Bryan Danielson is to join WWE.

Rjd2

Please use him right Vince this guy is awesome. Fla will be very happy.

RING OF HONOR ANNOUNCES BRYAN DANIELSON IS LEAVING FOR WWE
By Mike Johnson on 2009-08-23 22:47:24
Ring of Honor issued the following press release:

Bryan Danielson has agreed in principle to a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Bryan has been an exemplary talent and a wonderful member of the Ring of Honor locker room and family since the inception of the company. We couldn’t be happier for Bryan and all of his successes, many of which Ring of Honor has been proud to witness first hand.

We congratulate Bryan on the beginning of this next journey in his brilliant career, and wish him all the best as he progresses. Many Ring of Honor fans refer to Bryan as the “best in the world” and we look forward to looking on in earnest as he shows everyone watching the wrestling world’s biggest stage just why that is.

Bryan will appear as scheduled at all of the September Ring of Honor events. Please join us in Philadelphia, Dayton, Chicago, Boston, and New York as we say thank you and farewell to a truly one-of-a-kind talent.

http://pwinsider.com/article/40914/ring-of-honor-announces-bryan-danielson-is-leaving-for-wwe.html?p=1

Bounty Hunter

Rjd2 wrote: »

Please use him right Vince this guy is awesome. Fla will be very happy.

http://pwinsider.com/article/40914/ring-of-honor-announces-bryan-danielson-is-leaving-for-wwe.html?p=1

Sweet! I share your sentiments about using him right though, but tbh I have a strange amount of confidence in this regard atm. I can see him going to Smackdown too and it really being the show to watch.

Really great addition to the WWE

DM_7

AWESOME!

axxechikka

This is huge! Screw all the indier-than-thou ROH fans, I'm happy for Bryan and I really believe he will do well. ROH will take a huge blow with his departure, but it's time for him to take his shot at the big leagues. Can't wait to see Dragon on TV on a weekly basis!

Crunkussion

Really happy about this, hopefully he'll progress through FCW quickly and we'll see him on TV soon, he's a tremendous wrestler.

It's put the ROH forums into meltdown which is always entertaining to watch.

gimmick

axxechikka wrote: »

This is huge! Screw all the indier-than-thou ROH fans, I'm happy for Bryan and I really believe he will do well.

WTF does that even mean?

Great move for Danielson. Easily the best ring technician in the world at the moment. No such thing as a bad Danielson match. How WWE uses him remains to be seen. I would not have a huge confidence that that will be the case though as fellas his size tend to be wasted a la Jamie Noble.

Ill be honest though, and I wonder does this make me a holier than thou indy ROH fan, but I would much rather he didn't go, as simply put I wont see as much of his matches anymore.

JP Liz

great news

flahavaj

The inevitable has finally happened. One thing that WWE has been missing since the likes of Benoit and Guerrero passed on is a workhorse technician style wrestler who can be guaranteed to have a good match with pretty much any opponent. With Danielson they now have that. As others have said, there is a severe likelihood that he may be underused. One thing that goes againts him is his look, not only is he cruiserweight size, he's also as pale as Sheamus!

With regards to ROH its an undoubted blow. Hes been a constant there since day one and he more than any other wrestler epitomises the company's entire wrestling philosophy. I've said for some time now that I don't think ROH is going to last another year in the current economic climate and losing a guy of his ability is just another nail in the coffin. The other point that needs to be made is that he has pretty much done everything that there is to do in ROH and has had great matches with pretty much everyone in the roster. Theres nohing left for him to do there and hes ready fr a new chalenge. All you can ask is hes given a fair chance to do his thing and if that happens I have no doubt this time next year or the year after, he'll be commonly regarded as what some of us have known for years, as the best around.

gimmick

Just thinking of some of the matches we could see Danielson in which would be incredible

Regal in a stiff fest
HBK in a dream mentor V pupil match
Mysterio
Noble
Low Ki (if he ever debuts)
CM Punk

All of the above are just off the top of my head and all would be awesome.

shinzon

Just hope vince doesnt go the usual route with Danielson, as in well stick him in FCW for months to learn to wrestle the WWE way, then bury him on ECW

I hope im wrong and vince sees past the end of his nose on this but i have my doubts

Well see i suppose

Shin

flahavaj

I'd have no bother with him debuting on ECW. It certainly did Punk no harm. Bring him in as Regal's protege, have them tag for a while, before the inevitable awesome feud between the two. probably won't happen like that of course but a man can dream.

