shoulder and they walk back into the house together.
Obviously Zayn goes over Miz clean at Mania.