Jimmy Korderas, a former WWE referee of over 20 years, weighs in on the Daniel Bryan situation in a new blog on CSRWrestling.com. Here’s a sample:
Bryan has always been a warrior with an old school mentality. It’s not uncommon for someone with passion and attitude to compete while hurt. Bryan gives the fans everything he has, night in and night out, fighting through the pain to entertain the masses. Often times, young superstars feel they are invincible and take risks. The unfortunate truth for Bryan is the years of pounding that his body has absorbed have finally caught up with him and I’m sure he would not want to tone down his style very much if he were to return. Remember Bryan was cleared once before by an outside doctor only to suffer another injury soon after returning. Not placing blame here, just stating facts.
The bottom line is that there is more to getting Bryan cleared than having a second or third opinion. One of the underlying issues that some fans cannot comprehend is how much the concussion information and protocol has evolved. Besides the concussion related lawsuits the WWE is currently facing, there is a genuine concern about the long term effects of multiple head trauma. The education and information on this subject is getting more in-depth almost every day. Think about it, it would become a PR nightmare if Daniel Bryan returned to the ring and got hurt again, especially considering his well-documented history of concussions. That would only open up the company to further litigation. Yes, the WWE is protecting their public image and interests but you can’t blame them for that. Remember Merril Hoge? If you don’t know who I am talking about, look him up. His concussion issues were NFL related but still very pertinent to this conversation as is the similar lawsuit filed against the NFL. As much as some skeptics will not agree, the WWE is also trying to protect the talent from themselves as well.
So to all you conspiracy theorists out there who believe that Daniel Bryan is not being cleared because he is “too over” and would outshine the other babyfaces, you are sadly mistaken. Why would a company that is “all about the money” intentionally sideline someone who can potentially be their biggest star? A guy that appeals to both hardcore fans but also engages and connects with the more casual fans and kids? A guy who is the perfect storm for the audience and the company. It absolutely makes no sense but I’m sure that some fans will continue to believe that the WWE is out to derail this guy despite the revenue potential he brings to the table. Paging Jesse Ventura!
February 3, 2016
Former WWE Referee Says It Might Be Best For WWE Not To Clear Daniel Bryan
January 27, 2016
January 20, 2016
December 11, 2015
Rumor Mill - Daniel Bryan Claims WWE Have Asked Him To Be An Announcer Or Trainer
Daniel Bryan claims he has been offered the chance to be an announcer, or trainer at the WWE Performance Center.
The four-time World Champion’s future has been up in the air in recent times, with WWE’s medical teams refusing to allow him to get back into the ring – even though he has been given the all clear by his own personal doctor. It seems that Vince McMahon et al see his future away from being a competitor between the ropes.
The leader of the Yes movement spoke to Singaporean publication PassThePopcorn while on a promotional tour where he claimed to have been offered a new role.
“They [WWE] asked me a bunch of stuff of what I’d like to do like announce or be a trainer at NXT,” said Bryan. “I’m sure at some point in my life I would, but right now it would be too soon.”
If he was to be refused a return to the ring, Bryan has previously said that he could leave for pastures new. Singapore based The New Paper ran an interview with D-Bry where he said: “I think it could be the end of my career in WWE, but I don’t think it will be the end of my career.”
Given what a draw he is now, this would presumably mean a return to Japan as neither ROH, TNA and the like could afford him. At the end of the day WWE are looking out for one of their biggest star’s health. Even though you probably want to, you can’t begrudge them for that.
December 3, 2015
Brad Maddox Talks WWE Release, Practicing Promos With The McMahons, Being Frustrated In WWE
Brad Maddox recently spoke with Gary Mehaffy of F4Wonline.com. The full interview can be heard above where Maddox talks about going to OVW first, how he considers Joey Mercury a mentor, learning promo work from Dusty Rhodes, working with CM Punk and more. Below are highlights:
If using the word 'prick' in a dark match promo got him fired:
"It was because of that...That particular night was a bad decision on my behalf…I didn't think anything of it, but Vince wasn't happy about that. I don't know if it's a generational word that maybe used to be worse than it is now….I didn't really think it through, but I should have been more careful in that moment because I knew Vince was watching. I tend to take chances at stupid times."
Being frustrated in WWE:
"It has been a long couple of years for me, working on angles and ideas trying to get (back) in. I've always wanted to wrestle...Absolutely, I wanted to wrestle from the get go…I could have talked to Vince more than I did, rather than sitting around in catering hoping that the writers were coming up with something for me."
