"I am grateful."
February 8, 2016 9:28 PM   Subscribe

Daniel Bryan is arguably the most beloved professional wrestler in the entire world; he is also widely considered to be one of the best professional wrestlers of all time. He has not wrestled a match since April of 2015, when injuries forced him out of action - after they had previously cost him much of 2014 as well. He spent 2015 training regularly and going to doctors hoping to learn that he could continue to be a professional wrestler, and finally, last week, learned conclusively that he could not. This is his retirement speech.
posted by mightygodking (26 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
Daniel Bryan has always struck me as a genuinely decent human being, and has been as devoted to his passion and profession as anyone that I have ever witnessed. If he says that he needs to leave the business, then I have zero doubt that it is an absolute necessity for him, and I only hope that his departure is early enough that he lives a long and healthy life.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 10:18 PM on February 8, 2016 [7 favorites]


Aww fuck man. At least more guys in his generation are getting out while... at least they're getting out at all. I hope he's alright.
posted by atoxyl at 12:08 AM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


I wonder if there's going to be an out-of-the-ring role for him. Obviously people love him but it seems like there are more openings for characters people love to hate. And a big part of his appeal is his actual wrestling performance.
posted by atoxyl at 12:15 AM on February 9, 2016


Goddamnit.

Supposedly he repeatedly refused non-wrestling roles for the last year, and was trying to quit (in order to wrestle elsewhere) but WWE refused to let him out of his contract. While independent doctors had cleared him, WWEs doctor refused to. Part of me wants to believe that this is actually a genuinely good act by McMahon and co trying to get him to walk away while he's still able, given his extensive history of concussions. I miss the absolute hell out of seeing him wrestle, but at this point, I can't see myself excited for the sudden appearance of Brian Danielson in NJPW.

He excelled in every awful storyline he was put into, and made all of it work. He was the best thing about a pretty damn exciting moment in wrestling, and I'll miss him. Even as far back as the awful AJ Lee/Punk/Bryan triangle, through the legimately fun tag team with Kane, to beating Cena clean, to the Wyatt cage match (which evidently he has no memory of), to Connor (not going to cry, not going to watch those videos again), to the amazing victories at Wrestlemania 30, damn. He was not only entertaining. He wasn't just the best wrestler out there on any given night. He was fucking inspirational. I wish him a long and happy retirement. On a different site, someone made a comment about how exciting it would be to hear the words NXT Head Trainer, Daniel Bryan.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:08 AM on February 9, 2016 [9 favorites]


Part of me wants to believe that this is actually a genuinely good act by McMahon and co trying to get him to walk away while he's still able

Yeah, I would like to think so, too. I'm immensely cynical about McMahon, and certainly this is also a hedge against more terrible PR in the future, but I'd like to believe that McMahon also sees the terrible effects that years of abuse has had on so many middle-aged stars. Sure, a lot of the breakdowns are more related to substance abuse, but it's hard to say which came first.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:35 AM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


On the one hand, this is a genuinely good thing all around -- Bryan being given a prominent sendoff, the WWE refusing to let him wrestle for his own good, walking away (for now) before more permanent damage is done, the whole nine yards.

On the other hand, in December they had no problem bringing back for a short run a less prominent guy who has openly spoken about double-digit concussions and memory loss. There are other famous wrestlers who speak of "dozens of concussions" and major memory loss and loss of motor skills and still say that "[I] may only have a couple more matches in [me] left, if that." There are lots of indie guys who are extremely talented, whose brains and bodies also get scrambled, but never reach true stardom and end up wondering what to do with the rest of their lives. And then there are old men who genuinely don't know what else to do with the rest of their lives, so they keep climbing back into the ring again and again and again and again and again until they finally can't.

The WWE has its share of talents who have simply walked away in recent years, coming back only for cameos or not at all. The Rock found moviemaking to be more lucrative and much safer. CM Punk tired of the grind and the injuries and fighting with the WWE's med staff and moved on, and brought his multiple-time women's champ wife AJ Lee with him. The business needs more of these.
posted by delfin at 6:33 AM on February 9, 2016


I'd like to believe that McMahon also sees the terrible effects that years of abuse has had on so many middle-aged stars.

I haven't followed pro wrestling in ~10 years, but I recall they let Kurt Angle go while he was still near his peak popularity because they didn't want to be responsible for him dying on the job (more or less).

It happens. It's a very complicated world.
posted by Dark Messiah at 6:41 AM on February 9, 2016


Part of me wants to believe that this is actually a genuinely good act by McMahon and co trying to get him to walk away while he's still able

I would vote for "good but still motivated by self-interest". If Bryan goes to Japan or ROH or wherever and dies of a broken neck in the middle of the ring, the story isn't "ROH wrestler dies because of a freak accident", it's "Former WWE wrestler dies because of a lifetime of injuries like this [insert multiple clips with WWE NETWORK tag on each of them]."

