An Excellence Editorial - Daniel Bryan

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Now before I start, let me just state for the record that I have never watched a Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan match pre-WWE. But this is my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

---

Tonight on NXT, Daniel Bryan lost clean to The Great Khali. That's in the books now, can't change it.

A lot of people in this forum are now saying that Bryan's WWE career is dead in the water. I jokingly said that he would need to see Pai Mei from Kill Bill to escape the burial.

But the truth is, I think those kind of reactions are way, way melodramatic.

To start, let's look at his 0-4 record, shall we?

~

Lost to Chris Jericho by Submission - Jericho is the World Heavyweight Champion. The best in the world at what he does. Bryan pretty much matched him move-for-move, only losing after taking a man-sized bump on the commentary table and tapping to the FREAKIN' LIONTAMER (not that Walls Of Boston nonsense). No shame in that whatsoever.

Lost to Wade Barrett by Pinfall (I think) - Thanks to the aforementioned man-sized bump, Bryan came into this at less than 100%, so this loss was understandable.

With The Miz, lost a tag match to R-Truth/David Otunga, but wasn't pinned - He had this match won, only for The Miz to arrogantly tag himself in and cause further friction, which Truth and Otunga took advantage of. The Miz dropped the ball here, not Bryan.

Lost to The Great Khali by Pinfall - This is the loss that is probably the hardest to comprehend and justify. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but did Bryan ever wrestle any 7 foot 2 420 pound giants in Ring Of Honor? This would have been a first for Bryan. Also, Sexual Curry gimmick or not, Khali is still a former World Heavyweight Champion and one of the single most powerful wrestlers in WWE. And I assume that this match was set up as punishment by The Miz based on last week and the R-Truth match on SmackDown.

All those losses make sense, in a way. I don't think it's an MVP-esque "let's just make him lose every week because it's funny" thing, as much as a lot of pessimists say it is. At least I hope not.

But losing competitive matches to a World Champion isn't jobbing. Losing a match while injured isn't jobbing. Losing a tag match, but not getting pinned isn't jobbing. LOSING TO POSSIBLY THE LARGEST OPPONENT YOU'VE EVER FACED ISN'T JOBBING!

Sorry.

If you want to see jobbing, look no further than our 2009 Gooker winner, the infamous Chavo Guerrero/Hornswoggle feud. THAT is jobbing.

~

The Michael Cole thing, I can't explain, but I'll try.

From what I see, Cole is ripping on him based on Bryan's internet following and pride in his indy experience. For Cole, who doesn't exist outside of the WWE bubble, Bryan is just another arrogant heel that is all talk and no walk. And while it does seem like a case of potkettle for Cole to talk about respecting The Miz on NXT when he says otherwise on RAW, in his eyes, Miz has tenure and ha earned his spot, regardless of personal feelings. Bryan hasn't.

~

To those saying that there's no way back to the top from being a jobber, just look at none other than Bryan's NXT mentor.

Wasn't The Miz basically a jobber in late 2006/early 2007 before he entered his "Chick Magnet" phase? And even then, once he left ECW, he was jobbed out again in that feud he had with John Cena. Now look at him... probably the fastest rising heel in WWE right now.

And speaking of Cena, he lost more matches than he won in mid-late 2002, only building momentum once his rapper gimmick started to get over. Now he's the New Age Superman. The face of wrestling.

And don't get me started on The Hardy Boyz, who were jobbers for years, until someone gave them a chance. Jeff, personal problems aside, became one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE history post-Attitude era, and Matt has become one of the company's most reliable wrestlers.

~

In conclusion, all it's gonna take is a little faith. Bryan will hit a rock bottom, hell, he might have already. But if he is truly the best wrestler in the world, he will bounce back. He will get over. He will win titles. He will main event WrestleMania.

I know it's hard to put faith in WWE booking, but for Bryan's sake, I'm going to. I hope most of you will as well.

---

[Piccolo]

Well said. I haven't at all gotten the impression that they're trying to bury him or screw him over in any way. Quite the opposite... they seem to be treating him as the star of the show, detailing the travails he suffers at the hands of an unjust, spiteful mentor, while he nobly faces every challenge. He's faced greater challenges than any other NXT rookie, one stacked on top of another, and while he hasn't yet come out on top, he's made a great showing of himself each time.

The other rookies are competing as trainees, climbing small hills, getting small wins. Daniel Bryan is competing as a pro, facing challenges that seasoned WWE superstars would struggle with, and racking up honorable losses. When he DOES overcome, he's going to automatically be at the level of the pros in a way that no other rookie has been given the opportunity to do. That tells me that the WWE is taking this guy very seriously, and is being careful with the narrative of his rise to the regular ranks.