Practicing promos with Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon:
"I've got to do some cool stuff. Going over promos with Vince in his office, or the bathroom of his office – for some reason! – with him and Daniel Bryan and Stephanie."
October 5, 2015
Daniel Bryan Says WWE Is Sending Him To A Third Doctor, Comments On Returning To The Indies
Daniel Bryan recently spoke with IGN to promote the upcoming WWE 2K16 video game. The full interview is at this link. Below are a few highlights:
His status:
"So, we don't know. I had a concussion in April, and obviously they're very hyper-sensitive about concussion stuff right now. One neurologist who specializes in concussions - who was the neurologist for the Super Bowl last year - cleared me with no limitations. All my testing came back excellent. But the WWE's medical doctor is skeptical, because of my history of concussions and that sort of thing. So they will not clear me. So now, we have two doctors: one saying no, one saying yes. They're going to send me to a third doctor at some point in the near future and that doctor will decide my fate."
"The WWE doctor Joe Maroon [is] amazing and highly respected in the concussion field, and if they send me to a third neurologist who's also highly respected in the concussion field and they say literally no...well, then is it really smart to go against two doctors? I get all fired up...and then I'm like, maybe that's not the best thing for me and my family going forward."
If he would work indies if WWE doesn't clear him:
"John Cena and I actually had this discussion. He said, 'if something were to happen to you and the WWE, would you go back to doing the indies?' Absolutely!"
Bryan said he's got a fascination with lucha and the idea of doing a mask vs. hair match is appealing to him as is main eventing a CMLL anniversary show.
September 23, 2015
September 16, 2015
September 2, 2015
August 25, 2015
WWE Tough Enough Finale Recap
The final four competitors – Josh, Sara, ZZ and Amanda – were overcome with disbelief that the final week of Tough Enough was underway, but also with trepidation as they had to compete in their first televised match. Amanda took the opportunity to try and get into Sara’s head by questioning her personal life. Shaking off Amanda’s assumptions and comments, Sara was poised to prove to everyone she belongs in WWE.
Before their live matches, each contestant sat down with Chris Jericho and discussed what they wanted their ring gear to look like. In addition to their ring gear, Jericho encouraged the final four to flesh out their in-ring personas.
After going over their characters, the contestants learned who they would be facing inside the squared circle. Amanda and Sara would be going toe-to-toe with former Divas Champion Alicia Fox while ZZ and Josh would face Cesaro.
Amanda, taking the ring name Mandy Rose, entered the ring first, showing off her new persona. Mandy Rose then had the opportunity to display everything she’s learned during her tenure at the WWE Performance Center. Facing Alicia is a daunting task, especially for a first live match. The battle went back and forth and Mandy showed strong endurance and ability to keep fighting.
However, Foxy proved that experience is crucial inside the ring and won the match with her patented Scissor Kick.
Miz was a fan of Mandy Rose’s new persona and Paige gave her high marks for her outfit. Although Daniel Bryan felt the match was sloppy, he admired Mandy’s intensity and ability to keep the flow of the math intact.
Next up was Sara Lee, competing as Hope. Taking the microphone, Hope talked a big game – determined to make Alicia a “footnote in Hope’s career.” Hope came out strong against the former Divas Champion, however Fox retaliated aggressively, putting Hope on the defensive. Remaining in the fight, Hope looked like she could pull off an upset, but Alicia took control with an eye poke and executed her Scissor Kick for the win.
Miz loved Hope’s promo and was genuinely impressed with her performance. Paige wasn’t a fan of her entrance but was also impressed with the performance. Bryan reiterated Paige’s point about Hope’s entrance, but he was surprised by the match.
Before the reveal of the female winner, ZZ and Josh competed. First up was ZZ, who entered the ring as The King of the Bayou, donning an alligator head attached to a cape. Before The King could finish his promo, Cesaro made his way to the ring. Cesaro dominated much of the contest, showing off his infamous strength and tossing The King around with ease. The Swiss Superman dominated the bout, and reversed The King’s Gator Grip into a Crossface for the win.
Bryan felt The King of the Bayou did a decent job in his match. However, Paige felt his personality was lacking and Miz didn’t think The King could handle competing in a longer match.
Josh was the final contestant to get in the ring and he, of course, competed as The Yeti. Clearly excited for his match, The Yeti did his best to rile up the audience and get them on his side. As the match got underway, The Yeti tried to match strength with Cesaro, but the King of Swing once again showed why he is pound-for-pound one of the strongest WWE Superstars in history. After an exchange, Cesaro executed The Neutralizer for the win.
