Daniel Bryan officially retired on Raw this past week, it was certainly a sad for wrestling. Bryan’s contributions in the ring are well known, he has a history of outstanding work with most professional wrestlers. Bryan was an outstanding wrestler, character and man, however Bryan not only created opportunities for himself but he changed the way WWE looked at independent talents.
WWF/E have always preferred the larger, more muscular athlete, Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Graham, Hulk Hogan and many others were staples of Vince McMahon’s company for decades. The WWF/E built their company on larger than life characters, OTT superstars who captured the hearts and minds of many a young child. This mantra got myself and many others hooked on the business and at the time it worked, however times change and so does wrestling. In the 1990’s because of scandal WWE had to go with a new direction, that direction was smaller, more athletic workers like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Although the flamboyant characters died out, a more technical brawling style was slowly introduced by WWE.
As the Monday Night Wars began WWE fell behind, although they had introduced arguably a better and younger influx of talent, WCW purchased the future legends such as Hogan & Savage. WCW also introduced a cruiserweight division to appeal to a different viewer, the division was made up of a plethora of international talent handpicked from around the globe. This time WCW had evolved, another aspect of the wars was the transfer of talent from one company to the other, WCW & WWE would do their upmost to secure the best talent from each other or smaller companies like ECW. The Monday Night Wars came and went, in 2001 both ECW & WCW closed their doors, overnight they became part of the extended WWE family. The demise of both companies resulted in a number of talent having nowhere to go, therefore a lot of independent promotions sprung up in the Northern American States.
The most well known independent promotion in the United States is arguably Ring of Honor, the Baltimore based company was born in February 2002. It gained immediate notoriety with it’s outstanding technical wrestling and skilled mat tacticians. One of these skilled tacticians was Bryan Danielson, the man who would go on to become one of the founding fathers of ROH. Daniel main evented the companies debut show, in went on to have infamous feuds with Austin Aries, Homicide, Chris Hero, Samoa Joe and so many more. Bryan was the first ‘Indy Darling‘, from the get go he had a bond with the audience, a bond that over the 16 years of his career was never broken. In 2005 Bryan captured the ROH World Title, he defended it valiantly for the next year, he took challenges from all comers and all companies. 2006 saw Bryan feud with ROH Pure Nigel McGuinness, during this time they unified the two belts to make one unified title within in ROH. Bryan was relentless in his pursuit of being the best, not that I think Bryan ever believed he was or is, he was just thirsty for competition and to continue doing what he loved.
After years of outstanding performances Bryan had outgrown ROH and the independent scene, new challenges lay ahead. In 2009 Bryan signed with WWE, although there was jubilation there was also hesitation, Bryan was 5″8 and 13.5 stone, in a land of giants he was already the underdog. Bryan was sent to Florida, he had to learn the WWE way of working, it was there that he would also be renamed Daniel Bryan. He first appearance on television was on the inaugural season of NXT, he was the rookie to WWE veteran the Miz, what a joke. Daniel was the most popular contestant on the show, no matter WWE’s burial of him on screen he survived, his NXT match with Chris Jericho is still fondly remembered. Bryan was per the show, a loser he didn’t have what it took to be a WWE superstar. He was eliminated from the show yet stayed on our screens, he was then part of 2010 invasion of Raw by the Nexus. In the ensuing brawl Bryan attacked and strangled then ring announcer Justin Roberts, WWE who had only just entered the PG era panicked. On June 11th 2010 Daniel Bryan was fired by WWE for being too violent.
Bryan returned to WWE full time at Summerslam a few months later, over the next five years Bryan persevered and fought against the system to achieve the World title, Tag Team title, US title, IC title and eventually in 2014 the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. His journey to his crowning moment at Wrestlemania 30 was a result of months of outstanding performances and fan support, after Bryan lost out in the autumn months of 2013 fan support grew for Bryan. For five months Daniel Bryan was buried by the WWE, they sent a clear message on television that Bryan was not the desired face of the company. Fast forward to the Royal Rumble of 2013 and the fans told WWE exactly how they felt about the current product and who they wanted as their champion. The Road to Wrestlemania 30 was quite the experience for Daniel Bryan, however like the man that strived for perfection in ROH, he strived for it in WWE. The fans never gave up on Daniel Bryan and in return he never gave up on them, with his sheer will and determination Bryan captured the most coveted title in our business.
Bryan’s journey from zero to hero in WWE could not have been written any better, upon signing with the WWE Bryan converted himself unknowingly to becoming a rookie once more. Never before has a wrestler like Bryan achieved what he did, but Bryan achieved so much against the odds, and in doing so he broke down the barriers for future independent wrestlers coming to WWE. Bryan’s drive changed WWE perspective of potential new signings, he proved on the grandest stage of them all that indy talent were more than capable. Upon becoming World champion in 2014. Bryan’s injuries started, not so long after winning the world title Bryan was asked t relinquish due to injury. Once Bryan achieved superstardom his body started to break down, the years of punishment had finally taken there toll. After nearly 2 years not competing Daniel Bryan decided to retire, Febryary 8th 2016 was the date. The farewell speech on Raw was memorable, the words were genuine, Bryan was saying goodbye for the last time.
Bryan’s determination, drive and skill got him to the heights of world champion, he also changed the way WWE look for and sign talent. Bryan built a legacy for others to follow, as well as being the founding father of ROH, he could also be the founding father of WWE’s new crop of talent. Fans, critics, WWE, and talent all over should be grateful for what Daniel Bryan did for himself and for them.
@Ciaran_1986
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