I think the match I'd like to see more than any is against Jericho. They'd match up perfectly and since Wellness came in theres not a huge size difference between the two.

RAMPAGE1

Put him in DX and give him the rub straight away the guy is a huge talent and a great guy. I've met him a few times and you will not meet a more down to earth guy bursting with talent waiting to escape.

gimmick

flahavaj wrote: »

I think the match I'd like to see more than any is against Jericho. They'd match up perfectly and since Wellness came in theres not a huge size difference between the two.

How the christ did I not think of that match? Thats a no brainer.

chopperbyrne

Will have to see if he knows how to wrestle good quick TV matches. If he can learn that quickly enough then he might start living up to the hype.

JP Liz

Hope he goes to SD to feud with Jericho

Danielson V Jericho = Dream Match

Rjd2

The hopeful thing about him is WWE have been after him for ages, they even invited him to their recent HOF. I don't think they would make such a huge effort to get someone if they were planning to do nothing with him. HBK will have his back as well.
Now sign Chris Hero Vince!:o
HOF Photo

Fozzy

Good for him

Bubs101

Did CM Punk not just steal his finisher though or was that Nigel's. Either way it's great news because now ECW will have him, Christian and Regal and hopefully put on a good show

Diabhal Beag

I hope they use him well but I know they won't. They have ruined so many potential stars in the past and have still managed to bury the successful ones like Punk's first World Heavyweight Title run.

He seems like a cool guy so I hope he does well.

rossie1977

Bubs101 wrote: »

Did CM Punk not just steal his finisher though or was that Nigel's. Either way it's great news because now ECW will have him, Christian and Regal and hopefully put on a good show

punk stole KENTA's finisher, danielsons finisher is cattle mutilation, great submission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yix7MmroqA

rossie1977

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I hope they use him well but I know they won't. They have ruined so many potential stars in the past and have still managed to bury the successful ones like Punk's first World Heavyweight Title run.

He seems like a cool guy so I hope he does well.

say what you want about vince but the cream usually rises to the top in wwe, jericho, eddie, benoit, hbk, bret, punk, mysterio are examples of this

being a potential star and actually fulfilling that potential are two different things, i remember in the 1980s Tommy Rich was being touted as big superstar for a while :rolleyes:, same thing with paul "big show" wight in the 1990s, he was to be the next superstar, a 7ft guy who could do moonsaults and dropkicks like a lightweight, but he got fat and lazy, not vinces fault he didn't fulfill his early promise

DM_7

Rjd2 wrote: »

The hopeful thing about him is WWE have been after him for ages, they even invited him to their recent HOF. I don't think they would make such a huge effort to get someone if they were planning to do nothing with him. HBK will have his back as well.
Now sign Chris Hero Vince!:o
HOF Photo

It certainly looks like WWE wanted him for a while and fair play to him for holding off so long.

How long had Danielson left as an ROH type of guy? I mean the effort he puts in was going to ruin him. He achieved as much as he could outside the WWE so the time is right for him to make the change. The move could add years to his career as while he will have plenty of days to work he won't have the intensity.

I was up in the middle of the night and this morning I thought I had dreamed Danielson was heading to WWE.

orestes

Haven't seen any of his stuff cos I don't watch ROH but given all the hype about him on here over the times I'm really looking forward to seeing what this guy can do

Penn

orestes wrote: »

Haven't seen any of his stuff cos I don't watch ROH but given all the hype about him on here over the times I'm really looking forward to seeing what this guy can do

After seeing that video of his submission finisher I'm pretty excited about him too

Mr.Nice Guy

Never bought into the hype about him but I'm curious to see how he does.

Bounty Hunter

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Sweet! I share your sentiments about using him right though, but tbh I have a strange amount of confidence in this regard atm.

considering the amount of people suggesting that the WWE might waste the talent that is Bryan Danielson (not brian - his name has now been changed in the thread title) I thought i might explain why I say I have confidence that he will be used right.