[comahan]

He'll be more than fine. Anyone legitimately freaking out over this type of stuff needs to be directed to the thread where Punk lost to Hardcore Holly on ECW.

[Deleted]

Did anyone watch the match with Khali?

Khali squashed Scotty Goldman
Khali squashed MVP
Khali squashed the Edgeheads
Khali did not squash Bryan hell Bryan brought him down and they made a big deal of it

[Chainsaw]

I think I see where they're going with this. The only problem is, the last time we saw a plotline reminiscent of this was Colin Delaney, who isn't in the same class as Danielson, but he was also an indy guy, and look how he fared. I think a lot of people get worried that WWE won't do right by Danielson, and having to sit through a squash match like the one tonight doesn't ease one's concerns much.

Of course, the WWE wouldn't spend money and time to bring in a guy like this if they didn't think he would be ready to step up. His storyline is interesting, because his mentor hates him, it seems like everyone doesn't want him there, and as hard as he fights, the odds are against him all the time. Thus, when he makes his big time breakthrough win against a big talent, the place is going to erupt for him...provided that the WWE doesn't kill whatever momentum Bryan has going for him right now.

[Bullhead]

I'm thinking that this is all just the build up to the eventual Miz/Dragon U.S. Title feud, but watching a guy with his talent and indy wrestling cred job four weeks in a row is hard to watch.

[maximilian]

I was sure Bryan would win when Cole said he was 0-3 and about to be 0-4.

How is this booking helping Bryan? What is this leading to? He's not beating Miz yet. He needed to make Khali tap to his leg submission tonight. Khali is a comedy character who is rarely on TV and will (thankfully) never be a top guy again. Everyone who matters has gone over him; he doesn't need to be protected.

[Paco]

It wasn't about helping or protecting Khali. It was about stacking the odds against Bryan.
Miz, who's not an idiot, chose the biggest freak in the company.

Bryan fought valiantly (not a squash IN THE LEAST) but lost again.
Miz screws over his rookie once again and even sends Big Show to add insult to injury.
Good FN' Storyline!

If Bryan ends up winning the US title from Miz when it's all over, I want all the whiners to eat their words.

[Deleted]

People complain about Rey beating big guys but want the pasty new guy to make Khali tap out

Amdrag hasn't been squashed once unlike Darren Young or Tarver
He's gonna be big just watched

[M. Dirrty]

Mar 17, 2010 0:13:41 GMT -5 @tagteamspecialist said:

People complain about Rey beating big guys but want the pasty new guy to make Khali tap out

qft.

[hajimenoippo]

Khali doesn't bump much and Danielson took him down, Khali is a giant you dont job out giants

[maximilian]

I love Rey. He's the best wrestler in the company and one of the best ever; as such, I buy him against Show, Henry, 'Taker, Batista, et al. (Actually, tonight's match reminded me of how Rey was booked before and during his title run.)

Bryan is obviously not at that level, but my point was it's only Khali, basically a really tall Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Who cares?

[Bullhead]

And you have to admit, he did get in more offense than most of Khali's opponents usually do.

[Azrael from Outerspace]

Mar 16, 2010 23:42:19 GMT -5 Chainsaw said:

I think I see where they're going with this. The only problem is, the last time we saw a plotline reminiscent of this was Colin Delaney, who isn't in the same class as Danielson, but he was also an indy guy, and look how he fared. I think a lot of people get worried that WWE won't do right by Danielson, and having to sit through a squash match like the one tonight doesn't ease one's concerns much.

Of course, the WWE wouldn't spend money and time to bring in a guy like this if they didn't think he would be ready to step up. His storyline is interesting, because his mentor hates him, it seems like everyone doesn't want him there, and as hard as he fights, the odds are against him all the time. Thus, when he makes his big time breakthrough win against a big talent, the place is going to erupt for him...provided that the WWE doesn't kill whatever momentum Bryan has going for him right now.

Except Colin didn't take Chris Jericho to the limit. Or even get any offense against the giants. At some point during all of Bryan's matches he has a chance to win. It just hasn't happened yet.

As for the topic, i agree 100%.

[hajimenoippo]

Khali doeesnt lose much he's a lot like face Andre, beat people and he's a giant this was good booking srs Khali scowl after getting kicked was a mark out for me

[Bub (BLM)]

I'm a big Danielson fan, but I wasn't remotely upset by tonight's events. As has already been said, tonight wasn't a squash match. Daniel Bryan is about as small as Evan Bourne, yet got in FAR more offense than Bourne would in the same situation. The loss is irrelevant. He got to look valiant against a guy who was ridiculously larger than him.

