LogFAQs > #874890521

Now I suppose the argument could be made "well the audience would crap on this regardless because they loved Bryan too much."

Well, yes and no. The way I see it you have 4 options here if you didn't want Bryan to win (Bryan winning should have been an option but I digress) but wanted the audience to not take a dump on what you're doing.

1. Dolph Ziggler. He was still kinda hot after "destroying the authority" (who had already come back at this point despite this being just over 2 months later). I don't think you could straight up book him vs Lesnar 1v1, but another triple threat at mania similar to the one we had on this show could've been okay.

2. Dean Ambrose. Still a new shield guy, without the backlash. You could've maybe had him vs Lesnar in a no dq match or something like what happened in 2016, but with Ambrose actually crazy enough in it to be credible.

3. Bubba Ray is booked in a way more fitting Bully Ray and less of a nostalgia act and wins the damn thing. Why not? A dude coming in fresh is the perfect time to make him a big deal. Guy could still go and could give a few good years I think.

And my personal favorite

4. Miz takes Mizdow's spot successfully, lasts till nearly the end but Mizdow remains at ringside/on the apron AGGRESSIVELY doing his stunt double act so people remember he's there the whole time. He gets eliminated in the Show/Kane stuff, with Mizdow trying to revive him for a while. Reigns wins in the exact same fashion, but ringside the refs are telling Mizdow he's still in the match! Mizdow goes for it, and successfully Santinos his way to a win. No idea how a title match with Lesnar would work but I don't really care.
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No problem!
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