1) The wellness Program - Since they have really focussed on this, it has no longer been as important to be so physically big. I mean look at this size of some of the best / most pushed guys on SD atm like Jericho or CM Punk. The American Dragon would fit in just fine alongside these guys not to mention people like Rey Mysterio, Shawn Micheals or maybe even Low Ki.

2) WWEs tiered shows - Like CM Punk he would probably debut on ECW and if anybody reads the thread about ECW new & old you will see that the general consensus is that the new ECW is based mostly on wrestling and well very few can hold their own with Danielson from what ive seen when it comes to technical wrestling. He would then probably move to Smackdown while other newer Wrestlers get their chance on ECW and for me SD would be purpose built for him. Again it is primarily based around wrestling ability where the writers arent afraid to push wrestlers who arent as big (in both senses of the word), It is also the home of all the wrestlers i mentioned above who could have truely awesome matches against him. tbh when it comes to WWE not suiting someone like Danielson its only really Raw that i think that is true for (hense im slightly worried about Evan Bournes short term future atm) but on the other 2 shows I can see him excelling.

3) They've chased him - As others have pointed out, The WWE have wanted Bryan Danielson to join their roster for quite a long time, so you would think that they would know what he is all about and perhaps already have some plans for how to use him.

4) His friends/Mentors - a quick check on wikipedia would tell you that 2 of guys credited with training Danielson are Shawn Micheal & William Regal so to start with he has 2 pretty infleuncal guys who know what they are talking about pulling for him and promoting him within the company, both of whom would probably love to have matches against him themselves.

5) I drafted him in the most recent boards draft so he must be Awesome

DM_7

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

considering the amount of people suggesting that the WWE might waste the talent that is Bryan Danielson (not brian - his name has now been changed in the thread title) I thought i might explain why I say I have confidence that he will be used right.


5) I drafted him in the most recent boards draft so he must be Awesome

Good post. I really hope you are proved right about BrYan.

Point 5 was a nice way to finish the post.

I hear he is taking on Davey Richards in one of his last ROH matches http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=2953

flahavaj

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Never bought into the hype about him but I'm curious to see how he does.

Understatement of the century! Wasn't your argument that he hadn't the "bottle" to sign for the big leagues?!:pac:;)

flahavaj

DM-ICE wrote: »

Good post. I really hope you are proved right about BrYan.

Point 5 was a nice way to finish the post.

I hear he is taking on Davey Richards in one of his last ROH matches http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=2953

Glad the Richards match is getting the chance to go ahead. Richards is the ideal guy to step into his shoes now as well. Mouth watering prospect to say the least.

Mr.Nice Guy

flahavaj wrote: »

Understatement of the century! Wasn't your argument that he hadn't the "bottle" to sign for the big leagues?!:pac:;)

I do believe he persisted in doing indy shows for so long because he was comfortable there. I would have liked to see him do a CM Punk and try to make it. I always felt he'd wind up in WWE at some stage though mainly due to the connections BH talked about. Politically speaking he's got a good chance to get a crack at things.

I don't believe he has the 'It factor' needed though like Punk had/has so we'll see what happens.

Rjd2

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

considering the amount of people suggesting that the WWE might waste the talent that is Bryan Danielson (not brian - his name has now been changed in the thread title) I thought i might explain why I say I have confidence that he will be used right.

1) The wellness Program - Since they have really focussed on this, it has no longer been as important to be so physically big. I mean look at this size of some of the best / most pushed guys on SD atm like Jericho or CM Punk. The American Dragon would fit in just fine alongside these guys not to mention people like Rey Mysterio, Shawn Micheals or maybe even Low Ki.

2) WWEs tiered shows - Like CM Punk he would probably debut on ECW and if anybody reads the thread about ECW new & old you will see that the general consensus is that the new ECW is based mostly on wrestling and well very few can hold their own with Danielson from what ive seen when it comes to technical wrestling. He would then probably move to Smackdown while other newer Wrestlers get their chance on ECW and for me SD would be purpose built for him. Again it is primarily based around wrestling ability where the writers arent afraid to push wrestlers who arent as big (in both senses of the word), It is also the home of all the wrestlers i mentioned above who could have truely awesome matches against him. tbh when it comes to WWE not suiting someone like Danielson its only really Raw that i think that is true for (hense im slightly worried about Evan Bournes short term future atm) but on the other 2 shows I can see him excelling.

