Daniel Bryan Thread

Insect Overlord · 29-04-2015 12:55am

June 28th is another 2 months away. Jaysus.

JP Liz V1 · 23-07-2015 10:43pm

http://www.prowrestling.net/article.php?Daniel-Bryan-confirms-he-has-been-dealing-with-a-concussion-says-he-will-wrestle-somewhere-even-if-WWE-doesn-t-clear-him-43277

On the chance that WWE won't clear him to wrestle in WWE: "Yes, there is that chance. But I told them, regardless of them, if they won't clear me ... we're independent contractors, in theory ... and I WILL wrestle again. I am cleared by the neurologist in Phoenix that I've been going to see. It's not like he's a quack doctor. He was the neurologist for the Super Bowl ... who has no problems in clearing me with no limitations. But you also have to understand that WWE is not only looking out for my best interest, but they have to look out for their company as well, and I understand all of that too. There is nothing vindictive or anything there's just a lot of hurdles to go through at this point with getting cleared by WWE. I had a sit-down with Vince and Hunter about this and said, "Hey, this is my passion. I understand why you guys wouldn't clear me but we only get, as far as we know, one life. And you're not going to let me do my passion?"

JP Liz V1 · 08-10-2015 3:10pm

http://ie.ign.com/articles/2015/10/05/update-on-daniel-bryans-wwe-return

I hope he does return in ring but prefer him alive and healthy foremost

Monokne · 10-12-2015 12:12am

Daniel Bryan is done wrestling in WWE, as most suspected. He pretty much confirmed it today:

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/wrestler-daniel-bryan-teaches-kids-how-build-terrarium

“I think it could be the end of my career in WWE, but I don’t think it will be the end of my career.”

Itssoeasy · 10-12-2015 2:21am

sky88 wrote: »

Two posts in a row which could seriously damages wrestle mania star levels

Well the bryan news is hardly news and I doubt wwe were factoring him into their mania plans. Him saying it's not the end of his career is scary. Does he not get that his in ring style is part of the problem ?

The sting thing is **** news though.

gimmick · 10-12-2015 11:46am

He was not as reckless in the indies. He wrestled a far more submission based style there apart from the flying headbutt he would use occasionally. So if he did go back I would not be that worried.

Palo Alto · 10-12-2015 12:31pm

Errr him and Nigel headbutting each other half unconscious springs to mind.

gimmick · 10-12-2015 12:41pm

Palo Alto wrote: »

Errr him and Nigel headbutting each other half unconscious springs to mind.

Was that not him butting Nigels head against the ring post? If not, must have missed it but it would not have been something he did in every match.

Point remains though. He was far less "high flying" in the indies. He needed to be a bit more reckless in WWE to stand out. He seems a clever guy. He will work a style to suit his limitations should he go back to the indies.

POSTS MOVED FROM NEWS THREAD

Agent Coulson · 10-12-2015 6:19pm

When is his contract up I'd guess he still has a good few years on it.

I can't see the WWE releasing him for at least another year until all the hype around him has died down and when they consider him irrelevant as any kind of draw for a rival is gone.

If they were wise they would send him down to NXT as a coach if he isn't already there.

spektorfive · 10-12-2015 7:02pm

gimmick wrote: »

He was not as reckless in the indies. He wrestled a far more submission based style there apart from the flying headbutt he would use occasionally. So if he did go back I would not be that worried.

Bryan was very risky stuff on the indies. Power bomb on the floor by Bison Smith just to try and get a bit of heat on to their feud. He would dive from the ring into the Crowd for a lot of his ROH run. He wrestle that strong style a lot on the indies and carried on into his WWE Run.

Monokne · 10-12-2015 7:27pm

Agent Coulson wrote: »

When is his contract up I'd guess he still has a good few years on it.

I can't see the WWE releasing him for at least another year until all the hype around him has died down and when they consider him irrelevant as any kind of draw for a rival is gone.

If they were wise they would send him down to NXT as a coach if he isn't already there.

They won't release him at all. Dave Meltzer says they are within their rights just to pay him until the contract lapses, which is exactly what they'll do. Bear in mind this company kept extending Rey Mysterios contract and paid him to sit at home just so Lucha Underground wouldn't get their mits on him. Talk is the contract is up in 2018 so don't expect to see him anytime soon.

