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Post by Society of the Spectacle on Jan 4, 2013 6:05:32 GMT -5
Basically, how surreal is it to see Bryan so fully entrenched in the WWE machine? As a Bryan fan, I love it, and am so glad it has brought him so much success. However, it just feels so odd, doesn't it? Not in a bad way, but.... I guess it boils down to seeing things like him dating a Bella, appearing with her and her sister in basically a double date photo with John Cena, and being featured so heavily on RAW, WWE.com, and in local TV interview spots. Who would have thought the guy that was having an arm wrestling contest with Kenny Omega in the middle of a PWG ring, would in a couple years be knee deep in all this Bellas&Gail/AJ/18 Seconds/Couples Therapy/Hobo beard craziness? It's not really his in-ring stuff that's been transformed, as even though some people claim that he has lost his awesome in-ring style, his "abbreviated" WWE ring style still puts him near or at the very top of workers in the WWE. I'm sure there's some indy fans that can't stand the things he's doing in WWE and have turned on him as a sellout. But I think in a very "Bryan" way, he is representing the independents in much better fashion than Punk has (though Punk is essential to this movement as well), as he has shown how much he has grown as an all around performer since his early days. I mean come on, when you see something like this: www.wwe.com/videos/daniel-bryan-reveals-what-hed-like-to-be-called-in-2013-wwe-app-exclusive-decemb-26080928part of you wants to cringe, but the other half just makes you want to laugh and admire the wild journey Bryan has had thus far.
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Post by KobashiChop on Jan 4, 2013 7:09:48 GMT -5
I love how enthusiastic he is, even with the "wrestlecrap" stuff. he is so entertaining in everything he does.
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Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
Celestial Princess in Exile.
Posts: 45,788
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 4, 2013 8:34:51 GMT -5
Aside from not liking the crowd's "YES" version of the old "BALLS BALLS" thing, I do like that DB has been willing to pretty much be a "WWE" guy in all ways, and not worry that it might ruin his indie image.
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Abdullah
Hank Scorpio
Thank you, Ishmeal Loves Bayley!
Posts: 6,417
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Post by Abdullah on Jan 4, 2013 8:47:54 GMT -5
Having him stay in such a prominent spot after the cursory push that even someone like Swagger got is one of the consistent positives of WWE over the past year. When he was in the ring with Rock, holding his own, I knew that he'd finally made it in the eyes of management.
Seeing that clip though, I do wish he'd have more serious moments to balance all the comedy lately.
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Post by BRAINFADE on Jan 4, 2013 9:17:20 GMT -5
It has been a wonderful surprise- it's amazing that I no longer think of him as an indy guy in WWE, but a full on WWE guy. The guy is the best in the world right now, and after following his career for years it's great to see him in a solid spot, over and making good money.
As for people to say his in-ring style isn't as good as it was in the indies- what they have to understand is that he is wrestling much shorter matches now. There is no way he could fit in all of his stuff from the indies into a 7 minute Raw match, and he's far too smart a wrestler to try. Daniel Bryan is a wrestler who you appreciate over the course of a 30-45 minute match. THAT is where his true awesomeness as a performer lies. I really really hope WWE books him in an iron man match one day.
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Magnus the Magnificent
King Koopa
didn't want one.
I could write a book about what you don't know!
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Post by Magnus the Magnificent on Jan 4, 2013 10:24:10 GMT -5
Well, who is going to be the first to give the Dazzler a kiss on his lips?
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Optimax
Mephisto
"I came here to hunt ghost and chew bubble gum, and im all out of bubble gum!"
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Post by Optimax on Jan 4, 2013 23:47:40 GMT -5
I love how enthusiastic he is with everything, and how happy he seems to be just to be involved (even with some really funny but weird storylines)
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Jimmy
Grimlock
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Post by Jimmy on Jan 4, 2013 23:53:53 GMT -5
Always knew he had it in him. Just goes to show the favorite card that some like to play to put down a talent of "but he has no personality!" doesn't hold true.
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kerda
Trap-Jaw
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Post by kerda on Jan 5, 2013 0:13:59 GMT -5
Even beyond just Bryan, it's insane how many "indie darlings" have worked their ways to prominent roles within WWE over the last year or so.
Five years ago, or hell, even just 2 or 3 years ago, if you would've said that CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley and Tyler Black would all be major players within the company, people would look at you like a delusional smark. Really, outside of Ziggler, there's nobody in the company who really cut their teeth via the developmental system that have prospered in recent years. All of the breakout stars have been guys with years of seasoning in the independents.