3) They've chased him - As others have pointed out, The WWE have wanted Bryan Danielson to join their roster for quite a long time, so you would think that they would know what he is all about and perhaps already have some plans for how to use him.

4) His friends/Mentors - a quick check on wikipedia would tell you that 2 of guys credited with training Danielson are Shawn Micheal & William Regal so to start with he has 2 pretty infleuncal guys who know what they are talking about pulling for him and promoting him within the company, both of whom would probably love to have matches against him themselves.

5) I drafted him in the most recent boards draft so he must be Awesome

Superb post I must say.
One other reason why I don't think he will be used as a mere jobber as some have suggested is that with the company needing to build stars the indys is the place to look. The current FCW generation are nowhere near the class of OVW.

They know that previously some would avoid WWE fearing they would be buried but with the success of Punk Vince's carnival is beginning to look more tempting.

flahavaj

ROH is the new OVW. I fully expect Claudio, Hero and the Briscoes to be snapped up in the next few weeks as well.

Rjd2

flahavaj wrote: »

ROH is the new OVW. I fully expect Claudio, Hero and the Briscoes to be snapped up in the next few weeks as well.

You think they would be interested in Nigel or delirious either?

flahavaj

Rjd2 wrote: »

You think they would be interested in Nigel or delirious either?

Both good shouts actually. Can't think how I forgot to include Nigel, he has the lot really, good look, great worker, really good presence about him and a decent talker. Delerious I could see getting way over with his current gimmick, its totally unique and hilarious. I could see a tag team with him and Hurricane being awesome, one of my plans in the draft last year was to pair them up and call them the Inco-Heroes.:pac:

michael.etc...

flahavaj wrote: »

Both good shouts actually. Can't think how I forgot to include Nigel, he has the lot really, good look, great worker, really good presence about him and a decent talker. Delerious I could see getting way over with his current gimmick, its totally unique and hilarious. I could see a tag team with him and Hurricane being awesome, one of my plans in the draft last year was to pair them up and call them the Inco-Heroes.:pac:

Delirious, and ESPECIALLY Claudio would be awesome. I'd be really worried about Nigel's health on the WWE schedule, though if he cut out some of his more dangerous stuff, and was able to stay healthy, it would be great for him.
I can't be bothered going into why i think Dragon's a great signing for WWE- but here's a column i wrote a few months ago thats still pretty up to date as to why...

Thursday March 5, 2009 By Michael Campbell
So, I was watching Ring of Honor’s Bound By Hate DVD recently (a good purchase I should point out, and one of their best from the latter portion of last year), and a thought occurred to me as Bryan Danielson tussled with Tyler Black, and Kenny Omega in a triple threat match.
That was, that the WWE really, really, could do with this guy on their roster. And yes, Bryan did cut a promo at last weekend’s television tapings for the crowd that alluded to the fact that he may leave/retire, at some point in the near future. If this were to transpire, it would be a horrible shame, and we’d be robbed of perhaps Ring of Honor’s all-time MVP.
Regardless, if he is to remain in the business for a lengthy period yet, chances are he will head elsewhere sooner, rather than later.
The WWE have clearly already expressed interest… the former ROH World Champion has worked noteworthy dark matches at Raw tapings, including a rare occasion where he went over a member of the WWE roster. According to reports, observers from the company were impressed by Dragon’s WWE efforts, and when his contract with his current employers is up, I’m confident eye-brows will be raised.
But do they understand his true value? Do they realise that while, yes, he would be a worthwhile contributor to the roster, he could be so much more than a “good hand”? Has the thought crossed the mind of any of the big-wigs that this guy isn’t just what they want, but what they need?
Since Chris Benoit passed, there has been a gaping chasm in the WWE roster that the company has failed to fill. They are truly the deepest talent roster in North America, yet they lack someone who had the combined attributes of the “Rabid Wolverine”, or a modern day “Dynamite Kid”, and someone who has the personality, and smarts to go just as far. Here are five reasons they “need” him.

