wrestling / Columns
The Contentious Ten 11.29.10: Daniel Bryan in WWE Moments
DISCLAIMER: The following rant is an act of catharsis by one Aaron Hubbard. It consists entirely of his own opinions and does not necessarily hold true or false for the rest of 411mania’s staff. If you are offended by anything he has written, please direct your complaints towards the writer and not the website he writes for.
Well, as often happens, the 411 readership continues to boggle me with their arrogant, self-absorbed attitude, lack of basic reading comprehension (assuming they ever do anything more than skim the articles), and general stupidity. This obviously does NOT apply to every 411 reader; they was a vocal minority of logical, respectful, and well-adjusted human beings that sent e-mails and posted on my article last week, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for those readers, as well as the readers that gave fair criticisms without launching into hate-filled tirades laced with profanity that would make Kevin Smith blush.
Last week’s topic was “Wrestlers I’m Thankful For”. Obviously, I could not cover EVERY wrestler that I am thankful for; doing so and writing a small blurb on each would take up an entire week’s worth of columns. Just because a wrestler wasn’t listed doesn’t mean I don’t know about, appreciate and am thankful for their work, it simply means they were not listed. Beyond that, it was the most subjective topic possible, based entirely on my own opinions. I didn’t write “Best Wrestlers Now” or “Wrestlers the IWC Loves” or “Wrestlers You Should Be Thankful For”. I listed the wrestlers that I am thankful for and advertised it as such. I hoped, perhaps stupidly, that readers would make their own lists of wrestlers THEY are thankful for and we can have just a small bit of positivity on the internet.
Instead, as I suspected, the comments section consisted of people bashing my opinion and insulted me personally as if I had killed their dog, kidnapped their children, stole their car and raped their wife. Why anything I say about something as insignificant as professional wrestling should matter that much to people who don’t know me boggles my mind. Of course, wrestling probably is that important to them since they’ll never have a wife or children because they are sad, unintelligent, angry, and irrational men.
Does my opinion matter? No, not really. All I have on you is that my work is published by 411mania, a site that, while filled with great writers who are knowledgeable and passionate about the things they write about, does not pay most of them for their work. Many are professional writers; many more are amateurs, like myself. My peers and my bosses seem to have a fairly high opinion of my work. Because I write something almost every week even though I’m often sick, tired, busy and have more important things to do, I am rewarded by having my opinions published and heavily advertised so that YOU, the reader, can read them and voice your opinions. I receive nothing out of it but the pride and enjoyment I take in my work, and whatever value there is in what you say. So no, my opinion doesn’t matter more than yours. But it is MY opinion that is published here, that’s what you should click on to read, and if you don’t want to read, fine.
I don’t owe any of you anything; I’m not here to cater to you, to baby you, to censor myself for you or be something you want me to be. I’m also not here to be praised, validated or agreed with. I’m here to write my opinions and make logical and concise arguments to help validate my opinion. But I don’t try to insult, belittle, threaten, or discourage any of your or try to invalidate your opinions. I even went out of my way to stop talking about my religious beliefs, which are very important and prevalent in my life, not because I was told to by my boss, but because I realized that I should have more respect for my readers and not proselytize to them. I’ve gone out of my way to accommodate you, not because I have to, but because I have a little bit of human decency.
You agree with me? Great. Don’t agree with me? Better. Post a logical, well-reasoned argument for your views, cause I’d love to read it. But the hostility, childishness, lack of reasoned arguments from ALL sides of the spectrum that I read in the comments section; that is all just stupid and we all know it, but nobody grows up and changes it.
So you don’t know why I pick the people I pick? Do you ever bother READING the blurbs that explain in plain, everyday English exactly why I chose those people? I think I explain myself cleanly, thoroughly, and rationally every week I write. Why I bother, I can’t figure out, but there isn’t some big mystery in my picks; it’s all RIGHT there for you to read. YES, I enjoy the incredible in-ring work of wrestlers from Japan and the American Indies. YES, I enjoy the great promo work and character building that the WWE does better than anyone else in the business. And YES, I do in fact have emotional attachments to stars that have been around forever because I grew up with them.