Jericho thought The Yeti looked like a star, and Miz agreed, but hated his outfit. Paige and Bryan both felt the match was a bit choppy but strong overall. The general marks on his promo were that it started strong but lost some momentum toward the end.
With the voting closed, Triple H emerged with two WWE contracts each worth $250,000. First the newest WWE Diva was announced and the winner was Sara Lee. Joining Sara was the newest WWE Superstar – Josh.
And with that, history was made and two hard-working competitors have been granted the opportunity of a lifetime.
August 21, 2015
Daniel Bryan Says A 'Respectable Doctor' Has Cleared Him
Daniel Bryan did a Q&A at Wizard World in Chicago yesterday and said if he could have one more match it would be against Brock Lesnar.
Regarding a return, Bryan said a "respectable doctor" has cleared him to wrestle but WWE won't clear him because they are worried about his concussion history. Bryan said WWE officials have not given him any indication if or when they will clear him to return. He said he could main event SummerSlam right now if they would let him and is training for when he gets the call to return.
August 12, 2015
August 10, 2015
WWE to “ANSWER THE CALL” for Families of Fallen NYC Heroes
WWE is joining forces with Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes through a global online auction on Charitybuzz.com, featuring unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in support of “Answer The Call,” the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.
Fans can now visit www.Charitybuzz.com/WWE through Tuesday, August 25 at 12 noon ET to bid on exclusive experiences with WWE Superstar John Cena®, Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin, talk show hosts Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa and many more. WWE’s support of “Answer The Call” is part of WWE’s community outreach initiatives in celebration of SummerSlam®, which takes place on Sunday, August 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
“We are thrilled to have WWE’s support as they ‘Answer the Call’ for the families of New York City’s fallen first responders,” said Mark Messier, Vice President of Community Affairs for the NY Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund. “Our partnership will ensure that we continue to provide a network of support and financial assistance for those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.”
“WWE is committed to using the power of our brand to help improve the lives of families around the world,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “We are proud to support ‘Answer The Call’ and the families of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their city.”
Online auction highlights include:
• Mark Messier’s personal New York Rangers tickets and a meet and greet with the Hockey Hall of Famer.
• Meet and greet with John Cena at Monday Night Raw®.
• Take over the court at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
• Backstage tour and meet and greet with Stephanie McMahon at Monday Night Raw.
• Meet and greet with Stone Cold Steve Austin at a live taping of the Stone Cold Steve Austin Podcast on WWE® Network.
• Rookie mini-camp at MetLife Stadium for 50 people.
• Suite at a Brooklyn Nets game during the 2015-2016 season and an autographed team photo.
• Meet and greet with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman at a WWE event.
• Meet and greet with Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa and four tickets to LIVE with Kelly & Michael.
• Attend the season finale of WWE Tough Enough and meet Daniel Bryan, Paige, Lita, Booker T and Billy Gunn.
• Two tickets to Late Night with Seth Meyers and a mug autographed by Seth Meyers.
For more information or to bid on the full list of auction items, visit www.Charitybuzz.com/WWE. Proceeds will provide assistance to the families of New York City Police Officers, Firefighters, Port Authority Police and EMS Personnel who have been killed in the line of duty.
July 29, 2015
July 26, 2015
Daniel Bryan Talks About Blowing Up On Triple H Backstage
Fomer WWE Champion Daniel Bryan has been on a heavy press tour to promote his new book, and is pulling no punches when it comes to telling stories about his WWE career. Yesterday on Opie Radio, Bryan elaborated on a huge backstage argument with Triple H.
"I had gotten a stinger in a match and lost feelings in both of my arms. I have a mentality of never stopping a match. Whether it's really good or really bad, that's my mentality," Bryan said.
Bryan said that despite him repeatedly telling the ringside doctor that he was going to be okay, Triple H was sending word to stop the match, which infuriated Bryan.
"I had never had a stinger before. Triple H tells the medical doctor at ringside to stop the match. I sprinted into the ring and tried to keep the match going with Randy Orton, because this was going to be the biggest win of my career to that point," Bryan explained. "I did a top rope dropkick, and I couldn't get up, I couldn't move my arms. Randy, he's on the ground going 'Dan, Dan, what the F are you doing?'"
Shortly after, Triple H had the match stopped.
"When I came back, I was hot. I don't want to say we got nose-to-nose, because he's 6'3. We came pretty close. They're more conscious of protecting us from ourselves," Bryan said.