1. All-Round Skills
Bryan Danielson’s versatility in the ring has to be seen to be believed. I’ve followed his work closely over the past 5 years, and I’ve witnessed all manner of contrasting styles, and advancements in ability in that time. He can literally do it all.
Grounded mat-work? Yep. Not just of a solid standard mind… the guy is capable of a whole host of moves, sequences, reversals, and can take in the various wrestling cultures in the process. High-flying? He’s got that too. Ever seen this guy Springboard straight into the fourth row? Strong-style stiffness? Not my favourite brand of action, but Dragon can hold his own with the heavyweights and exchange impressive strikes. Street fights and Hardcore? Cripes, you need to check out his hard-hitting wars with Takeshi Morishima, if you doubt he has the nards to hold his own in that environment. Can he sell? You bet. Work a body part? Oh yes. What about tell a story? You’d know he can do this as well as anybody out there, if you’ve seen his epic battle with Colt Cabana from Gut Check.
In short, Dragon isn’t a master of any one type of pro-wrestling; he’s uniquely an expert in them all. In Stamford, that means he’s capable of working with anyone, and getting a result. Since Benoit died, and to a lesser extent, Kurt Angle, err, left, they haven’t had anyone with that degree of versatility in the ring.

2. Believability and Youth
The thing about younger wrestlers in the business, is that a lot of them lack a dimension of reality in their performance. For all his faults, Triple H is one guy who conveys an utterly believably persona, and never (except when he’s doing the DX shtick) allows the audience to lose their suspension of disbelief. In the ring, Chris Benoit was even better at this, and Dragon follows the same pattern, in the sense that he’s always convincing.
American Dragon brings the aggression, and intensity of Benoit, Dynamite Kid, etc, without being lumbered with the genuine issues, and drug problems that destroyed those men. Davey Richards communicates a similar intensity, but he’s far from as well-rounded as Dragon. Bryan truly understands the intricacies of making whatever character he’s portraying, believable for the fans. In the ring, he commits 100 per cent to delivering this, and that is definitely something the WWE could with having more of. It’s one of the reasons why Jeff Hardy is so popular – and it’s one of the key flaws in John Cena’s game, that has led to such resentment amongst the spectators old enough to differentiate between performance and reality. I get a strong inclination towards believing that many of the young talent are learning from the wrong role models these days, and that’s why so many Koslov’s are being churned out.

3. Positive Role Model
Danielson’s a person from whom parents have little to fear. He’s not a drinker, and certainly not a drug taker. Physically, he looks to be in shape, and works out, but clearly could not be accused of being fond of the ol’ bicep enhancers. A well-read, intelligent speaker to boot, but one who isn’t renowned for peeving people off in the manner that some of his peers are (ahem, CM Punk).

4. Crowd Pleasing Spots
On television, sometimes it’s hugely important to have a hook, a quirk, or a characteristic that makes you stand out from the pack. Obviously, this is tricky in wrestling, therefore cleverly defining moves and trademarks that are your own, is of great benefit. While detractors may see Bryan Danielson and the other ROH guys as bland performers who sprint through their work, they’re ignoring the intelligence and consideration behind his matches.
Dragon completely entertains the crowd, and without simplifying or compromising his art, works spots that elicit great reaction. His “I have till …5!” complaint garners huge reactions, thanks to its gentle rekindling of an innocent era in wrestling. His Surfboard stretch spot is a playful surprise that trades on how inherently obvious the “surprise” conclusion of it is. And his Elbow strikes cash in on the public’s current appreciation for MMA, and the potential for finishes coming suddenly, and viciously. Who in ROH has better established a key bunch of individual moves that they can pull out when appropriate, but can leave behind any time a match does not call for their use?

5. Microphone skills
Contrary to popular belief, Dragon does possess a wonderful character, and can communicate this on the stick. In fact, this is contradictory to much of what you’ll hear about ROH in general- that it’s crammed full of guys who can’t talk. Dragon is one of the best on the roster though. He can do comedy, and offers quick-witted banter with the crowd, while he also cuts serious promos with the best. He’s played the cocky heel to the letter previously, and is impressive selling it on the mic, but his real talent lies in transforming the meat-and-potatoes babyface into something that this century’s fans can relate to.


In short, I’d absolutely friggin’ love to see Bryan Danielson arrive in the WWE, and witness the chance to see this guy bring his art to a wider audience. Sure, some will lament the gaping chasm his loss would mean for ROH, but in reality, how much more can he do there anyway? And for how much longer can his body be expected to live up to the sometimes selfish demands of the Ring of Honor fan base?
But only, and I strongly emphasise only, if the WWE can both see his true value, and allow him to exhibit this in full.
Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback & can be contacted via www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at Michael@ifight365.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!

