WWE teases Daniel Bryan appearance on Raw
Though the recent brand split promised that Raw and SmackDown would be separate entities, it looks like there will be more intermingling between the brands on next Monday’s edition of Raw.
WWE.com posted an article on Friday afternoon claiming that Raw General Manager Mick Foley has invited SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan to appear on Monday’s Raw.
The possible appearance comes after last week saw Randy Orton attack Brock Lesnar at the end of Raw, and Brock Lesnar appear on SmackDown looking for revenge against Orton. The Lesnar vs. Orton inter-promotional match is one of the key selling points for SummerSlam, and WWE has used it to create tension between the two brands.
The brand extension and some subsequent production changes aimed to give both Raw and SmackDown distinct identities, but the cross-brand appearances of Lesnar, Orton, and now potentially Bryan have been used as focal points of the post-draft television.
It isn’t clear if these appearances will be a regular thing or if they’ll only be used to promote events like SummerSlam that feature both brands.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.