>based on their look, character, etc.
>
>Austin could bring in the rowdy hardcore crowd; a lot of them
>lower income white people. It definitely filled up the arenas
>and saved WWE but the resulting Attitude Era limited WWE's
>(and pro wrestling's) mainstream popularity more than it's
>ever did before.

Limited? WWE had more mainstream popularity then than it had since the '80s.

>Cena can attract women and kids, something that WWE really
>couldn't do in a major way since Hulkamania. He's got the PC
>look, he's willing to do any and every event WWE wants him to,
>and he's really smooth in interviews with the press and at
>charity events. Other than possibly Hulk, Cena's the best
>brand ambassador WWE has ever had.

But Cena only got a push because there was nobody else to push at the time. He was never Vince's first choice.

>When you look at who can draw, and what kinds of people they
>can draw, you got to look at their advantages and limitations.
>Sure; Bryan has a strong fanbase and has been one of the best
>workers in the world since he was in ROH. But if all of that
>can't result into new money coming in for WWE, then putting
>him as a top guy or THE top guy won't mean any more than if he
>was in the mid card.

They don't know if he can draw as champion or not. They didn't know if Cena would draw. They didn't know if HBK would draw. Or Bret. They didn't know until they put the strap on them.

>Add to that he's not a big guy

You're assuming that's still relevant. Era of giants is long gone. Era of giants was gone when they put the strap on Bret and Shawn. You don't if his size is a limiting factor or not. I mean, right now they're quickly figuring out that Batista ain't gonna draw...

>get nightmares of how out of place and dwarfish he looked
>beside Rock at Raw's 1000th episode) and he doesn't have the
>look that WWE wants out of their guys.

He has the EXACTLY the look if he draws. Money wins, period. And you don't know whether he draws money or not.

>The top stars WWE had proved they could bring in a new
>audience that was different and more lucrative than WWE had at
>the time. Bryan has to do the same thing. He should get that
>chance just like Punk and others did, but if he can't make a
>difference in ratings or merch, WWE will do the same thing to
>Bryan that they did to all the others.

It MIGHT be that Bryan becomes the most over champ since Hogan. Right?