In fact, believe it or not, I enjoy MOST of the wrestling I watch because I have the ability to take it seriously but not personally. I’m happy Daniel Bryan is the United States Champion, AND I’m happy that The Miz is WWE Champion. They both deserve their accolades. If you don’t agree or can’t understand, fine. But don’t call ME stupid because I have an open mind and a thankful attitude towards life, people, and wrestling.
ANNOUNCEMENT: We now return to our regularly scheduled subjective, non-authoritative, non-representative, completely unofficial and not worth flaming about top ten list.
Daniel Bryan vs. Dave Batistasize=6>
Okay, let’s be honest; even the most ardent fan of Daniel Bryan will accept that nine times out of ten, a guy like Batista is going to beat Daniel Bryan. And really, there’s nothing wrong with losing; it’s who you lose to, how you lose, and how much of a fight you put up before losing. I’ll argue that wrestlers get more out of hard fought losses than they do out of easily acquired victories. Having an overconfident and arrogant Batista underestimate the heart and skill of Daniel Bryan and come within a breath of tapping out before finally putting some effort in and beating him? That’s a well-done loss. I think this gave us a nice look into Bryan’s potential as a main event player in WWE.
Daniel Bryan Name Drops Bryan Danielsonsize=6>
This is low only because Daniel Bryan did not switch to his real name of Bryan Danielson, so there were no long-term effects. However, this promo was delivered with confidence and intensity. It was well-spoken and well thought, with sarcasm and clear, relevant points. Bryan has gone out of his way this year to bring more and more exposure to American Independent Promotions, and having that name, and everything it represents, spoken on WWE Television made me very happy.
Jim Ross Calls Bryan vs. Swaggersize=6>
This segment did a lot to put over Daniel Bryan. First off, he had an excellent match on a major episode of RAW, and defeated a former World Champion in clean fashion without utterly dominating him. He elevated both himself and his opponent in this match. But what really put it over the top was the special one-match return of the great Jim Ross. It is clear from the commentary that Good Ol’ JR is a big fan of both Bryan and Swagger, and put over their talent and their competitive spirit. Jim Ross does what an announcer SHOULD do; he puts over the talent’s strengths and focuses on the in-ring action. I’m glad Bryan got to have one match in WWE where the true Voice of the WWE gave him the credit he deserves.
Daniel Bryan Throws Out The Challengesize=6>
While I did skip to Daniel Bryan’s involvement in the skit, let me first give tremendous credit to The Miz, our AWESOME WWE Champion, he delivered the promo of his life where he spoke his heart and told a great story of overcoming adversity to rise to superstardom in the face of everyone saying he was a failure. It cemented me as a fan of The Miz and made what Daniel Bryan had to say even more effective. Bryan compared himself to The Miz, because they were both told they would never make it in the WWE. Miz couldn’t wrestle, he was obnoxious, a celebrity who felt he was owed everything and the wrestlers and fans resented him. Bryan had no charisma, was too small, too boring, and wrestling doesn’t mean anything. Well, Miz has proven that he has as much passion as anyone, CAN deliver in the ring, and is one of the most effective and sympathetic heels in the business. And Daniel Bryan has proven that he carries himself well in promos, CAN get over with the audience due to his passion and heart, and that wrestling, yes, WRESTLING can make the fans love you. This was something very special as I felt I was seeing the future of the WWE.
Justin Roberts and John Cena
Feel the Wrath of Daniel Bryansize=6>
The incident that got Daniel Bryan released from WWE. And no, it wasn’t a work; the guy was fired, accepted independent bookings that went well past his 90 day no-compete clause, was rehired, and kept as many of those indy dates as possible. Not a work, clear? Anyway, this was unmitigated, unadulterated awesomeness. The tie-choking was such a visceral act of violence that really stood out and really put over how surreal this segment was. Then we got the unbelievable moment where Bryan yelled at John Cena that he was not better than him, spat in his face and kicked his head in. It was one of the best show endings in recent memory, and a lot of the reason it was so good was because of Daniel Bryan’s contributions. This is also why I said it made no sense for Bryan to return on John Cena’s team when you really think about it.
