WrestleRant
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
Picture

RJ’s Two Cents - Daniel Bryan’s Impact on WWE

2/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
By RJ Marceau

​Wow. I can’t say that I am shocked but Daniel Bryan announced Monday that he would be retiring from the WWE as an active wrestler. This retirement stems from his injuries to his neck and recent concussions. Bryan had been trying for the past year to get cleared by WWE trainers to get back into the squared circle. The WWE has a new strict concussion policy due to old wrestlers suing the company over the injuries they had received. The WWE wouldn’t clear Bryan and due to the nature of his concussions any future lawsuits or injuries to himself wouldn’t look good for the company. Even though Daniel Bryan had only been in the WWE for 6 years he has left a lasting impact on the business and myself as a wrestling fan. 

Daniel Bryan’s impact on the WWE will definitely reflect as the 1st independent journeyman to really break into the WWE and make an impact. After the success Bryan had gained we started seeing the WWE sign independent guys like Cesaro, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Over the past few years, the WWE has been more accepting of the independent wrestlers and Bryan breaking the WWE mold should be credited.  

Picture
Daniel Bryan also helped the cause that the WWE Champions didn’t have to be 6ft+ or have a bodybuilder physique to sell. Bryan is listed at 5ft. 10 and 210 lbs. was the definition of an underdog and as a babyface in 2013 flourished. Bryan during the Yes Movement sold tons of merch and was able to get fans interested in a product that was very bland and stagnant. The WWE had zero plans for Bryan to be anything more then a midcarder but Bryan got such a fan following that the WWE changed their plans and put Daniel Bryan into the main event of WrestleMania XXX. Without the fans getting behind Bryan, Batista would have won the main event of WrestleMania XXX and Roman Reigns would probably have won at WrestleMania 31. The WWE had so much backlash from fans that they had to change plans and now with rumors of them possibly changing Braun Strowman vs. Undertaker would indicate them listening to some fans even though I don’t agree.

Daniel Bryan’s story as the underdog will be hard to ever beat especially of how long the WWE played it out with him beating John Cena at SummerSlam '13, to Orton cashing in to win the title, to Bryan not being in the Royal Rumble and competing in two matches at WrestleMania XXX. Bryan as the quintessential underdog made the story amazing with him prevailing at WrestleMania XXX and winning the title.

Even though the injuries were what ended his career without all the hardwork and dedication he had for the business he wouldn’t have gotten to where he was. He worked over 15+ in the business to win the biggest prize of them all. Bryan would get injured a month later and be out for majority of 2014. He returned in early 2015 and won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 31. He got hurt a month later and now has officially retired.

The impact that Daniel Bryan has left on the WWE is nothing compared to what he had on me as a wrestling fan. Between 2009-2012, my love for the WWE was fading. The WWE had been swamped with John Cena, HHH and Randy Orton in the main event scene and instead of people getting over organically they tried to push Sheamus, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger as future stars. In 2012-13, the formation of Team Hell No intrigued me. Bryan had always been a guy I liked but I figured he would reach a certain level and never get higher. Bryan vs. Cena at SummerSlam 2013 was amazing but it was predictable that Orton would cash in. The whole Authority angle played out well with Bryan.

When I got tickets to WrestleMania XXX I was going for Lesnar vs. Undertaker and Daniel Bryan. The storybook ending didn’t seem plausible due to the WWE’s disdain for someone like Bryan being the face of the WWE. The match he had with HHH was amazing and after winning it seemed that he could beat the odds. The main event was equally amazing with Bryan being RKO’d and Batista Bombed through a table. The Authority and even “that damn crooked referee Scott Armstrong” couldn’t stop the Yes Movement. Michael Cole’s call of the ending of this match is glued into my brain. After Bryan hits the flying knee, and puts Batista in the Yes Lock, Michael Cole says on commentary “Tap Out Batista, Tap Out Batista, Tap Out Batista” represents the underdog aspect and how everyone wanted Bryan to succeed. Being a part of YestleMania was amazing and has been the best moment of my wrestling fandom.

Daniel Bryan has helped me get my love back for professional wrestling and I want to thank him for everything he has done for the WWE, any WWE fan and myself. Hopefully Bryan will stick around as a WWE commentator, GM or agent so he can still be involved in the WWE. Bryan should be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame eventually. Bryan may go outside the WWE and wrestle for ROH or Lucha Underground but I think for his health’s sake he should just work in the WWE in a non-wrestling capacity.


SEE ALSO: "RJ's Two Cents - Why the Braun Strowman Negativity Is Premature and Unnecessary"
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    #AskGSM
    Battle Of The Belts
    Cruiserweight Classic
    Halftime Heat
    Hidden Gems
    Interviews
    Lists/Rankings
    Mae Young Classic
    Mixed Match Challenge
    News
    NJPW
    NWA Shockwave
    NXT PLEs
    Opinion
    Previews
    Retro Reviews
    Reviews
    RJ's Two Cents
    Satire
    Slammy Awards
    SNME
    SummerSlam Recall
    The Deadly Draw
    The World Is A Vampire
    Tribute To The Troops
    Women's Eliminator
    Worlds Collide
    WrestleMania Recall
    WWE Draft
    WWE Network Specials
    WWE PLEs
    WWE Starrcade


    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    RSS Feed

©2025 WrestleRant. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact