Bryan is still getting that pop and besides his character makes sense because why would he still be angry if he was beating Main Event talent? Besides the character wouldn't work facing Cena. The whole Big show thing is the idea that Triple H was the one that screwed him because he ordered it.
The Cody Rhodes thing was do to Triple H firing him. If Triple H wasn't involved he would of just disappeared for the wedding and just returned how he was before the angle not over.
The whole thing goes to the moment at Summerslam. If Bryan beat Cena clean and won who would he face that's a big time heel if Orton never turned?
Well this whole story line could have been salvaged if Bryan actually had the belt right now and then Cena came back as the heel, saying that he's the face of the company that HHH is talking about and him vs Bryan in a rematch could happen. Instead the WWE is obviously building up to an eventual Bryan vs Cena rematch where Bryan loses to a healthy Cena and probably goes heel. All this shit they are doing with Bryan is so they can feed him to Cena.
The next face of the company is most likely Roman Reigns.