In terms of training, Bryan explains in his book that he has tried his hand at it but finds it very difficult because there are things he does on instinct that he can't teach. He says he's a terrible trainer and doesn't enjoy it. So don't hold your breath.:)

gnfnrhead · 10-12-2015 9:45pm

Agent Coulson wrote: »

When is his contract up I'd guess he still has a good few years on it.

I can't see the WWE releasing him for at least another year until all the hype around him has died down and when they consider him irrelevant as any kind of draw for a rival is gone.

If they were wise they would send him down to NXT as a coach if he isn't already there.

CM Punk showed how little those contracts are actually worth. If Bryan took WWE to court, he'd win in a heartbeat. If he requested his release and they refused, they are preventing him from working by both refusing to let him wrestle and refusing to release him so he can wrestle elsewhere. WWE would come to an agreement and release him rather than let him take them to court and be left with nothing. Doubt it will go that far but if Bryan wanted, he could force WWE to either let him wrestle or release him. He seems too nice to take that route and will just keep trying to convince them rather than force them.

There is absolutely no reason for Bryan not to be on TV in some capacity even if not wrestling.

ricero · 10-12-2015 9:55pm

In fairness bryan is a great talker. They should even try get him as smackdown gm when it reboots soon and then see in a few months if he is fit to wrestle

Monokne · 10-12-2015 11:30pm

gnfnrhead wrote: »

CM Punk showed how little those contracts are actually worth. If Bryan took WWE to court, he'd win in a heartbeat. If he requested his release and they refused, they are preventing him from working by both refusing to let him wrestle and refusing to release him so he can wrestle elsewhere. WWE would come to an agreement and release him rather than let him take them to court and be left with nothing. Doubt it will go that far but if Bryan wanted, he could force WWE to either let him wrestle or release him. He seems too nice to take that route and will just keep trying to convince them rather than force them.

There is absolutely no reason for Bryan not to be on TV in some capacity even if not wrestling.

Their contracts don't specify he has to wrestle. He himself is aware of that which is why he hasn't kicked up a fuss. They can sit you home if they want. As long as they are paying you your downside guarantee, their end of the contract is met. This is why they were able to sit Rey Mysterio at home for a year when he was desperate to leave.

Exactly what did CM Punk do that showed how little those contracts are worth?

gnfnrhead · 11-12-2015 1:56am

Monokne wrote: »

Their contracts don't specify he has to wrestle. He himself is aware of that which is why he hasn't kicked up a fuss. They can sit you home if they want. As long as they are paying you your downside guarantee, their end of the contract is met. This is why they were able to sit Rey Mysterio at home for a year when he was desperate to leave.

Exactly what did CM Punk do that showed how little those contracts are worth?

Leaving him sitting at home is denying him a chance to earn money. It wouldn't be hard for him to prove that by WWE not allowing him to appear in some capacity is making him lose out on a lot of money. They are denying him the ability to make a living. If he wanted to burn that bridge, he could easily force their hand one way or the other. If he would burn that bridge is another matter.

Punk's contract included a No Compete clause that specifically named UFC. Punk is currently signed to a UFC contract. Not worth the paper it is written on if the wrestler in question is willing to fight it.

jaykhunter · 11-12-2015 4:58am

gnfnrhead wrote: »

There is absolutely no reason for Bryan not to be on TV in some capacity even if not wrestling.

Maybe it's a Tyler Breeze situation where they just have nothing decent for him, and in rare good judgment, they're not using him. You are right that there's nothing stopping bringing Bryan in for some kind of star power. However they already have a non-wrestling 20-minute talker in Aitch :P

gnfnrhead · 11-12-2015 5:23am

jaykhunter wrote: »

Maybe it's a Tyler Breeze situation where they just have nothing decent for him, and in rare good judgment, they're not using him. You are right that there's nothing stopping bringing Bryan in for some kind of star power. However they already have a non-wrestling 20-minute talker in Aitch :P

Difference is people would actually care what Bryan has to say :pac:

I assume the main reason for him not being used at all is so it doesn't effect Reigns's's's's's push by turning the crowd on him again.