Machismo Fan

flahavaj wrote: »

ROH is the new OVW. I fully expect Claudio, Hero and the Briscoes to be snapped up in the next few weeks as well.

You'd wonder why TNA aren't swooping in on a few, the majority of their top 'homegrown' talent really came from ROH so you'd wonder why they don't try and pip WWE to a few names. I wouldn't think Delirious will join WWE unless they offer him a lot of money or let him keep him name (neither of which I see happening).

DM_7

Machismo Fan wrote: »

You'd wonder why TNA aren't swooping in on a few, the majority of their top 'homegrown' talent really came from ROH so you'd wonder why they don't try and pip WWE to a few names. I wouldn't think Delirious will join WWE unless they offer him a lot of money or let him keep him name (neither of which I see happening).

Maybe the roster is so big already they only see value in bringing in Guys that are recognisable to the masses straight away.

Machismo Fan

DM-ICE wrote: »

Maybe the roster is so big already they only see value in bringing in Guys that are recognisable to the masses straight away.

Which is an attitude that has and never will get them anywhere.

DM_7

michael.etc... wrote: »

Delirious, and ESPECIALLY Claudio would be awesome. I'd be really worried about Nigel's health on the WWE schedule, though if he cut out some of his more dangerous stuff, and was able to stay healthy, it would be great for him.
I can't be bothered going into why i think Dragon's a great signing for WWE- but here's a column i wrote a few months ago thats still pretty up to date as to why...

Michael Thank you for posting up that column. It was a very good read and the standard thanks button didn't seem enough.

DM_7

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Which is an attitude that has and never will get them anywhere.

Well its not an attitude i would share with TNA. But when the roster is already massive for a two hour show anyone else they bring in has to be well known or cheap.

Machismo Fan

DM-ICE wrote: »

Well its not an attitude i would share with TNA. But when the roster is already massive for a two hour show anyone else they bring in has to be well known or cheap.

It's an attitude TNA already have and it's an attitude that doesn't facilitate major growth. Most members of the ROH roster would come at a reasonable rate and Sting retiring this year would clear up a fair chunk of cash.

DM_7

Machismo Fan wrote: »

It's an attitude TNA already have and it's an attitude that doesn't facilitate major growth. Most members of the ROH roster would come at a reasonable rate and Sting retiring this year would clear up a fair chunk of cash.

they had Aries before, why did he go back to ROH that time?

Machismo Fan

DM-ICE wrote: »

they had Aries before, why did he go back to ROH that time?

They suspended him around Lockdown 2007 and he asked for his release and was granted it. I miss Austin Starr.

DM_7

Machismo Fan wrote: »

They suspended him around Lockdown 2007 and he asked for his release and was granted it. I miss Austin Starr.

Any idea what he did to get suspended?

michael.etc...

Machismo Fan wrote: »

It's an attitude TNA already have and it's an attitude that doesn't facilitate major growth. Most members of the ROH roster would come at a reasonable rate and Sting retiring this year would clear up a fair chunk of cash.

I'd like to see this, but they'd have to follow up on it. Jimmy Rave was horribly mis-cast in his role, when he could have been a great heel in the x-division. He has a fantastic sneer. I'd also get rid of a few other guys to accomodate new talent, but that's another topic...

The thing with WWE, is that at the very least, although they mishandle so many people, they have enough airtime that things aren't, or shouldn't be as tight that newcomers can't fit in. Danielson could definitely go straight to ECW for a bit.

DM_7

michael.etc... wrote: »

I'd like to see this, but they'd have to follow up on it. Jimmy Rave was horribly mis-cast in his role, when he could have been a great heel in the x-division. He has a fantastic sneer. I'd also get rid of a few other guys to accomodate new talent, but that's another topic...

The thing with WWE, is that at the very least, although they mishandle so many people, they have enough airtime that things aren't, or shouldn't be as tight that newcomers can't fit in. Danielson could definitely go straight to ECW for a bit.

Maybe what happened with rave would put people off?

Like what happened Harris would put TNA guys off WWE.

