Question for Bryan/CM Punk fans

[Bo Rida]

There's still a common feeling that Bryan and Punk's fanbases are largely made up of people that consider them indy darlings, to me that viewpoint seems a bit outdated now entire arenas are chanting their names.

However I wonder how many people around here watched their indy careers?

To keep the poll options low I listed both of them together, if you only saw one of them on the indies just pretend the poll is solely about that wrestler.

[Deleted]

No.

[MGH]

Happy to say I've had the pleasure of watching both for over a decade now. It's cool seeing these guys rise to where they are now from where I saw them in 2002.

[Cry Baby]

I'm a huge fan of both, but I never really watched any indie stuff until about two years ago. So I'm one of those people that went back and watched a bunch of their indie stuff after being a fan of them.

[angryfan]

I was a fan of both before WWE, or before this run in D-Bry's case. As for the "indy darling" label that WWE seems to enjoy exploiting, and if rumor is true wants to get away from since they want to not sign indies performers, I find it hilarious.

To the "WWF Universe" of 1980 and 1981, Hulk Hogan was the equivalent of an "indy darling" since he made his name in the AWA. Kerry Von Erich in the late 80's would be the same way, The Rockers, the Harts, pretty much anyone that was a star in a territory that Vince bought out and swallowed.

Later days, Foley was an "indy darling" too.

[Deleted]

I casually followed both of their indy careers just because the hype that surrounded them was a pretty good indicator that they were going to be big deals. They were the rare indy guys that people were raving about and when I watched I could understand why.

[________ has left the building]

I been watching Punk ever since his days of Steel Domain Wrestling and IWA Mid-South. Still got the vhs tapes with his early matches. I followed Bryan's career ever since Pro Wrestling Illustrated did a story about Shawn Michaels' wrestling school. The word "Indy darling" is usually mentioned as a condescending compliment and some use a jumpoff point on why they don't like someone.

[Deleted]

I was more familiar with the American Dragon than I was with CM Punk.

Main thing I remember about Punk was the "I'm not holding a microphone, you dumb bitch" bit.

[ZERO]

I noticed Punk right around the time he was set to debut in ECW. I remember the vignettes with him talking about being Straightedge and the "My only addiction is competition" stuff. I started to gravitate towards him because he stuck out in WWE, and the other new guys that were brought into the "new" ECW.

Bryan Danielson was champion when I was buying ROH DVDs, declaring himself the "Best Wrestler in the World", and backing it up in great match after great match. I remember getting excited when he worked a dark match with Lance Cade at Raw and won (Cade was set for a push at the time), and there was a buzz that WWE was keen to sign him, and not even dump him in developmental (as it happened he chose to go to FCW to keep busy). It was great speculating what could happen with Bryan Danielson finally in one of the "big two" as it were.

[Deleted]

Nope, but once Punk reached OVW and later when Bryan debuted on NXT I pretty much went back I watched most of their "big" indy matches or feuds.

[heyguesswhatidid]

ROH Bryan is what made him my favorite and he still shows the passion and ability he did back then.

I liked Indy Punk too but not as much as Bryan.

[Kayfabe FAN don't want none]

Didn't catch Punk in the indies due to age (i started paying attention to the indies in 08 when i was 12 and just started using internet) But i did catch Bryan, Cesaro, Generico and Rollins. I'll always be proud that the first indy match i've seen was KENTA/Bryan from NOAH. Although i was wondering why the f*** were the crowd so quiet

[Deleted]

I read about Punk in magazines way back in the day, like 2002-2003. I saw Bryan wrestle for Ring of Honor in 2008 against Kenny King, that was my first exposure to him and he blew me away. That show was also my first exposure to Cesaro, Aries, Rollins, Zayn, Ohno, Nigel, Steen, damn what a great show that was. Mostly, I'm a fan of their WWE work, but I have gone back and watched some of their indy stuff, in fact this reminds me I've been meaning to watch more of it. I had stopped watching wrestling between 03-08 so I missed out on their peak indy years.

Indy wrestling is something I've got to get more into, like going to local shows and whatnot. I've been to two shows and loved it, I just don't really seek it out.

[KobashiChop]

I had only heard internet hype about Punk before he hit ECW in 06. Similar with Bryan. I think i had watched one Danielson match (Danielson vs Morishima 1) which to be fair, was awesome. Ive gone back and watched older stuff of both guys, but when they came in, i didnt really know much about either.

[Bad Moon]

I really only checked out their earlier stuff after they got big in WWE. Can't say it made me more of a fan than their WWE work already had at that point.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

With Punk, I had no idea who he even was until he showed up in OVW.

With Bryan, I knew who he was and was aware that he was basically an independent wrestling god but didn't watch any of his work prior to signing with WWE.

[The Ichi]

I've checked out a few matches that have been recommended to me, but other than that, I've only seen their WWE work.

The term "indy wrestler" is a weird one to me though, considering most guys start out as one.

[Kevin Hamilton]

I was familiar with some of their stuff, but not to any great extent.

The indy darling thing is irrelevant though; as you say it's outdated and their main success has been in WWE for YEARS.

It's not a great analogy, but it'd be a little like if during the height of Hulkamania people were calling Hogan an "AWA darling".

[Deleted]

I saw both of them on The Wrestling Channel when I could watch it at friends or relatives houses (along with Sheamus) but I never really saw much of them or followed them

[Crappler El 0 M]

I guess I first saw CM Punk when he feuded with Raven in Ring of Honor and occasionally he would appear in NWA:TNA. I watched a lot of Ring of Honor while both he and Bryan Danielson worked there. I was a big fan of both. I remember seeing Bryan Danielson's quick run on Velocity and had already known who he was.