It's a tadbit ironic to watch him leave at this exact moment, when injuries have decimated the roster, leading to a 46-year-old World Champion (who has himself a long history of potentially crippling injuries) and smaller guys not getting pushed because Vince McMahon doesn't believe in them.
posted by Etrigan at 6:41 AM on February 9, 2016


Ugh it is so sad for so many reasons. I do not believe Vince McMahon capable of any genuinely good acts. I am sad that Bryan isn't going to wrestle anymore for his sake and mine, but I'm happy that he isn't going to wrestle anymore too. Ugh ugh ugh well I don't even know what to say. Keep living your dreams Bryan! May you find happiness and joy and fulfillment in the next chapters of your life. Your earnestness, commitment and good nature will help you with whatever you choose to do next.
posted by goneill at 7:03 AM on February 9, 2016


leading to a 46-year-old World Champion (who has himself a long history of potentially crippling injuries) and smaller guys not getting pushed because Vince McMahon doesn't believe in them.

This year has been surreal. You're really seeing a company falling completely off of the rails, thanks to a guy in charge who doesn't understand the business anymore. There have been so many chances to pass the baton to a new generation of wrestlers, but McMahon simply refuses to, even as he's run tenuously low on options who aren't injured. The one younger wrestler that McMahon truly does believe can be the next big star (Roman Reigns) is a disaster.

And now, McMahon has been trying to recapture the Steve Austin vs. McMahon magic, casting Roman Reigns as Austin. Inviting comparisons to Austin makes you realize how disappointing Reigns is, and inviting comparisons to middle-aged McMahon makes you just embarrassed for 70-something McMahon.
posted by roll truck roll at 7:30 AM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Gotta be honest, I only know this guy through watching Total Divas, but he seems like a true gentleman -- a big tough guy with a huge heart. While disappointed for him, I hope the silver lining to his retirement is replete with the joy of starting and growing a beautiful family with Brie. Best wishes to him.
posted by lock sock and barrel at 8:06 AM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


There have been so many chances to pass the baton to a new generation of wrestlers, but McMahon simply refuses to, even as he's run tenuously low on options who aren't injured.

Nexus II: The Nexusing
posted by Etrigan at 8:14 AM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


This year has been surreal. You're really seeing a company falling completely off of the rails, thanks to a guy in charge who doesn't understand the business anymore. There have been so many chances to pass the baton to a new generation of wrestlers, but McMahon simply refuses to, even as he's run tenuously low on options who aren't injured. The one younger wrestler that McMahon truly does believe can be the next big star (Roman Reigns) is a disaster.

First, Roman Reigns isn't a disaster. He's a solid uper-midcard worker who can put on a good match especially with someone with a good understanding of pacing and ring psychology but is at best mediocre on the mic. He's no Rock, not even a Cena although he can work a match - but the biggest problem is that he's being given all the wrong pushes. I'm firmly convinced that a Corporate Champion Heel Roman Reigns (matching what he at the moment is to his kayfabe persona) would actually work.

Second the really frustrating part is that the WWE is putting out some of the best wrestling it ever has right now. It's just all on NXT (booked amazingly enough by HHH). Sensible storylines (including the Bailey one that took years to pay off - and she's probably the most over person in the WWE right now with the arguable exception of New Day). Well booked matches that are allowed to tell a story and given the time they need (this goes double for the Divas). A midcard all with clear motivations and gimmicks that are entertaining and frequently sensible.

When your developmental side is better in every way than your main roster something has gone badly wrong somewhere. (Although stopping Bryan Danielson from wrestling is one of the best things they've done).
posted by Francis at 8:16 AM on February 9, 2016 [3 favorites]


.
posted by word_virus at 9:03 AM on February 9, 2016


First, Roman Reigns isn't a disaster.

I think that roll truck roll's point wasn't that Joe Anoa'i is a waste of ring time, but that "Roman Reigns" the character -- which includes his year-plus Face Of The Company push -- has been disastrous. I would agree with that, and expand it to say that Roman Reigns' last year has been pretty bad for Roman Reigns as well. Wrestling history is littered with guys who were pushed too high too fast, crashed, and never recovered, and who could have made it to the top if pushed properly in a slower, more organic way (e.g., Daniel Bryan, Triple H, or even the Rock).
posted by Etrigan at 9:34 AM on February 9, 2016


Gotta be honest, I only know this guy through watching Total Divas, but he seems like a true gentleman

There was an episode last season (I think) where Brie installed barbed wire around the house without consulting him first, and the two of them were conversing about it with Nikki, who kept calling it "bob wire." He was merciless.

"True gentleman," maybe, maybe not, but he really seems to be a good, easy-going guy with little tolerance for bullshit. It's amazing he got as far in WWE as he did.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:54 AM on February 9, 2016


I think that roll truck roll's point wasn't that Joe Anoa'i is a waste of ring time, but that "Roman Reigns" the character -- which includes his year-plus Face Of The Company push -- has been disastrous.

The character wasn't disastrous before it was decided he was The New Cena. He might have been the least interesting member of The Shield - but he was massively over. And he wasn't doing that badly before the Royal Rumble 2015. (It's scary how badly the 2014 and 2015 Rumbles were booked that the 2016 one looked good by comparison).