Monokne · 11-12-2015 11:11am

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Leaving him sitting at home is denying him a chance to earn money. It wouldn't be hard for him to prove that by WWE not allowing him to appear in some capacity is making him lose out on a lot of money. They are denying him the ability to make a living. If he wanted to burn that bridge, he could easily force their hand one way or the other. If he would burn that bridge is another matter.

Punk's contract included a No Compete clause that specifically named UFC. Punk is currently signed to a UFC contract. Not worth the paper it is written on if the wrestler in question is willing to fight it.

Do you know whats a non compete is brother? WWE gives performers a 90 day non compete when they release them, in which time they still get paid and cannot work for the competition. CM Punk's WWE contract was terminated in June 2013, 3 weeks before it expired anyway. He signed for UFC 6 months later, long after any no compete would have expired.

The notion their contracts aren't worth the paper their written on is fanciful at best. Of course they're one sided, but no one gets out of them. The only person who's ever taken them on in court and won was Lesnar, whom they released and forced to sign a 7 year non compete under duress. If Bryan were to take them on, he'd be tied up in court for the rest of his contract anyway, and he'd wind up bankrupt. McDevitt almost never loses.

I get the frustration at Bryan wanting to work and WWE refusing but come on, let's not get all self righteous and make stuff up here. He's under contract to WWE and they're paying him and enforcing their contract. A decade ago if the company had a performer signed to a deal and released him because he was injured, they'd be buried. Now it's the opposite. Silliness.

A Primal Nut · 11-12-2015 9:53pm

Del Rio got out of his no-compete clause, admittedly there was a lot of issues involved.

Monokne · 12-12-2015 3:21am

If only Bryan was a minority...

Blue_Dabadee · 19-12-2015 9:26am

I would love if all of this speculation about Daniel Bryan never wrestling again in WWE is just one big massive work and that he returns in Royal Rumble match.

riffmongous · 19-12-2015 2:07pm

mxph3 wrote: »

I would love if all of this speculation about Daniel Bryan never wrestling again in WWE is just one big massive work and that he returns in Royal Rumble match.

Don't start that now

Palo Alto · 19-12-2015 2:48pm

I hope he fights Ishii for the NEVER title in a headbutt war.

Rjd2 · 19-12-2015 2:49pm

riffmongous wrote: »

Don't start that now

Its hard though, did not include him in my poll to win the rumble as I was trying to jinx myself. :pac:

riffmongous · 19-12-2015 4:27pm

Rjd2 wrote: »

Its hard though, did not include him in my poll to win the rumble as I was trying to jinx myself. :pac:

Hehe, we all know it will just end in tears (and boos)

Monokne · 19-12-2015 6:32pm

Just let him slip quietly into the night brothers. He had a great career. No need to endanger his health any further.

Itssoeasy · 19-12-2015 6:51pm

Yeah I think he should retire for his own well being. Better safe than sorry. I mean Corey graves had the same issue and he seems to be fine with it and is very successful at his new role.

Blue_Dabadee · 20-12-2015 12:01am

I don't think he is going to retire and play golf for the rest of his life anytime soon.

Monokne · 20-12-2015 12:56am

There are other things he can do in life besides playing golf or concussing himself 4 nights a week, I think.

Itssoeasy · 20-12-2015 4:00am

mxph3 wrote: »

I don't think he is going to retire and play golf for the rest of his life anytime soon.

Yeah okay but you know he is married and it seems like he will have kids. Does he want to able to be there for his kids or be in pain ?

Blue_Dabadee · 20-12-2015 3:35pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Yeah okay but you know he is married and it seems like he will have kids. Does he want to able to be there for his kids or be in pain ?

I mean wrestling in general. If all of this stuff about WWE not wanting to clear him is true then he is clearing going to work for another promotion which would also give him a lighter schedule.

Monokne · 20-12-2015 5:55pm

Well it's nearly 3 years away so maybe by then he'll have kids and that will change his mind. He's a guy who doesn't spend much and earning his WWE downside for 3 years with little road expenses would be enough for him to sock away a huge chunk of change.

Rjd2 · 20-12-2015 7:49pm

Monokne wrote: »

Well it's nearly 3 years away so maybe by then he'll have kids and that will change his mind. He's a guy who doesn't spend much and earning his WWE downside for 3 years with little road expenses would be enough for him to sock away a huge chunk of change.