ROH guys have Punk to aspire to in WWE, but then as I write I remember Cabana!

I guess it the important thing is how much interest is shown in a guy. In Danielson's case WWE showed interest over an extended period of time so its less of a risk.

Machismo Fan

DM-ICE wrote: »

Any idea what he did to get suspended?

Bad attitude apparently (though I do vaguely remember something about him wearing an ROH T-Shirt to a TNA fanfest).

Machismo Fan

DM-ICE wrote: »

Maybe what happened with rave would put people off?

Like what happened Harris would put TNA guys off WWE.

ROH guys have Punk to aspire to in WWE, but then as I write I remember Cabana!

But ROH guys just have to look at the likes of Styles, Daniels, Joe, Lethal, Low-Ki and Homicide.

DM_7

Machismo Fan wrote: »

But ROH guys just have to look at the likes of Styles, Daniels, Joe, Lethal, Low-Ki and Homicide.

Thats true.

Priorities were a little differant then weren't they? The X division was really the best thing about TNA at the time and they seemed to focus more on it.

But you did post a thread the other day about the X division possibly getting its own show, TNA would then be a real alternative for ROH guys.

flahavaj

michael.etc... wrote: »

Delirious, and ESPECIALLY Claudio would be awesome. I'd be really worried about Nigel's health on the WWE schedule, though if he cut out some of his more dangerous stuff, and was able to stay healthy, it would be great for him.
I can't be bothered going into why i think Dragon's a great signing for WWE- but here's a column i wrote a few months ago thats still pretty up to date as to why...

Thursday March 5, 2009 By Michael Campbell
So, I was watching Ring of Honor’s Bound By Hate DVD recently (a good purchase I should point out, and one of their best from the latter portion of last year), and a thought occurred to me as Bryan Danielson tussled with Tyler Black, and Kenny Omega in a triple threat match.
That was, that the WWE really, really, could do with this guy on their roster. And yes, Bryan did cut a promo at last weekend’s television tapings for the crowd that alluded to the fact that he may leave/retire, at some point in the near future. If this were to transpire, it would be a horrible shame, and we’d be robbed of perhaps Ring of Honor’s all-time MVP.
Regardless, if he is to remain in the business for a lengthy period yet, chances are he will head elsewhere sooner, rather than later.
The WWE have clearly already expressed interest… the former ROH World Champion has worked noteworthy dark matches at Raw tapings, including a rare occasion where he went over a member of the WWE roster. According to reports, observers from the company were impressed by Dragon’s WWE efforts, and when his contract with his current employers is up, I’m confident eye-brows will be raised.
But do they understand his true value? Do they realise that while, yes, he would be a worthwhile contributor to the roster, he could be so much more than a “good hand”? Has the thought crossed the mind of any of the big-wigs that this guy isn’t just what they want, but what they need?
Since Chris Benoit passed, there has been a gaping chasm in the WWE roster that the company has failed to fill. They are truly the deepest talent roster in North America, yet they lack someone who had the combined attributes of the “Rabid Wolverine”, or a modern day “Dynamite Kid”, and someone who has the personality, and smarts to go just as far. Here are five reasons they “need” him.

1. All-Round Skills
Bryan Danielson’s versatility in the ring has to be seen to be believed. I’ve followed his work closely over the past 5 years, and I’ve witnessed all manner of contrasting styles, and advancements in ability in that time. He can literally do it all.
Grounded mat-work? Yep. Not just of a solid standard mind… the guy is capable of a whole host of moves, sequences, reversals, and can take in the various wrestling cultures in the process. High-flying? He’s got that too. Ever seen this guy Springboard straight into the fourth row? Strong-style stiffness? Not my favourite brand of action, but Dragon can hold his own with the heavyweights and exchange impressive strikes. Street fights and Hardcore? Cripes, you need to check out his hard-hitting wars with Takeshi Morishima, if you doubt he has the nards to hold his own in that environment. Can he sell? You bet. Work a body part? Oh yes. What about tell a story? You’d know he can do this as well as anybody out there, if you’ve seen his epic battle with Colt Cabana from Gut Check.
In short, Dragon isn’t a master of any one type of pro-wrestling; he’s uniquely an expert in them all. In Stamford, that means he’s capable of working with anyone, and getting a result. Since Benoit died, and to a lesser extent, Kurt Angle, err, left, they haven’t had anyone with that degree of versatility in the ring.