CM Punk tired of the grind and the injuries and fighting with the WWE's med staff and moved on, and brought his multiple-time women's champ wife AJ Lee with him. The business needs more of these.

For anyone wondering why anyone who knows anything about the wrestling business at all doesn't trust Vincent K McMahon to treat his wrestlers well (and are genuinely surprised he appears to have done so here), CM Punk was one of the two most popular wrestlers among adults of the past five years (the other being Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson)*. CM Punk was fired by the WWE on his wedding day. (AJ, his new wife and former womens champion returned to finish her contract - but it was blatantly obvious that she was just doing that and didn't give a damn.)

* John Cena is very popular among young teenagers and so shifts a lot of merchandies.
posted by Francis at 10:02 AM on February 9, 2016


The feels.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:20 AM on February 9, 2016 [5 favorites]


Literally every time I try to post a wrestling FPP to metafilter, I find that mightygodking has beaten me to the punch. Oh well, here's the post I just unnecessarily spent an hour writing, in case anyone else might enjoy the links:

Last night Daniel Bryan, WWE Superstar, announced his retirement from the business he loved. He is 34.

Daniel Bryan was never supposed to be a success at the highest level. At 5’9” and 190 lbs, he’s smaller than the typical bodybuilder type of wrestler. He’s vegan, he has a shaggy beard, and is a nice guy. But despite these unlikely traits, and apparently scoring in the bottom one percentile for ambition in a WWE-administered personality test, he won the hearts of fans with his exciting style and hardscrabble against-all-odds character, eventually becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania 30.

Although it was a neck injury that originally took him out of the business (and forced him to vacate the WWE title), it is brain injury from repeated concussions that is keeping him from coming back. Some hope that his leaving may serve as an example for other athletes or sports entertainers to protect their brains and their bodies.
It's sad that our guy, one of the few people from the past 20 years who appeared to fundamentally get pro wrestling on a whole other level, will no longer ply his trade for us to enjoy. But we had our time with him. Now it's time to be happy for him.
posted by misskaz at 2:53 PM on February 9, 2016 [3 favorites]


The With Spandex recap of Raw, with Stroud's goodbye to Bryan. I'm going to miss my train, but at least I read it at home so I don't need to deal with crying on the train.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:12 PM on February 9, 2016


I want him to be inducted into the New Day so he can retire with the Triple Crown. No one ever beat him for the other two.
posted by Etrigan at 5:42 PM on February 9, 2016 [2 favorites]


My sister got to attend the show live, and as a result our mom turned on Raw to see if she could spot her in the crowd. She happened to turn it on early into Bryan's speech, and wound up leaving it on because she got caught up in the emotion of it. My mom had never seen Bryan before in her life and had no idea who he was. That's a good speech.

Of all the wrestler tweets and such on the subject, my favorite was probably Samoa Joe's fairly lengthy reflection. "So tonight Daniel Bryan I tip a glass of the finest organic locally sourced superfood juice to you."

PWInsider's Mike Johnson [warning: put your adblockers on]: Pro Wrestling's Last Great Starving Artist Goes Home

Bryan on the time he and The Ryback went to Panera Bread

Bryan and Brie on the time Bryan caught a burglar

Bryan offering some advice to aspiring wrestlers ("Wrestling doesn't owe any of us anything.")

The Raw hijacking Bryan mentioned in his retirement speech
posted by brianrobot at 10:19 PM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bryan on ESPN. Says he's suffered 10 documented concussions, but likely more, has experienced post-concussion seizures, and has a lesion on his brain that likely contributed to these seizures.

Yikes.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:41 AM on February 10, 2016 [1 favorite]


Thanks so much for that ESPN clip, uncleozzy. I knew he was going to be on but missed it last night. Wow, I had no idea about the post-concussion seizures. That's scary. If you keep watching there are more clips form the interview that keep playing and he seems like a truly great guy.

I only started watching wrestling about 2 years ago. It was a boring Monday night and nothing was on TV so my bf paused on Monday Night Raw for a second. Daniel Bryan was on. The Wyatt family was trying to turn him and succeeded, with him eventually chanting No! No! No! I had no idea what was going on but I was intrigued--partly because Daniel Bryan was so immediately compelling.

So I'm sad I'm not going to get to see him wrestle anymore. But I'm glad he's getting out with his brain mostly intact.
posted by misskaz at 7:06 AM on February 10, 2016


Oh, the irony that I more or less stopped watching football partly because of brain injury issues and the way the NFL was handling it, only to start watching something else with the same problem.
posted by misskaz at 7:11 AM on February 10, 2016


One of the rumors I've seen claims that WWE told Bryan that they'd continue to pay him his downside/unable to wrestle guarantee just to keep him around, as a way to convince home to listen to their doctor and try the new tests that revealed the extent of his injuries.

Given that he admitted to tryung to hide concussion related seizures on ESPN, this is the best remaining outcom. We'll always have him going over Cena clean at Summerslam (which in hindsight was even more improbable than beating HHH, Orton, and Batista at WM30)...
posted by Ghidorah at 8:48 AM on February 10, 2016


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