And I would assume Brie has a few quid as well.

Itssoeasy · 20-12-2015 11:24pm

Rjd2 wrote: »

And I would assume Brie has a few quid as well.

Well I'd say she's not short a few bob.

Blue_Dabadee · 21-12-2015 2:38am

If he is okay to wrestle then he could work Indy circuit ever now and again, I'm pretty certain he can make good money from Indies just like AJ Styles.

I wouldn't even mind if he works for TNA since they are lacking in star power at the moment.

Monokne · 21-12-2015 10:06am

Oh God no, please. Would legit break my heart to see him performing in front of 400 fans in Orlando in sterile matches taped 3 months in advance, while out there giving interviews about how doing 150,000 viewers on POP TV is a "step in the right direction for growing the TNA brand".

Luckily there has to be a less than 50% chance TNA is still around when his contract runs out in 2018.

Blue_Dabadee · 21-12-2015 12:25pm

Daniel Bryan doesn't care if he is wrestling in front of 400 people or stadium size arena.

I think TNA needs more star power because it would give us reason to tune into the product. I pretty certain most people started watching TNA when Kurt Angle jumped ships to TNA, and he really became a bigger star in TNA than in WWE.

If you want TNA to die then you are not a true wrestling fan.

Monokne · 21-12-2015 1:06pm

mxph3 wrote: »

Daniel Bryan doesn't care if he is wrestling in front of 400 people or stadium size arena.

I think TNA needs more star power because it would give us reason to tune into the product. I pretty certain most people started watching TNA when Kurt Angle jumped ships to TNA, and he really became a bigger star in TNA than in WWE.

If you want TNA to die then you are not a true wrestling fan.

Impact was doing 0.7 - 1.1 the entire year of 2006 and there was no change when Kurt came in.

By what metric was Kurt Angle a bigger star in TNA than WWE? About 30% as many people saw him there, and about 15% as many people saw his PPV matches.

You could make the point he did some of his best work in TNA - which he absolutely did. However TNA as it exists now cannot provide the platform for those type of moments anymore. Other than the UK crowds, which themselves have been dwindling, TNA shows play before small crowds of relatively disinterested punters and their show is produced much more cheaply. It has had the stench of a dying promotion since summer 2014.

gimmick · 21-12-2015 1:07pm

mxph3 wrote: »

Daniel Bryan doesn't care if he is wrestling in front of 400 people or stadium size arena.

I think TNA needs more star power because it would give us reason to tune into the product. I pretty certain most people started watching TNA when Kurt Angle jumped ships to TNA, and he really became a bigger star in TNA than in WWE.

If you want TNA to die then you are not a true wrestling fan.

No he didn't. He main evented Wrestlemania and had huge feuds with HHH, Rock, Austin, Benoit, Jericho and Vince. I would have said that Kurt between 2000-2005 was a legit draw. He went to TNA and while he was their "Franchise" man for much of his stay, you can hardly say his career reached even close to the heights of his WWE run.

Unless you are talking in relative terms, but even then he was a big fish in a small pond in TNA.

Monokne · 21-12-2015 1:08pm

Me and brother gimmick teaming up here.

Blue_Dabadee · 21-12-2015 1:50pm

Monokne wrote: »

Impact was doing 0.7 - 1.1 the entire year of 2006 and there was no change when Kurt came in.

By what metric was Kurt Angle a bigger star in TNA than WWE? About 30% as many people saw him there, and about 15% as many people saw his PPV matches.

You could make the point he did some of his best work in TNA - which he absolutely did. However TNA as it exists now cannot provide the platform for those type of moments anymore. Other than the UK crowds, which themselves have been dwindling, TNA shows play before small crowds of relatively disinterested punters and their show is produced much more cheaply. It has had the stench of a dying promotion since summer 2014.

I think ya said that Daniel Bryan should retire if wants to settle down and have a family. Some of stars in TNA are able to see their spouse and their kids that since they have a lighter schedule.

Kurt Angle did a lot of great things for TNA in grand scheme of things.

Blue_Dabadee · 21-12-2015 2:07pm

gimmick wrote: »

No he didn't. He main evented Wrestlemania and had huge feuds with HHH, Rock, Austin, Benoit, Jericho and Vince. I would have said that Kurt between 2000-2005 was a legit draw. He went to TNA and while he was their "Franchise" man for much of his stay, you can hardly say his career reached even close to the heights of his WWE run.

