In recent weeks on SmackDown, WWE has been telling the story that Daniel Bryan isn't the man he once was after losing to Universal Champion The Fiend at the Royal Rumble last month. That's led to him interacting with Superstars like Heath Slater and Drew Gulak, and according to WrestlingNews.co, Bryan is the one who suggested that they be used.
The leader of the Yes Movement reportedly did that because he's good friends with them and knows they're being underutilised on SmackDown at the moment.
"Bryan pitches a lot of his own ideas," a WWE source tells the site. "Sometimes Vince [McMahon] and Bruce [Prichard] will turn down an idea but a lot of the things he has pitched have been used on TV." It's also said that Bryan will likely be offered a behind the scenes role in WWE once he chooses to retire as he's widely respected and considered one of the smartest wrestlers in WWE.
There's currently no word on what the company has planned for Bryan at WrestleMania, but many fans are convinced he'll end up facing Sheamus in singles action.