Daniel Bryan "Injury" update on the E&C Pod of Awesome

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Just going to paste what I posted on the front page because it's really fucking annoying hearing him talk about it, just because we should be seeing him wrestle right now.

Daniel Bryan was a guest on the <a href="https://art19.com/shows/ecs-pod-of-awesomeness">Edge & Christian Pod of Awesome</a> and goddamn, was that ever a source of information again. It's a long interview that I would recommend you listen to, so I'm not going to quote it word for word, but I've gone from my Shibata-level "God I hope Bryan never works again or he could die" to "Ohhh, now I get why you agreed to retire, was emotional after it, but want to wrestle anyway" because it feels like he was led on to a substantial degree.

After his last concussion, he went and got cleared by his own doctor. I think that's common knowledge by this point. It wasn't enough for WWE and Vince, so they sent him to a hand picked concussion specialist in Phoenix place and... They cleared him. Clearly something must be wrong according to WWE so they sent him to UCLA where they, say it with me, cleared him. Finally he gets sent to get some experimental things done, things that aren't FDA approved like reflex and impact testing while hooked up to a brain scanner and they come back to him and say he has a lesion in a certain region on his brain. He calls Vince and he's crying when he got off the phone thinking his career is done and the next week Vince calls him up and asks him to do the retirement speech which he didn't want to do, but was convinced in the end it was for the best.

Fast forward a little and after that dies down, one of the doctors that clears him calls him up and asks why he retired. He tells the doctor that they found a lesion on his brain, but the doctor tells him that in medical terminology that doesn't mean what it normally means. Bryan thinks it means he has a cut on his brain, but the doctor says a lesion just means "something" is there. The doctor looks at his report and all it says is that a certain region of his brain was slower than expected to react so they wrote it as a lesion. The stupid thing here is that the region of his brain was slow compared to MMA fighters and football players who usually use that region of their brain, not slow compared to a normal goddamn person. They didn't have a baseline for how fast the reflex in that part of his brain used to be, so how can they make that call? He went to the Joe Namath institute to get more tests done and they said his brain is no different from a college football player. He has had some concussions, but he is not at risk of brain damage. He has had even more testing done and they say tha with the time he has had out of wrestling, his brain looks like someone who has never even played a contact sports. Bryan says he is sad looking back because he feels he wasted the prime years of his career.

This is really messed up to me. Why did he have to jump through so many hoops? I really hope he does get into wrestling again now instead of fearing. And good goddamn luck to him.

Fuck this

[#1-norm-fan]

Jesus. So... clearly WWE just used this as an excuse to get him out of the picture so fans didn't keep trying to hijack shows while they pushed Roman Reigns to the top, right?

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I doubt that is the case. Itd be hilariously fucked up if it was.

[Ruien]

Think how huge it will be if he comes out of retirement though. He will be white hot. Is this possible? If WWE needs a quick savior he is your man.

[GD]

The company is concerned about PR with respect to concussion related lawsuits. It would not bode well for them if a wrestler with a history of concussions competes and gets paralyzed or dies.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I doubt that is the case. Itd be hilariously fucked up if it was.

We already knew the multiple doctor thing and he was legit emotional during the retirement speech, so I do believe getting info after that would be the only reason why he'd want to wrestle again, especially with Bries blessing. So Meltzer says Bryan will wrestle for WWE again when they don't want to lose him at the end of this contract and Bryan would rather work for WWE if they offer him that with conditions in the contract. If not, he's looking at NJPW and CMLL. Even if he really does have the all clear, I kinda hope he doesn't wrrestle NJPW style.

[Emperor Smeat]

Jesus. So... clearly WWE just used this as an excuse to get him out of the picture so fans didn't keep trying to hijack shows while they pushed Roman Reigns to the top, right?

While they really didn't want Bryan to outshine Reigns, doubt that would be it since they have other ways of "cooling" him down without having to do something that drastic.

The on-going concussion lawsuit and CM Punk medical lawsuit are more likely the main reasons. Both hurt their standing if they let Bryan wrestle and he gets hurt again or make it seem like they only retired him out of pettiness.

[#1-norm-fan]

I don't think WWE is creative enough to cool him down subtly enough to prevent another backlash. lol

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Yeah, I do think that WWE did it in the best of intentions considering how many concussions he had in a row, but doing it this way is shady as fuck.

