It's not often I'm drawn into talk about transfers, trades, or draft's that don’t involve Football or "Soccer".
However times they are changing and WWE's draft is on the way, but that’s not today’s topic.
Today, my topic of ‘concern’ is from the industry, ‘concerning’ a great number for various reasons, Professional wrestling and in particular, Bryan Danielson, Ring of Honor and WWE.
The last ever ROH pure Wrestling champion of course recently defeated a WWE contracted wrestler (Lance Cade) on the 9 of June 2008 edition of Monday Night RAW. While Vince was "showing us the money" he wasn’t showing us a 6 ft 5, 261 pound former World tag team champion, now on a singles push, losing (and submitting) to a 5 ft 10, 185 pound independent wrestler, the WWE once booted out the door.
But, since the "American Dragon" wowed the crowd before RAW, the internet has run whiled with stories ranging from "Danielson's WWE signing imminent", to "WWE and ROH begin talent exchange".
In reality… neither is true.
We all jumped around and got a little excited, thinking Dragon was about to get national weekly exposure. But alas, for by the next morning, the true details were revealed.
ROH gave the green light for Danielson to have this match. Possibly thinking this would be exposure for themselves, (though how one of your guys working a dark match and it not getting mentioned by the WWE at all is good exposure I'll never know!) this has possibly backfired. JR writing in a blog, that "The WWE might be well served to subsidize the ROH as they seem to be one of the most viable entities when it comes to developing talent" is probably the opposite of what they wanted from this.
However, the situation changed later that day, when reports swung around that ROH would release Danielson if he wanted to leave for WWE. And they wanted him. JR's blog also said that he "told anyone that would listen that the young man was a keeper. Great work ethic, unique skills, lots of character and he wrestles like a ‘star’ which is not something all wrestlers can do", see Lance Storm.
The last thing to take into account is that Danielson has a history with the WWE. As I said earlier, the WWE released him and his good friend Bryan "Spanky" Kendrick after the acquisition of WCW and subsequent closure of MCW.
After this, Danielson would go on to huge things. Holding gold in PWG and Ring of Honor, along with most indies worth a damn and not to mention endless "Honor’s" from Dave Metzer’s Wrestling Observer "of the year awards.
He also worked matches for WWE's "Velocity" including a match against a certain John Cena, (
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nf-kiUcAdVI), which should keep a few Cena haters quiet.
All this though, was not enough. WWE apparently ‘didn’t offer’ Danielson a contract, as he could not reach there 6 ft 2 requirement; which I personally see as internet drivel, judging by the fact that Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble later that year.
Danielson has done view interviews in the past, but has stated he can make more money in ROH/Japan than he could in the WWE. So unless he sees a genuine chance to become a top guy, would he join anyway? Lets break it down:
Danielson to WWE- Pro's:
.Great in the ring- does some innovative stuff that should fit well within the WWE's limitations.
.Would get the national platform to try and prove he really is the best wrestler in the world.(though whether he has the ego to leave a lesser schedule on ROH to do that is unknown).
.Has JR onside, a key figure in WWE's talent relations.
.Not currently in the ROH title picture - If they’re willing to let him go, why wouldn’t he consider it.
.WWE put him cleanly over a big man wrestler currently on a singles push - Cade's toughness and size will be big for him. If he tapped out on TV it would have been devastating for him. What does that tell you about the WWE's opinion of Danielson?
.Big in Japan- Danielson's reputation in Japan should not be understated. The WWE has always struggled in Asia, and with TNA using link with NJPW and ROH with NOAH, Danielson would be some advantage.
Why Danielson could stay at ROH:
.Look- The most interesting Danielson looks is when he's bald with a Jesus beard. Imagine CM Punk with short hair, no tattoo's and no tight designs, though this could be rectified.
.Loss of the names Bryan Danielson and "American Dragon"- this would severely damage Danielson, who is VERY well known on the indie scene through this name and may also effect his impact overseas for WWE IF he loses the names.
.ROH realise what they'd be losing if he left - If Ring of Honor's stance on losing Dragon changes, his and WWE's view on the move could be irrelevant.
.Not interested- there is always the chance Danielson will decide to stay put, content with his lifestyle and his schedule he may decide he dosen’t need the WWE.
So its safe to be said its all up in the air, and could go either way, as a WWE fan I’d love to see him in the company. But what ever happens with three consecutive ‘Best Technical Wrestler’ awards, two consecutive ‘Most Outstanding Wrestler’ Awards, and last years ‘Match of the Year’; it could well be another year of the (American) Dragon.
-Richard Lewis