Unless you are talking in relative terms, but even then he was a big fish in a small pond in TNA.

I think what I was trying to say that he added a lot more to his wrestling resume by jumping ships to TNA.

riffmongous · 21-12-2015 2:13pm

Monokne wrote: »

Luckily there has to be a less than 50% chance TNA is still around when his contract runs out in 2018.

2018? Are such long contracts common in wrestling?

Blue_Dabadee · 21-12-2015 2:38pm

I don't think anyone put the blame on TNA for having problems trying to secure TV contracts. Even WWE shows like NXT, Main Event and Superstars struggled to stay long term on their original tv stations.

Stereomaniac · 21-12-2015 2:45pm

If they loaded the Network even more and actually gave meaning to shows like Superstars and Main Event they could be a lot better off financially. A little would go a long way there too.

Blue_Dabadee · 21-12-2015 3:20pm

I just think there is 1-10% chance of Daniel Bryan ever wrestling in WWE and that all of this talk about WWE not clearing him is just a work.

I would not be bothered if he decided to announce his retirement tomorrow, because he had a great career and not doubt he will go into HOF some day.

Monokne · 21-12-2015 4:23pm

riffmongous wrote: »

2018? Are such long contracts common in wrestling?

Long term contracts for key guys aren't uncommon.

Guys like Orton, Cena, Henry and Show have had 10 year deals at times at times. I assume Bryan reupped in the summer of 2013 for 5 years after his initial 3 years from summer 2010 lapsed.

Stereomaniac · 21-12-2015 4:23pm

They'll definitely have him as a headliner at the Hall Of Fame ceremony some year, I think. But he is/was definitely hurt and it wouldn't make any sense for them to just hold back.

Monokne · 21-12-2015 4:32pm

mxph3 wrote: »

I don't think anyone put the blame on TNA for having problems trying to secure TV contracts. Even WWE shows like NXT, Main Event and Superstars struggled to stay long term on their original tv stations.

I presume you haven't been following the story with TNA closely at all in the past few years?

Spike cancelled them when they were doing ratings above the station average largely because they were tired of doing business with TNA. In specific, Spike was insistent in 2013 that Vince Russo not be involved with the company at all. Russo outed himself by sending an email intended for Mike Tenay to Mike Johnson of PWInsider. The email contained production notes for an Impact episode, proving he was in fact working there in secret after Spike had asked Dixie specifically not to work with Russo.

After they left Spike and went to Destination America, they were publically critical of Spike for "not supporting" them. This after Spike had footed the bill for live tapings a bunch of times, tried the Monday night experiment at their request, and even bought advertisements in times square, NYC to hype Hogans debut.

Destination America quickly soured on the deal because they could not sell ads on TNA programming for love nor money. They cancelled a bunch of TNA programming very quickly. Dixie, in her infinite wisdom, decided to send an email in which she buried the head of Destination America, and called him an idiot. Much like Russo, however, she sent it to the wrong recipient. She sent it to the head of Destination America himself. DA quickly decided they didn't want to be in the TNA business either, and opted out of the deal.

Dave Meltzer wrote in the Observer recently that he'd had a conversation with a head of a TV network which would ordinarily have held some interest in carrying wrestling programming, who specifically noted to him that within the industry, it was known that TNA were terrible people to deal with.

So I'd disagree vehemently. TNA are where they are because of their own arrogance and disorganization.

Monokne · 21-12-2015 4:35pm

Stereomaniac wrote: »

They'll definitely have him as a headliner at the Hall Of Fame ceremony some year, I think. But he is/was definitely hurt and it wouldn't make any sense for them to just hold back.

I agree.

I think that the fan perception of "it's a work, he's fine" is indicative of another time and place. In 2016, this stuff isn't a joke. The guy got badly concussed and has a history of concussions, and WWE's head of medical is on the record as saying he doesn't feel Bryan should be cleared to wrestle. It wasn't a work when it happened with Christian or Foley, and it isn't a work now.

Could there come a time when he is cleared? Maybe. I don't know. I hope so. But it's not now and it's not soon.

Daniel Bryan Thread

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