[#1-norm-fan]

I mean... I can see them just not wanting to let a guy who has had a lot of concussions wrestle. But then why not just use that as the reason they don't want him to wrestle. "You've had too many concussions and regardless of whether you're cleared or not, we think putting you back in the ring is a risk". The way they went about getting him to retire seems shady as fuck.

[#1-norm-fan]

Shady as fuck indeed.

[GD]

The company is concerned about PR with respect to concussion related lawsuits. It would not bode well for them if a wrestler with a history of concussions competes and gets paralyzed or dies.

Yeah, I do think that WWE did it in the best of intentions considering how many concussions he had in a row, but doing it this way is shady as fuck.

With respect to the WWE's track record, I wouldn't weight "the best of intentions" as heavily as trying to avoid another media disaster (The Benoit double-murder suicide).

[Emperor Smeat]

I don't think WWE is creative enough to cool him down subtly enough to prevent another backlash. lol

Would probably be something in vein to how they derailed Summer of Punk with the Triple H stuff and being blatant with not wanting Cesaro to be as over when the crowds picked him to as their new Bryan.

Mania 31 likely was the blueprint for it. Bryan gets demoted to the IC/US scene and gets a title reign as a way to keep the crowd somewhat happy while they went forward with their plans to try to make Reigns into the next Cena. Had Bryan not gotten hurt shortly afterwards, the cool down from mega star or special status might have had a chance of happening over time.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

With respect to the WWE's track record, I wouldn't weight "the best of intentions" as heavily as "trying to avoid another media disaster" like the Benoit double-murder suicide.

... I think trying to prevent a Benoit situation is the best of intentions. Like, angelic intentions.

[GD]

I mean... I can see them just not wanting to let a guy who has had a lot of concussions wrestle. But then why not just use that as the reason they don't want him to wrestle. "You've had too many concussions and regardless of whether you're cleared or not, we think putting you back in the ring is a risk". The way they went about getting him to retire seems shady as fuck.

They had Tommy Dreamer wrestle in late 2015 at the TLC PPV.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o_SJ5_EiDmk/maxresdefault.jpg

[GD]

... I think trying to prevent a Benoit situation is the best of intentions. Like, angelic intentions.

I do have some reservations when it comes to the WWE pretending to have the talent's best interest in the forefront.

[#1-norm-fan]

Well, come on. Fuck concussion risks. Gotta get that Tommy Dreamer ticket sale/merch money rolling in!

[GD]

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[Ol Dirty Dastard]

We already knew the multiple doctor thing and he was legit emotional during the retirement speech, so I do believe getting info after that would be the only reason why he'd want to wrestle again, especially with Bries blessing. So Meltzer says Bryan will wrestle for WWE again when they don't want to lose him at the end of this contract and Bryan would rather work for WWE if they offer him that with conditions in the contract. If not, he's looking at NJPW and CMLL. Even if he really does have the all clear, I kinda hope he doesn't wrrestle NJPW style.

was referring to Fan's post

[#BROKEN Hasney]

was referring to Fan's post

Ah, that makes more sense. Yeah, I doubt it's some Roman Reigns conspiracy, especially with the brand split since they could keep them apart. If they didn't see money in Bryan, they wouldn't have brought him back to be an on air perosonality.

Honestly though, the combination of professional Bryan seeing out his contract but not giving a shit what he says has been amazing.

[Jordan]

Wow... I really hope he gets out and makes his rounds ASAP.

[RP]

Jesus. So... clearly WWE just used this as an excuse to get him out of the picture so fans didn't keep trying to hijack shows while they pushed Roman Reigns to the top, right?

Ya Vince hates money. And he was tired of Bryan making so much money for him and he wanted him out. RIght. Yep. You nailed it.

[#1-norm-fan]

Well WWE certainly isn't one to do something stupid that leaves money on the table.

[#1-norm-fan]

(See: Johnny Curtis not main eventing all the WrestleManias)

[RP]

In what world has Johnny fucking Curtis ever been close to main eventing Wrestle Mania's? Are you on cocaine right now?

[#1-norm-fan]

...

[#1-norm-fan]

You don't get words, do you RP?

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Didn't you know that he's TPWW's #2 worst poster? Of course he doesn't understand words.