Bryan said that Bryan quickly realized he was wrong, something his eventual wife, Brie Bella, would tell him as well.
July 23, 2015
Daniel Bryan Says WWE Is Hesitant To Clear Him, Doesn't Want Him Talking About His Situation, More
Daniel Bryan joined David Shoemaker and Peter Rosenberg on ESPN's Cheap Heat podcast, to promote his new book, Yes! My Improbable Journey To The Main Event Of WrestleMania. Here are the highlights, and be sure to check out the full podcast at this link.
* The hosts pretend to read off their notes and call Daniel Bryan a "professional wrestler," and he's surprised it doesn't say "sports entertainer." As is turns out, they were joking, but Daniel Bryan said he doesn't get reprimanded for using the term. He notes that in WWE appearances, he'll just say "WWE Superstar."
* Daniel Bryan says he feels great, and says "The situation is I've been cleared by one doctor in Phoenix, but the WWE doctor is hesitant to clear me. I guess they don't want me really talking about it."
* Bryan thinks that from WWE's perspective, they wanted him to bring prestige back to the Intercontinental title. He says the situation unfolds on the new season of Total Divas.
* Bryan talks about missing a flight for the Money in the Bank PPV because nobody told him he was needed for the show. He contacted travel people and writers, and nobody had any idea why.
* He says WWE is looking out for his best interests, and times have changed.
* "There's mixed opinions on what's best for me," Bryan said. "It's not like I just have some guy who's my buddy who just happens to be a doctor (that cleared me)."
* Daniel Bryan confirmed that a combination of CM Punk leaving and Batista not panning out as reasons why he ended up main eventing WrestleMania. He says that the idea was presented a couple of weeks after the Royal Rumble. He said that he's not kept abreast of things.
* He says he had to contact John Cena to get Vince McMahon's number and said Vince has called him twice in his life, one of which was in 2008 before an ROH show. He says he tells the story in the book.
* Initially, he felt the pressure of being Bryan Danielson in WWE instead of Daniel Bryan, but CM Punk's career path helped WWE give him an opportunity.
* Daniel Bryan says he gets more frustrated following Brie's career than his, because guys get more opportunities. "If I'm on TV and losing every week, I'm losing in ten minutes. I get the opportunity that I can wrestle. For the Divas it's different." He says it's hard to be popular when you're losing in three minute matches every week. He puts over Total Divas, and how hard the twins work.
* Bryan says he still thinks as a wrestler and has plenty of ideas saved up. He still watches wrestling when he's bored.
Daniel Bryan On If He's Won Vince McMahon Over
You know, yes but I don't know to what degree. You know what I mean? Does he think I should ever main event another WrestleMania? I would say probably not. (laughs) It's interesting. I think he likes me, he sees me as a valuable performer. He sees me as someone who makes the company money. But I still don't think he will ever see me as "the guy" in the way he sees John Cena as "the guy" or in the way he potentially sees Roman Reigns as "the guy". To this day, I still don't think he sees me like that.
July 22, 2015
July 14, 2015
Former Security Guard Suing 12 WWE Superstars Over 2013 Live Event Incident, WWE Responds
A former security guard at the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia is suing WWE and several Superstars after he was hit with a steel chair at a WWE live event in 2013, according to Courthouse News Service. The complaint was filed in late June.
Troy Rivers says he was unexpectedly hit "about the head, neck and back" with a chair at the event. His suit names John Cena, Ryback, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Fandango, Damien Sandow, Cody Rhodes, Kane and R-Truth. Rivers is unsure who actually hit him, believing it may be Ambrose, so his attorney is suing every Superstar who competed that night. His attorney Kevin Elwell said:
"We haven't reviewed the video from the event yet, so we're bringing in everyone on the card that night. Only one guy did it, but we don't know which one yet."
Rivers says the incident left him with "serious, significant and permanent personal injuries." River's wife Mary is also a plaintiff in the suit and claims that the incident has deprived her of "conjugal fellowship" with her husband. Troy also claims that because of gross negligence by WWE, he is suffering from "physical and mental anguish, diminishment of his earning capacity, and continues to suffer a loss of enjoyment of life."
The man is seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages. WWE issued a written statement in response and said they have no knowledge of "any such incident and the security company that hired the plaintiff doesn't have any record of this matter either. Furthermore, the plaintiff's attorney has admitted he has no basis to sue the individual defendants named in the lawsuit."
