[COLUMN] The Pursuit: John Cena & the U.S. Title vs. Daniel Bryan & the Intercontinental Title

Well here we are just a few weeks from WrestleMania and two of WWE’s biggest stars are matchless. John Cena and Daniel Bryan have yet to be given a match at the biggest show of the year. No need to worry, we as fans know better. Cena will likely be wrestling Rusev for the United States Championship, and Bryan will be wrestling for the Intercontinental Championship.

I personally think this is good for both belts as it could give much-needed star power and prestige back to each title picture. Where I become confused is when I listen to opinions of the fans and so called insiders. Like or hate Cena most think his pursuit of the U.S. Championship is not only a good thing for Rusev it’s also a good thing for the title and Cena. On the flip side most fans feel Bryan in the Intercontinental title picture is a waste of his talent. I strongly disagree, much like Cena and the U.S title Bryan will only heighten the status of the Intercontinental Championship. Let’s take a deeper look at both titles and their current situations.

Rusev has held the U.S. Championship a day over four months and has been undefeated for close to a year. This alone has brought stability to the once revered championship. Rusev has become one of the most dominant villains in WWE. He has beaten everyone he has faced which leads to the villain needing a hero. Who better to play the hero than John Cena? Cena is a fifteen time World Champion, three times U.S. Champion, and a four time Tag Team Champion. That’s twenty-two championship reigns at the age of 37. Although many don’t want him their Cena could still be in the World Championship picture. Having a man of Cena’s caliber chasing the title brings it value. No matter who wins this feud Cena or Rusev the real winner will be the U.S Championship.

This leads me to Bryan and the Intercontinental Championship, how is his pursuit of that title any different from Cena’s pursuit? First let me address the elephant in the room. I realize many think he should be main eventing WrestleMania but he is not so let’s move on. Bryan has yet to reach the same heights as John Cena, so why do fans think he is better than a secondary title but Cena isn’t? Bryan has never held the Intercontinental Championship which makes his pursuit historically important. A few weeks back Dean Ambrose talked about looking at a wall in WWE headquarters that has all the names of wrestlers to hold the I.C. title. HBK, Bret Hart, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, Pat Patterson are just a few of the greats to hold that title. This makes me wonder why Bryan is above a title held by any of these men? He is not, and he is important to the future of the I.C. title. The I.C. title has been mistreated the past few years and it needs some stability much like Rusev brought to the U.S. Championship. Bryan wanting the I.C. title alone makes it relevant, and he is a huge star that doesn’t need to win to elevate its status.

Chasing either championship is not a secondary conquest. The United States Championship and the Intercontinental Championship have enough history behind them to stand alone as important accomplishments. We as fans are lucky to have both Bryan and Cena to watch, we are even luckier to watch them restore both of these championships back to their honorable places.