[#1-norm-fan]

I do not visit the casual forum enough. I was not aware of this. Proceed.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

lol well I mean I deemed him as such. not an official ruling but I think it's fairly accurate.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It wouldn't surprise me if the WWE just wanted Bryan out of the way. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but it isn't much of a stretch to imagine the WWE putting more scrutiny on the tests of a guy like Daniel Bryan than they would a guy like Dolph Ziggler, who has also had numerous concussions, but is still put in every Ladder Match the WWE does.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

:roll:

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Hey #1-wwf-fan, can you quote that post about Tommy Dreamer?

[#1-norm-fan]

Well, come on. Fuck concussion risks. Gotta get that Tommy Dreamer ticket sale/merch money rolling in!

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Thanks man

[GD]

It wouldn't surprise me if the WWE just wanted Bryan out of the way. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, but it isn't much of a stretch to imagine the WWE putting more scrutiny on the tests of a guy like Daniel Bryan than they would a guy like Dolph Ziggler, who has also had numerous concussions, but is still put in every Ladder Match the WWE does.

That's very stupid, Noid. If it helps you sleep at night.

[GD]

They had Tommy Dreamer wrestle in late 2015 at the TLC PPV.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o_SJ5_EiDmk/maxresdefault.jpg

Well, come on. Fuck concussion risks. Gotta get that Tommy Dreamer ticket sale/merch money rolling in!

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I bought in to the "old school" mentality that these wrestlers have when I was an impressionable teenager. Now it just makes me cringe and worry for their well-being.

[GD]

Bryan also subscribes to the same mentality (maybe to a lesser degree). I remember when he had a "stinger" on live television and got irate backstage because the match was called off. I'd not rule out the possilbity that Bryan might be exaggerating or changing some facts since he has a biased perspective on the issue.


For those don't remember the incident

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[Fignuts]

The obvious answer is typically the correct one, and it's likely that WWE was just paranoid about another Chris Benoit situation. Yes, Dolph Ziggler has had concussions as well, but we don't know the nature of his concussions or how they compare to Bryan's.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Now... if it were Roman... who knows what they'd do? Bryan didn't figure into their plans for the future, so it likely wasn't worth the risk to have him work. I'm not saying we're dealing with saints here, I mean look at how McMahon handled the Brian Pillman death, that fucking sleezebag lol.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The obvious answer is typically the correct one, and it's likely that WWE was just paranoid about another Chris Benoit situation. Yes, Dolph Ziggler has had concussions as well, but we don't know the nature of his concussions or how they compare to Bryan's.

I agree with Occam's razor, but I disagree with its application here. How much do we really know about concussions and how they work? The WWE probably pays the best specialists (and they cleared Bryan), but the field is still largely in its infancy. I don't think they'd have an honest rubric on how to compare Bryan and Ziggler's brains, because I'm not sure it exists yet.

Bryan retiring from wrestling is probably the best thing for him, because a single injury could potentially change a life forever, but the idea that the WWE only has the best in mind is a bit naive -- especially considering Bryan's story and their history. I'm sure that PR goes into it, don't get me wrong, but the idea that they are harder on Bryan than other talent isn't the weirdest thing in the world. They put Bret Hart in the ring multiple times in 2010. They had Brock legitimately concuss Orton just last year. Protecting the brain is not simply priority #1 on the WWE's agenda.

[Tom Guycott]

The obvious answer is typically the correct one, and it's likely that WWE was just paranoid about another Chris Benoit situation. Yes, Dolph Ziggler has had concussions as well, but we don't know the nature of his concussions or how they compare to Bryan's.

Aside from the neck stuff, pretty sure concussion scare did Edge in. Also the guy who shaped up to become the real lead announcer (Corey Graves) is sitting in the booth because concussions benched him, yet Zigs and Fandangoo are still lacing them up and nobody really talks about it.

Some of this may just be situational and timing, kinda like a certain "Arab-American" who was banned from TV due to the political climate of the day. Or even when Austin had that paralasys scare from that Owen piledriver; had that match happened even a few years later, doctors likely would have been ready to pull the plug on Austin. Had Daniel's concussion issues happened sooner OR later than they did, he might still be in the ring today. But happening at a time when there was major talk about CTE, and NFL looking into the matter, and that Will Smith movie, and so on and so forth, it wouldn't have been a good look to have their championship centerpiece possibly taken out by one errant/incidental shot to the temple in a random match, either in one of their rings or even if he continued to wrestle elsewhere (let's be honest, the headline of a tragedy would begin "FORMER WWE CHAMPION...", and they'd have to be covering their asses even if he were working for New Japan or something).

