Daniel Bryan - a Look at His WWE Write-Off

On June 11th Daniel Bryan received his release from World Wrestling Entertainment. Bryan's release came only days after one of the more interesting angles in recent WWE history where he and the seven other Season 1 NXT Rookies made an impact on RAW. The Viewer's Choice edition of RAW ended with the Rookies destroying CM Punk, his Straight Edge Society, WWE announcers and officials, and WWE Champion John Cena. The group would go on to dismantle the WWE ring and ringside area. No one appeared as dominant in this attack though as Daniel Bryan. Bryan tore the shirt off of WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts before choking him out with his own tie. He would go onto spit in the face of WWE Champion John Cena and kick him in the head while screaming that Cena isn't better than him. It is now surfacing that Bryans was released due to the negative press his actions would garner for Linda McMahon in her Senate race. The McMahon's wanted to demonstrate that such actions as choking with a rope-like weapon would not be tolerated on their PG Program, a rule set in place after Chris Benoit had murdered his wife and son before hanging himself. Daniel Bryan stood out in the angle that closed RAW, but perhaps too much so.

One week later and 72 hours after Bryan's release, NXT Season 1 Winner Wade Barrett announced on RAW that Bryan would "never be seen again" after he showed remorse for their attack the week prior. Bryan's write off was interesting because most release superstars aren't referenced after their departures from the company. Barrett's keeping Bryan's name relevant in this angle hints to me that the company predicts working with him again in the future. Days after his release, WWE ultimately planted the seeds for his return. Let's face it, Daniel Bryan is more popular now than Bryan Danielson has ever been in his ten year career. Do you think Vince McMahon is going to watch the investments he made into Bryan so far go to waste, or worse, go to a competitor's program? Bryan is bound to a ninety day "No Compete Clause". This gives WWE close to three months to decide what their next move should be.

Here's my suggestion.

Bringing Daniel Bryan back as a good guy to feud with Barrett and his NXT faction is too boring, too predictable. Bringing Bryan back as a full blown heel in cohorts with the stable wouldn't make too much sense considering Barrett's comments on RAW. I would suggest making Bryan Danielson the ultimate "tweener". Why does Bryan have to fit into the good-guy-bad-guy mold? Let Danielson do what everyone has expected of him - Let him redefine the industry. Let him prove that he is the best person for the job.

I would quietly resign Danielson after his covenant not to compete expires and have him return not as Daniel Bryan, but as Bryan Danielson. Allow Barrett some time to develop and represent a more formidable threat to WWE Champion John Cena. I would then have Danielson come back and attack both Cena and Barrett. Danielson could reveal that he was removed from the faction because his actions were far more severe than the others'. Danielson can claim that Barrett felt threatened by him and so did WWE Management. Let Danielson usher the next great era of Professional Wrestling, not Sports Entertainment, but Professional Wrestling.

John Cena posted on his Twitter a couple of days ago that he would personally sign the petitions to bring Bryan Danielson back to WWE. In uncharacteristic anti-managerial fashion, Cena said that he hopes Danielson is given the opportunity to prove that he is supposed to be there. The fact that Bryan continues to be referenced by many prominent names in the WWE Universe indicates to me that McMahon has big things in mind for the American Dragon.