You could say Sheamus as well, but he didn't get his NA break until his late 20s/early 30s, and after years of grinding it out in the UK.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2013 0:18:42 GMT -5
Daniel Bryan is going to be the new Kane, who gets involved in lots of ridiculous storylines but makes them work.
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Post by Aaron E. Dangerously on Jan 5, 2013 1:19:58 GMT -5
Bryan Danielson is the current WWE Tag Team Champion with Kane.
Did anybody... ANYBODY... see that coming?
Did anybody see his character coming? The beard, the NONONO/YESYESYES stuff, any of it? I don't know what I expected when he went to the WWE but none of this could have been predicted.
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SEAN CARLESS
Hank Scorpio
More of a B+ player, actually
I'm Necessary Evil.
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Post by SEAN CARLESS on Jan 5, 2013 2:28:20 GMT -5
Even beyond just Bryan, it's insane how many "indie darlings" have worked their ways to prominent roles within WWE over the last year or so. Five years ago, or hell, even just 2 or 3 years ago, if you would've said that CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley and Tyler Black would all be major players within the company, people would look at you like a delusional smark. Well, those people would be idiots. Talent is always obvious, and it's really not that hard to see it unless you don't want to. And that's what happens so often with anti-smark types; they get so butt-hurt when people praise "indy guys" like it somehow threatens their fandom. When the truth is, guys like Bryan, Ambrose, Cesaro etc. were always great, and would be great on any stage, no matter how large or small, if given the chance. I mean, it wasn't hard to see that Austin was super talented all the way back in WCW. But I'm sure if today's entitlement-opinion mediums existed then, there'd likely be a contingent who'd think he'd never make it. Talent always rises to the top. Those guys mentioned weren't great indy wrestlers. They were great wrestlers, who just so happened to work the indy's.
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Post by Slammy Award-Winning Cannibal on Jan 5, 2013 2:31:36 GMT -5
And with him teasing that he's going to grow his beard out all year long, there's no telling what's next for his character.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Jan 5, 2013 2:51:25 GMT -5
I've said it many times... For a guy who came in with all this buzz from being one of the best pure wrestlers on the market, it's amazing how much of his run has consisted of various "sports-entertainment" tropes:
*2 losing streaks *4 on-screen girlfriends *a failed wedding *an odd couple tag team *a sub-20 second title match loss at the biggest show of the year *comedy skits out the wazoo, ranging from dancing with the divas to anger management sessions to many beard-related diatribes
And he has STILL manages to churn out WWE Match Of The Year contenders, including one that ACTUALLY won it in the year it happened (against Ziggler at Bragging Rights 2010, which was deemed equally as good as Michaels/Undertaker at WrestleMania that year by WWE.com) and many contenders last year (against Sheamus at Extreme Rules, against Punk at Over The Limit and Money In The Bank, the 6 man tag with Ryback and Kane against The Shield at TLC).
We may as well call him Teflon Dan, because no crap thrown at him ever sticks without it turning to gold somehow. He's had more crazy things thrown at him (not to mention the whole Tiegate thing) in 3 years that most have had in 20.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2013 4:58:04 GMT -5
Bryan does whatever happens to be asked of him, and he has always been aware that is required to be THE guy in any company which is his aim.
He's wrestling great matches week in week out, puts over stupid gimmicks enough to make them laugh worthy or important for that moments in time, and that can only strengthen his position in the company & with fans. The man's working his arse off in every way to achieve his goal, and he's loving it. Bravo to him.
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Post by CourtesyFlush on Jan 5, 2013 5:41:35 GMT -5
What in tarnation does surreal mean? I'm a wrestling fan not a nuclear physicist. Can't have u educated types starting these threads no1 can comprehend.
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Jan 5, 2013 10:12:08 GMT -5
I think that Punk and Bryan are testament to what makes a real wrestling talent.
In the days of the territories, a legitimate wrestling talent could move from town to town whenever they got a bit stale and still do blockbuster business, making money wherever they went, and when WWF and WCW started going international you'd get picked up by them and flourish because you could work in front of any crowd.
Bryan and Punk were huge on the indies, which is a much smaller scene than it once was, but that doesn't necessarily translate to anything in the WWE. They were willing to put up with stupid shit (Bryan as a dancer, Punk in the Kelly Kelly angle) and they just rolled with it until they were given a chance to shine - then when they had that chance, they took it and they flourished.
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Post by BRAINFADE on Jan 5, 2013 10:52:39 GMT -5
Just rewatched the match with Ziggler from Bragging Rights, holy shit is it awesome!
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