The Dolph Ziggler Seriessize=6>
Bragging Rights, Raw and Smackdown! Three nights, three great matches, and three victories for Daniel Bryan. What started as an Intercontinental Champion vs. United States Champion match for Bragging Rights turned into a series of ultra-competitive, high-energy, and innovative matches. Matches like this make it clear that the WWE understands the talent they have in Bryan (and Ziggler for that matter) and are willing to give him the time to showcase his amazing ability week to week. WWE benefits from having Bryan put on good matches on a consistent basis, and its clear they see him as a modern day Hart, Hennig or Michaels; a guy you rely on to deliver a fantastic in-ring product. Which he does.
Straight Shooting with Daniel Bryansize=6>
This promo was the best worked shoot in the WWE since Joey Styles cut his promo on the state of RAW in 2006. Bryan expressed his personal views and the views of many fans; WWE handpicks the men they want to make stars, often overlooking more talented, more committed and more compelling performers because they don’t fit Vince McMahon’s preconceptions of what a WWE Superstar should be. It was well-thought out, well-spoken, and 100% true. Bryan also managed to make these points and work them into his rivalries with both The Miz and Michael Cole, the mark of a truly good mic-worker. If anyone REALLY wants to say that Bryan doesn’t know how to cut a great promo that entertains and engages the audience after watching this, all it does is validate everything Bryan said. Some people are so prejudiced and closed-minded that they can’t accept greatness even when it’s staring them right in the face.
Daniel Bryan vs. Chris Jerichosize=6>
While I did have major problems with the way Daniel Bryan was booked for the majority of his run in NXT (losing streak gimmicks rarely work and it’s clear that most of the rookies can’t even lace his boots), his debut was one of the best-handled and special debuts in recent memory. His first match put him against the World Heavyweight Champion and extremely respected Chris Jericho; it was a dream match for fans of Bryan Danielson (and that includes Chris Jericho) and showcased everything that makes him great. We saw his heart, his intensity, his effort, his skill, and even in though he lost, it was a star-making performance for a man that wrestles like a star.
The Return of the Dragonsize=6>
Shocking. Unexpected. Surreal. Largely illogical. Completely awesome. Bryan came in and helped lead Team WWE to victory, eliminating Darren Young, Michael Tarver and Heath Slater and outlasting stars like Edge, Chris Jericho and John Morrison. Bryan was impressive and completely at home in the main event of a major Pay Per View. Summer Slam was anything but great this year, but Daniel Bryan’s return and his performance made it an unforgettable night.
Daniel Bryan: United States Championsize=6>
So there’s some of you who don’t understand why people love Daniel Bryan? Okay. Watch this match. Watch him work an offensive style that is totally unlike any other WWE Superstar, one based on submission holds and strikes. Watch the intensity on his face, whether he’s shouting in anger or wincing in pain. Watch him hold his arm and focus on kicks because his arm hurts him so badly. Watch him fight from underneath and get his win. Do you get it now? Can’t you see what makes him special, what makes him an artist, what makes him stand out? If you can’t, you just don’t get it, and never will. Magic happened in the ring on this night; a ton of credit goes to both Miz and Bryan. They engaged the audience, put on a great match, and came out of the match better than they came into it. This, THIS is what wrestling about. Two engaging characters fighting over titles and personal grudges, telling a story and entertaining the crowd. Not stupid skits. Not two minute matches that mean nothing. This is the reason I watch wrestling. The in-ring wrestling product. If you don’t get it, might I suggest switching to MMA, which is all fighting and no art, or movies, where you might be able to enjoy a good story since the nuances of wrestling escape you. For me, it’s painfully obvious. Daniel Bryan’s greatest moment in WWE this year, one of the best moments this year from one of the best feuds of the year.
