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[2014-04-08-WWE-Network] Journey To Wrestlemania: Daniel Bryan


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Watched this last night. Fun mix of kayfabe and reality. I kept wishing they would do this for other people who participated in WrestleMania weekend. Oddly enough, Ultimate Warrior was one of the first people who came to my mind. :(

 

Brie Bella is such a contrast to Bryan. So smooth and composed. I hate to make this comparison because it doesn't quite fit, but she reminded me of Robin Givens. Not necessarily in a bad way, but she came across as really slick and manufactured. Maybe it's just because Bryan is the opposite: so awkward and easygoing. But I'm not implying that Brie is using Bryan like Givens used Tyson - after all, they were together even when Bryan had nothing going on - a point I found interesting.

 

Another thing that struck me was how well-liked and respected Bryan is. Even in such a political atmosphere, everyone seemed to be rooting for him to succeed. I don't know if Cena was being sincere or just "saying all the right things," but I want to believe he was giving us his honest thoughts. The problem with Cena is - no matter what, even without trying - he always carries this vibe of being the head quarterback/prom king, and that makes him hard to relate to. Bryan is the opposite, which is another thing that makes him so special.

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Not only do i think the Miz wasn't familiar with his Ring of Honor stuff, I wouldn't be surprised if half the locker room in 2010 was the same way. I can't really picture guys like Shemaus and Cena and Big Show were big ROH marks. Only a small handful of the FCW guys were indy guys at the time. They probably knew of his reputation though but I doubt they were watching 30+ minute matches against Samoa Joe or Colt Cabana or Morisihima

 

The only thing that worries me watching this is that he may end up like Eddie Guerrero. All he wanted to do was become a heavyweight champion and then he won it and got miserable to the point he was almost begging to give the belt to JBL. At least I believe that is the story. He love the business in the ring but that is about it. I don't mean in a arrogant way I mean he doesn't think it is him.

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I'd bet Cena, Sheamus and Show are three guys who really know their wrestling. There's an interview where Orton acknowledges that everyone in the back knew who Bryan was and knew he could go. Maybe Miz didn't but I guess pairing him up with Bryan was inspired if so.

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A thing to consider, Danielson had worked a few dark matches in the year leading up to his WWE NXT debut. Even before that year, many years before actually, he had worked spots on c-shows, including a match with John Cena. So at the very least, he had to have been known to even some guys who were just insulated within the WWE.

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Miz actually worked a few indies before Tough Enough, so you'd think he would have known more about the indy landscape. I realize he wasn't working super indies, but it's strange to me that someone at that level wouldn't have any concept of who's who there.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of key people in WWE hadn't seen his matches, but they should have at least heard the names Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Homicide and Low Ki at some point if they paid any attention to the industry they worked in at all.

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I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of key people in WWE hadn't seen his matches, but they should have at least heard the names Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Homicide and Low Ki at some point if they paid any attention to the industry they worked in at all.

 

I remember Meltzer writing on the WON, on July 2004, about his thoughts on the Benoit-HHH Ironman match and Joe-Punk I (60 minute draw). I forgot exactly how he phrased it, but he mentioned how people within WWE knew about Joe and his reputation for being one of the best in the world (at that time). There was more to it than that but I don't remember the details so I don't want to say something and have it be wrong.

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Another thing that struck me was how well-liked and respected Bryan is. Even in such a political atmosphere, everyone seemed to be rooting for him to succeed. I don't know if Cena was being sincere or just "saying all the right things," but I want to believe he was giving us his honest thoughts. The problem with Cena is - no matter what, even without trying - he always carries this vibe of being the head quarterback/prom king, and that makes him hard to relate to. Bryan is the opposite, which is another thing that makes him so special.

 

I think he was being honest, too. What will be interesting if he gives the same responses a year from now and if they are as sincere.

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It's tough to tell where Cena's heads at. He's clearly very conscious of his spot, as he's returned probably too early from injury several times. I think he has a lot of years left if he stays healthy, and I don't know if he's even considered a WWE where he's not the ace. It could be a relief to him, or he could genuinely enjoy getting to be competitive for the position.

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He's never come across as having a big ego about himself. I think the ying-yang reactions have almost made him humble in a way, because too much adulation would inflate anyone's head I'm sure. He dedicates himself more to pushing the WWE brand than he is himself.

 

It will also be interesting to see if (more likely when) John's core fan base of kids switches over to DB. It could possibly open up the door to that heel turn the IWC has been drooling over for years. I can see it happen a bit more clearly, now that his spot is on shaky ground.

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I thought this was really well put together and should absolutely be a bonus feature on the WrestleMania XXX Blu-ray release. I can't get over the turnaround on it also.

 

One part that made me chuckle early on was Seth Rollins talking to Bryan and Bryan matter of factly states he's wrestling two matches later that week. They were much more in kayfabe later in the show when they got to the event.

 

Highly recommend watching this.

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I thought they would maybe touch on Bryan working as enhancement talent for WWE back in the day. Anyways, I thought this was excellent. Something I really hope more eyeballs see. This makes for some great TV. You stick this on one of the regular channels and it is an amazing way to build up someone. Granted you probably can't tell as good of story with most guys when it comes to Bryan. Cena has a weird way of coming off distant to Bryan since you think they may be close somewhat with them both being with a Bella.

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  • GSR changed the title to [2014-04-08-WWE-Network] Journey To Wrestlemania: Daniel Bryan
  • 3 years later...

This was fascinating. I always love the glimpses they give backstage, its just so different from watching their usual programming.  Nice to see how they acknowledged all the talking points about Bryan recently, from getting fired over the tie incident, to losing in 18 seconds, to the fans booing Rey Misterio.  Those were big internet talking points, its nice to see guys in the company acknowledge that they were real issues behind the scenes and not just online.

There was one scene where Bryan was being interviewed before WM27 where he was talking about being on the show.  That couldn't have been intended for anything specific at the time, but they had it available three years later.  It made we wonder how many thousands of hours of footage they have of stuff like that that has never been seen, and will probably never be seen.  The beauty of the network makes it a possibility.

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