It sucks for DB, as it aligns with the whole conspiracy theory of not wanting him to be the guy in a company known at times to be petty on the whim of Vince's mood, but then again, Danny Bry has also proven to be a top-notch company man in getting "fired" over Justin Roberts' underrated selling ability and sticking around after needing to retire. Don't think they'd screw him just to be doing so. Not out of the realm of the possible, but doesn't seem super likely.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd totally buy the WWE looking out for his best interests if they didn't ignore all the doctors Bryan found and even, now it's come out, some of their own. Medical opinion on concussions is quite varied -- sports science is wild with doctors who will give you an opinion you want to hear. Maybe Bryan should retire? People probably actually shouldn't do wrestling at all for their health. But the WWE can pay for the opinion they want. If they wanted Bryan cleared, they could get Bryan cleared.

[Evil Vito]

I'm still deeply uncomfortable with the idea of Bryan wrestling again. The college football comparison is pretty terrifying given the recent study on former football players' brains. Even if he were to adapt a safer, less hard-hitting style, it still wouldn't eliminate the risk of more concussions - and, frankly, Bryan doesn't strike me as someone who would want to drastically change his style anyway.

I appreciate his passion, I really do. And I understand why he wants to go back to it. If he were on his own I might be tempted to say fuck it, you do you and chase your passions. But with a wife and child I just can't justify that risk at all.

[Evil Vito]

THIS is what I'd like to see Bryan do when his contract is up.

http://botchedspot.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/08/2017-08-18-bryans-2018.jpg

[Destor]

If someone wants to die int he ring let them. He's an adult he can make his own descisions.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

He said he's working on a safer style and if any doctor using the regular tests tells him to retire, he will.

One of the the things he mentioned was how he was watching a relatively recent Lawler/Funk match and how they didn't take many bumps, but they put on a great entertaining spectacle with Lawler even throwing a fireball at Funk.

Would be interesting to see what he comes up with if it's more than just removing the suicide dives and top rope headbutts. Other than GFW which wants to be WWE-light anyway, the major indies aren't exactly renowned for their safe styles, quoite the opposite in fact. But Bryan being a "name" would probably give him a lot of leeway with the crowds.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Bryan being Bryan would give him leeway. Fans would understand his need to work a safer style, plus he's the #1 darling of all time.

[Destor]

He could just go back to working mat classics like he did for over a decade

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

He was still pretty damn physical in said mat classics.

[Destor]

He was still pretty damn physical in said mat classics.
meh, less strikes echanges and more chain

[#BROKEN Hasney]

He could just go back to working mat classics like he did for over a decade

Yeah, he mentioned that and how he didn't bring it to the WWE because he didn't think it would work (and he's probably right), but now thinks ZSJ does it better than he did anyway.

[Destor]

Totaly disagree with ZSJ comment but Id like to watch the match...but yeah it would never get over in the fed

[Lock Jaw]

The one ZSJ match I saw in the CWC was dreadful.

[Destor]

He really has no concept of selling

[#BROKEN Hasney]

The one ZSJ match I saw in the CWC was dreadful.

He's been a lot better in NJPW, especially as part of a heel stable where he's been really ruthless looking with some of the holds.

Agree with Destor that Bryan did it better though. The way Bryan talked about it sounded like he was impressed with some of the transitions from one hold to the next because he said "When I see that, I think that's so smart, why didn't I think of that?!"

[Destor]

I really like his work ftr. He's my kind of worker. But if he has to take a heat...it's rough to watch.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Bryan being Bryan would give him leeway. Fans would understand his need to work a safer style, plus he's the #1 darling of all time.

Yeah, I agree with this. I actually enjoy Bryan more when he's in control of a match anyway. He could do this and it'd be fun and people would get why.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The one ZSJ match I saw in the CWC was dreadful.

He really has no concept of selling

Holy shit, I'm glad I'm not the only one. He was making these faces like he was giving birth when he was selling. It was really weird, and frankly, comical. There is a lot of room for improvement. Which is normal and good, don't get me wrong. You should always be trying to get better at something, and potential is a wonderful thing if it is built upon.

The dude is a heel right now. I don't think he can do babyface effectively. His exaggerated facials just lend themselves to that role. Given how scrawny he is, I think his perfect gimmick would be carnival-style wrestler who brings jabronis who clearly aren't up to snuff into the ring and stretches them out.