Backstage News On Daniel Bryan’s Opponents For WWE Fastlane and Possibly WrestleMania 35

Despite facing five determined competitors inside the Elimination Chamber on Sunday, “The New” Daniel Bryan overcame the odds to retain his eco-friendly WWE Championship.

Now, the self-proclaimed “Planet’s Champion” will look to continue his crusade to save the world as The Road to WrestleMania heats up. But there’s still the final stop, WWE Fastlane, ahead. Tonight on SmackDown LIVE, the WWE Champion’s opponent for the March 10 pay-per-view event will be revealed.

Kofi Kingston is the “front-runner” to face Bryan at Fastlane, according to a report today by Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline. This is a change of plans from Monday morning since the WWE creative team had a different opponent in mind for Bryan.

Following the fan response to Kingston’s performance in last week’s Gauntlet Match on SmackDown LIVE to earn the right to be the last to enter the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match, and then to his performance on Sunday, the decision was changed to Bryan vs. Kingston.

It is not clear how or if this change of plans will affect the creative team’s plans for the WWE Championship Match at WrestleMania 35. Bryan is, or was, scheduled to face a returning Superstar as opposed to a regularly seen SmackDown LIVE Superstar.

While recapping Raw last night on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said
WWE is looking to bring back a “recognizable star” to challenge Bryan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35.

Meltzer mentioned Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bray Wyatt, Kurt Angle, John Cena, Batista, and The Undertaker as potential opponents for Bryan moving forward.

You can listen to Meltzer discuss Bryan’s potential opponents for WrestleMania 35 in the video below.