Top Five Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson Moments or Matches

B. Dangerous, Brian Damage and Lowlife Louie Ramos

 This week’s Top Five, let’s try to come up with a top five on Daniel Bryan who looks like his WWE career may be coming to an end next week. Rumors have it, his contract is up and may go wrestle elsewhere. Could be matches or moments that really stood out in WWE or anywhere else that he has competed. 

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B. Dangerous

Daniel Bryan just seems like a good dude and in just a few years has done a ton of great things in the WWE, including retiring and making a triumphant comeback from a career-ending injury. Perhaps he’s done with the WWE, but I’m hard-pressed to believe that he’s done with wrestling entirely. With Kenny Omega’s defeat of Rich Swann to become the IMPACT Unified Heavyweight Champion (as well as the AEW World Heavyweight Champion and AAA Mega Champion), I can’t make myself believe that Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson would refuse us at least one dream match with Omega. Plus… a match with Okada in Japan? That needs to happen.

Anyway, here’s my Top 5 Daniel Bryan Moments:

5- Bryan Danielson defeats James Gibson at Glory By Honor lV (ROH)

Many people here the name James Gibson and immediately just look puzzled. Then, when they find out that he’s better known as Jamie Noble they cease to take him seriously as he’s remembered most as one of Seth Rollins’ lackeys. However, James Gibson in ROH was no joke.
In this match he and Danielson went to war and in the end we witnessed the beginning of Bryan Danielson’s incredible 462 day reign as ROH World Heavyweight Champion!

4- Daniel Bryan announces his retirement on RAW in 2016 (WWE)

It was the moment that none of us wanted, but it was necessary at the time and it’s impossible to make a comeback from a career-ending injury if you haven’t first been forced into retirement.
Plus, he was a really good General Manager of Smackdown immediately thereafter.

3- Daniel Bryan defeats John Cena at SummerSlam 2013 (WWE)

During Cena’s years as the WWE’s marquee performer he was not exactly known for being pinned cleanly, especially by smaller opponents who made their name in the indies. By all accounts John Cena was a company man and drank the Kool-aid of Vince McMahon that indicated that no good thing was ever formed outside of the auspices of the WWE. As such, for Bryan to not only defeat the face of the WWE cleanly, but also for the WWE Championship was a pretty big deal. It stated pretty clearly that someone in Connecticut believed in Bryan’s talent.

2- Bryan Danielson defeats Nigel McGuinness at Glory By Honor Vlll (ROH)

This match provided one of the most emotional moments in ROH history when Danielson led the Ring of Honor faithful in an “ROH!” chant on his last night with the company following an incredibly hard-hitting match.

1- Daniel Bryan leads a revolt and commandeers RAW in 2014 (WWE)

In what would eventually have us see Daniel Bryan standing victorious at Wrestlemania XXX with two Heavyweight Championship belts held high over his head in celebration, having overcome the odds on numerous occasions, it was this moment which forced the WWE to do an about-face and take notice that the fans very, very clearly wanted Bryan in the main event on the “Grandest Stage of Them All”. This was not only THE defining moment in Daniel Bryan’s career, but also the day the “YES! Movement” was born… and one of the last times in history that a Superstar connected with the fans so powerfully that it forced the WWE’s hand.

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Brian 

5- Team Hell No

Normally, I really hate mashed up tag teams made of singles wrestlers. The duo of Daniel Bryan and Kane as ‘Team Hell No’ was no different initially. After a while, however, the team really made me change my thinking. A series of comedic segments with Dr. Shelby showcased that both Bryan and Kane could handle comedy and brought out their personalities. I truly enjoyed their brief run as a tag team.

4-Daniel Bryan Announces He is Cleared to Wrestle Again

When it seemed the wrestling career of Daniel Bryan was all but done….Bryan announces on Smackdown that he has been cleared to return to in ring action. What an emotional moment and one that got fans into a frenzy. After a two year hiatus, Daniel Bryan was given the green light to make a comeback and it was a true highlight of his career for me.

3- The Eco Heel Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan proved he could work as both a babyface and a heel during his great career. I think one of my favorite heel runs was when he became this psychotic eco friendly heel complete with a hemp made world title belt. WWE could have done a bit more with this gimmick, but regardless…was great while it lasted.

2-Bryan Danielson/Nigel McGuinness Rivalry

When fans talk about some of the greatest feuds and rivalries in pro wrestling….people immediately talk about Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat, Tully Blanchard vs Magnum TA, The Freebirds vs the Von Erichs etc. All are great in different ways, but one feud under the radar was the battles between Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuiness in 2006 for Ring of Honor. The two wrestling technicians gave a clinic on grappling, as well as brawling and everything in between.

1- YESlemania

The entire build up to and payoff of the main event of Wrestlemania 30 was fantastic. While this wasn’t Bryan’s first world title victory….it certainly was his most important. A wrestler fired twice by WWE in the past and never considered a superstar by management because of his size…forced the hands of Vince McMahon because of his overwhelming popularity.

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Louie

5) APW king of the indies 01

 

After coming up short vs Low Ki in that years ECWA super 8..the American Dragon and Ki would meet again in a tournament final. This time though. Danielson would pull off the victory and would catapult himself into the national conscience of the independent wrestling world.

 

 

4) Era of Honor begins 

 

American Dragon , along with Christopher Daniels and again his nemesis Low Ki are tabbed as the main event of the 1st ever ring of honor show.  A show that in many ways cemented a lot of the style we see today, especially in AEW and NXT..ROH was at the forefront and so was Danielson. 

 

 

3) Final Battle 2006.

 

I have never ever ( to that point) been inside  a wrestling venue that had a much raw emotion  as the Hammerstein ballroom did on a cold December night.  Dragon defended his ROH championship vs perennial favorite yet never champion. Homicide,  in the 187s hometown of New York City. A phenomenal match saw Dragon pass the torch and head to Japan..

 

 

2) The YES movement..

 

Not a moment but a collection of moments that lead to one of the biggest grassroot movements seen in wrestling history.  Daniel Brian became number 1 fan favorite.  But the authority had him tabbed as a B+ player.  With fans hijacking shows and chanting louder for Bryan than anyone since a guy named Stone Cold..Bryan was pegged by the fans as their guy…which leads to….

 

 

1) WRESTLEMANIA 30

 

For 90 percent of aspiring wrestlers, main eventing the biggest wrestling show of the year, the showcase of the immortals. Bryan was not only given that opportunity that only select few had in 29 previous installments. But made good and earned a championship win. A moment that can probably never be topped from a professional standpoint. 

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You can read all previous Top Five pieces here.

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