2. Believability and Youth
The thing about younger wrestlers in the business, is that a lot of them lack a dimension of reality in their performance. For all his faults, Triple H is one guy who conveys an utterly believably persona, and never (except when he’s doing the DX shtick) allows the audience to lose their suspension of disbelief. In the ring, Chris Benoit was even better at this, and Dragon follows the same pattern, in the sense that he’s always convincing.
American Dragon brings the aggression, and intensity of Benoit, Dynamite Kid, etc, without being lumbered with the genuine issues, and drug problems that destroyed those men. Davey Richards communicates a similar intensity, but he’s far from as well-rounded as Dragon. Bryan truly understands the intricacies of making whatever character he’s portraying, believable for the fans. In the ring, he commits 100 per cent to delivering this, and that is definitely something the WWE could with having more of. It’s one of the reasons why Jeff Hardy is so popular – and it’s one of the key flaws in John Cena’s game, that has led to such resentment amongst the spectators old enough to differentiate between performance and reality. I get a strong inclination towards believing that many of the young talent are learning from the wrong role models these days, and that’s why so many Koslov’s are being churned out.

3. Positive Role Model
Danielson’s a person from whom parents have little to fear. He’s not a drinker, and certainly not a drug taker. Physically, he looks to be in shape, and works out, but clearly could not be accused of being fond of the ol’ bicep enhancers. A well-read, intelligent speaker to boot, but one who isn’t renowned for peeving people off in the manner that some of his peers are (ahem, CM Punk).

4. Crowd Pleasing Spots
On television, sometimes it’s hugely important to have a hook, a quirk, or a characteristic that makes you stand out from the pack. Obviously, this is tricky in wrestling, therefore cleverly defining moves and trademarks that are your own, is of great benefit. While detractors may see Bryan Danielson and the other ROH guys as bland performers who sprint through their work, they’re ignoring the intelligence and consideration behind his matches.
Dragon completely entertains the crowd, and without simplifying or compromising his art, works spots that elicit great reaction. His “I have till …5!” complaint garners huge reactions, thanks to its gentle rekindling of an innocent era in wrestling. His Surfboard stretch spot is a playful surprise that trades on how inherently obvious the “surprise” conclusion of it is. And his Elbow strikes cash in on the public’s current appreciation for MMA, and the potential for finishes coming suddenly, and viciously. Who in ROH has better established a key bunch of individual moves that they can pull out when appropriate, but can leave behind any time a match does not call for their use?

5. Microphone skills
Contrary to popular belief, Dragon does possess a wonderful character, and can communicate this on the stick. In fact, this is contradictory to much of what you’ll hear about ROH in general- that it’s crammed full of guys who can’t talk. Dragon is one of the best on the roster though. He can do comedy, and offers quick-witted banter with the crowd, while he also cuts serious promos with the best. He’s played the cocky heel to the letter previously, and is impressive selling it on the mic, but his real talent lies in transforming the meat-and-potatoes babyface into something that this century’s fans can relate to.


In short, I’d absolutely friggin’ love to see Bryan Danielson arrive in the WWE, and witness the chance to see this guy bring his art to a wider audience. Sure, some will lament the gaping chasm his loss would mean for ROH, but in reality, how much more can he do there anyway? And for how much longer can his body be expected to live up to the sometimes selfish demands of the Ring of Honor fan base?
But only, and I strongly emphasise only, if the WWE can both see his true value, and allow him to exhibit this in full.
Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback & can be contacted via www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at Michael@ifight365.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!

Quoted for awesomeness. Really great post and article Michael, fair play to you. I still have to get my hands on that Misawa write up of yours, you've whetted my appetite now.

pingu_girl

michael.etc... wrote: »

3. Positive Role Model
Danielson’s a person from whom parents have little to fear. He’s not a drinker, and certainly not a drug taker. Physically, he looks to be in shape, and works out, but clearly could not be accused of being fond of the ol’ bicep enhancers. A well-read, intelligent speaker to boot, but one who isn’t renowned for peeving people off in the manner that some of his peers are (ahem, CM Punk).

He's cruel to cats though