Also, the win-loss record is irrelevant. NXT is so clearly centered around Bryan. The announcers even talk about him during other wrestlers' matches. You don't do that when you aren't trying to get someone over. Nor do you pair them with one of the biggest heat-magnets in WWE.

[BlackoutCreature]

The thing that everybody needs to realize is that Bryan winning NXT would be a waste for both Bryan and NXT. The WWE knows Bryan is in a completely different situation then the other rookies, they also know they are definitely going to put him on RAW or Smackdown sooner or later, something they are probably iffy on with the other seven guys. They just wanted to give him some exposure first. So whats the best way to do that?

1. Have him run roughshot over the rest of the NXT rookies showcasing is obvious experience and skill advantage and bring him up after the first vote? They could do that, probably would get him over, but it would be kinda a waste of the NXT concept and wouldn't help the other seven guys.

2. Use the NXT concept as a backdrop for Bryan to be fighting a completely different war for respect against one of the top upper mid-carders in the WWE while at the same time (loosely) putting over Bryan's various accomplishments outside the WWE. So now he has his own independent thing to do while not interferring with what the other guys goals.

The WWE chose option 2.

As for why he keeps losing, well they've all been from either shady means or just being in over his head. I don't think he's come out looking badly at all in any of them. And it's obviously just a way to build up steam until he finally explodes and pulls the trigger on his revenge on Miz. It'll probably all make perfect sense when his first win is for the US Title and it gives him an immediate spot on RAW.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Mar 16, 2010 23:10:26 GMT -5 Piccolo said:

Well said. I haven't at all gotten the impression that they're trying to bury him or screw him over in any way. Quite the opposite... they seem to be treating him as the star of the show, detailing the travails he suffers at the hands of an unjust, spiteful mentor, while he nobly faces every challenge. He's faced greater challenges than any other NXT rookie, one stacked on top of another, and while he hasn't yet come out on top, he's made a great showing of himself each time.

The other rookies are competing as trainees, climbing small hills, getting small wins. Daniel Bryan is competing as a pro, facing challenges that seasoned WWE superstars would struggle with, and racking up honorable losses. When he DOES overcome, he's going to automatically be at the level of the pros in a way that no other rookie has been given the opportunity to do. That tells me that the WWE is taking this guy very seriously, and is being careful with the narrative of his rise to the regular ranks.

The thing that everybody needs to realize is that Bryan winning NXT would be a waste for both Bryan and NXT. The WWE knows Bryan is in a completely different situation then the other rookies, they also know they are definitely going to put him on RAW or Smackdown sooner or later, something they are probably iffy on with the other seven guys. They just wanted to give him some exposure first. So whats the best way to do that?

1. Have him run roughshot over the rest of the NXT rookies showcasing is obvious experience and skill advantage and bring him up after the first vote? They could do that, probably would get him over, but it would be kinda a waste of the NXT concept and wouldn't help the other seven guys.

2. Use the NXT concept as a backdrop for Bryan to be fighting a completely different war for respect against one of the top upper mid-carders in the WWE while at the same time (loosely) putting over Bryan's various accomplishments outside the WWE. So now he has his own independent thing to do while not interferring with what the other guys goals.

The WWE chose option 2.

As for why he keeps losing, well they've all been from either shady means or just being in over his head. I don't think he's come out looking badly at all in any of them. And it's obviously just a way to build up steam until he finally explodes and pulls the trigger on his revenge on Miz. It'll probably all make perfect sense when his first win is for the US Title and it gives him an immediate spot on RAW.

I totally agree with both of these. Miz is giving AmDrag the hardest path possible because he doesn't like him, while all the rookies are getting fluff matches between each other.

I have faith in WWE this time around

[Schemer]

They're using Rocky booking for Bryan. He's the underdog. Once he gets that win, he'll have all the momentum in the world, and I actually trust WWE will pull the trigger on that at the precise moment.

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2010 0:34:39 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

I'm a big Danielson fan, but I wasn't remotely upset by tonight's events. As has already been said, tonight wasn't a squash match. Daniel Bryan is about as small as Evan Bourne, yet got in FAR more offense than Bourne would in the same situation. The loss is irrelevant. He got to look valiant against a guy who was ridiculously larger than him.

Also, the win-loss record is irrelevant. NXT is so clearly centered around Bryan. The announcers even talk about him during other wrestlers' matches. You don't do that when you aren't trying to get someone over. Nor do you pair them with one of the biggest heat-magnets in WWE.

Also don't forget the NXT adds featuring NXT Rookie Daniel Bryan they replayed on Raw last night.