There won’t be any more “Yes!” chants in a WWE ring.
Fan favorite Daniel Bryan officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling due to concussions on Raw Monday night. Bryan’s announcement came as a shock because fans were anticipating him to return.
For fans who have been following Bryan since his days on the independent wrestling circuit, this announcement comes as no surprise. Bryan admitted on Raw that he suffered three concussions in just five months early in his wrestling career, which started in 1999.
Even though Bryan spent just five years in the WWE, he left a lasting impression.
One of the best moments to happen in the WWE over the past couple of years was when Bryan captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX. In kayfabe terms it was the culmination of several months of storytelling, but in reality Bryan had worked for years to reach the top.
Yes, Bryan only earned the title shot because of circumstances outside of his control, but he stepped up when the WWE called upon him. It wasn’t his fault that the fans rejected Batista winning the Royal Rumble, or that CM Punk quit out of nowhere, or that the fans wanted to see Bryan in the main event.
Bryan’s angle with The Authority from 2013-14 was one of the most organic stories to ever happen in the WWE. It really was the company holding back Bryan from the top, and it all played out in front of our eyes.
It’s just unfortunate that a neck injury ruined his run with the most prestigious belt that WWE has to offer. Barely three months after winning the title, Bryan was stripped of the belt because he was unable to compete. He went on to have neck surgery and didn’t return to action until the 2015 Royal Rumble.
Bryan’s return to the ring was again cut short just couple weeks after winning the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match at WrestleMania 31 when he suffered a concussion and had to vacate the title.
The real shame is that Bryan was probably entering his prime at 34 years old. After years of molding his character, Bryan was finally coming into his own. Who knows the heights Bryan would’ve hit had he stayed healthy.
Over Bryan’s 16-year career, he was one of the most beloved wrestlers to ever enter the squaredcircle. Bryan’s role as the consummate underdog worked in his favor because, in reality, he was just that.
Standing just 5-foot-8 and weighing around 190 pounds, Bryan didn’t have the stature of the prototypical WWE wrestler, but he more than made up for it with his heart and determination. It didn’t hurt that Bryan was one of the best technicians in wrestling.
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Bryan’s style of wrestling was reckless and relentless. His work made him a fan favorite across the world but the toll his body took caught up to him.
However, Bryan had always worked through been able to work through injuries during his entire career. In a 2013 June edition of Raw, Bryan wrestled Randy Orton and injured his right arm when he crashed into the barricade.
Bryan tried to continue the match, but WWE’s doctor called off the match before Bryan did more damage to himself.
The audience became captivated by Bryan because of his uniqueness. Like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels before him, Bryan broke the barrier of what a wrestler is and can be.
Anyone can be a Daniel Bryan. That’s what made him so mesmerizing; Bryan proved that a wrestler doesn’t need to have the make or the mold of a John Cena to succeed in the biggest wrestling company in the world.
Bryan’s reign at the top may have been short lived, but his impact on the wrestling business will be felt for years to come.
Thomas Romero-Salas is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ThomasRomeroS.
