ISSUE #1443 • FERBUARY 11, 2016 COLUMNIST: SEAN RADICAN Daniel Bryan Memories By Sean Radican, columnist Daniel Bryan wasn’t supposed to have a re tirement ceremony live on Raw. He wasn’t even Daniel Bryan retires supposed to be in WWE. He didn’t have the size, the look, or the charisma. Yet, there was Daniel Bryan • COVER STORY by Wade Keller and James Caldwell • Monday night on Raw saying goodbye to WWE. Daniel Bryan announced his retirement on seizures. Bryan said that was a wake-up call because Daniel Bryan became one of the most likable Monday night in an emotional speech spanning nearly he had a history of post-concussion seizures that he wrestlers I’ve ever watched perform during his time a full half hour at the end of the Raw. At just 34 “hid for a long time” and they did not know why he in WWE, but watching most of his career unfold, it years old, Bryan made the decision to retire when he had the seizures. That connection gave him the answer wasn’t supposed follow the path that it did. When apparently agreed with WWE’s strong stand that he he needed. Bryan said there was never any evidence I started watching ROH, I thought I was watching shouldn’t wrestle anymore due to concussion-related before that explaining the seizures, then it was clear, the next generation of performers set to take the health issues. Bryan has admitted to suffering many and it helped make the decision to retire. world by storm even though, according to what most concussions, some documented, many not, over the Asked what he’s going to now at the age of 34, people told me, I wouldn’t see them in WWE. course of his 16 year career. He did not, however, Bryan said he does not know, but he spent a lot of Bryan captivated me the first time I saw him want those to stop him from continuing to wrestle. time thinking about it while hanging in limbo on his wrestle on tape in 2003. He reminded me very much He had received clearance from WWE career since April 2015. of some of the great technical wrestlers such as Chris independent doctors, but WWE’s Bryan said he does not know what’s Benoit and William Regal. He was intense in the ring physician would not clear him. next for him, as he’s still trying to and could put on outstanding athletic contests, but he Bryan didn’t detail on Raw process the end of his career and the didn’t show a lot of charisma. what changed his mind. In fact, emotional roller-coaster that ended Bryan was believable as an ass kicker during just last month Bryan issued a Monday night on Raw when he the early years of ROH, but he lacked the presence of plea on Twitter to be cleared retired in his home area of Seattle, Samoa Joe, C.M. Punk, and Homicide. James Gibson when the news broke that A.J. Washington. was supposed to be the face of ROH after C.M. Punk Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura Bryan said he definitely wants signed with WWE in 2005. Punk’s farewell tour had been hired by WWE. Bryan, to help people, whether it be was designed to get Gibson over, but Gibson also though, did reveal what changed concussion awareness, especially signed with WWE after beating Punk for the ROH his mind in an interview with for younger athletes who need to World Title. It was time for Sapolsky to find a new Jonathan Coachman on the report a concussion and not try to centerpiece for ROH; he turned to Bryan. ESPNews edition of SportsCenter on Tuesday. tough it out. Or, work in the area of pediatric cancer Daniel Bryan was given the ball for the first time One day removed from officially retiring from after being impacted by Connor the Crusher. Bryan said in his career by Sapolsky and he cemented himself as WWE, revealed scary details of his concussion he has to be careful not to try to do everything and do an ROH legend with one of the most amazing World situation. Bryan told Coach that he has 10 documented nothing. Title runs in modern history. It wasn’t just the 38 title concussions from his career, but it’s difficult to define As for the end of his in-ring career on Monday, defenses Bryan made during his reign as Champion a “concussion,” so there may have been even more Bryan said it was an “emotionally tough day.” He said that lasted from September 2005 to December 2006; that were just not a clear “concussion” situation. he could not look at his family on the front row because it was also the transformation Bryan made during Bryan added that he made the decision to retire he knew he would start crying. this period that amazed me. after undergoing another batch of concussion tests, Bryan also shared the story of his dad being at the Bryan turned heel and took on all comers. He which he went into thinking that he would strengthen 2013 Slammys show before he died, which Bryan says became the best in the world before Punk took the his case to wrestle again. However, the opposite was his all-time favorite moment in his career hugging moniker in the eyes of mainstream wrestling fans happened. his dad in the crowd. Related to that, Bryan shared a during his run in WWE. Bryan had brutal hard- Bryan said he recently went to New York City story that their family bonded over Ultimate Warrior hitting technical matches and also began to mix in for “EEG” testing, which is a test that measures the pulling down Rick Rude’s trunks, exposing his butt, at some MMA elements as well. The anticipation built activity of electrical currents in the brain. Previous the first-ever wrestling show they went to as a family. to see nearly each and every title defense by Bryan EEG testing came back fine and brain MRIs were Bryan said his dad shared that story for the longest during his time as champion, as ROH DVD and VHS fine, so he thought the latest test would just be another time. (remember those?) releases could take six to eight piece of evidence for him to point to. Bryan said he hopes that is how he is remembered weeks to come out. However, the testing showed he had some 8 COVER STORY continued on page 12 Bryan’s main rival during his time as champion “slowing in the brain.” There was also concern about was Nigel McGuinness and they waged some TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE legendary wars. Looking back at their matches, the risks they took weren’t worth the buzz their matches (1) Daniel Bryan announces his •BRUCE MITCHELL: Daniel Bryan sets the generated, especially when the feud culminated retirement live on Monday Night Raw standard once again... pg. 11 at Unified and featured two of the best technical (2) Bryan says connection between •GREG PARKS: Matt Hardy best heel in biz? wresters in the world butting heads like rams. seizures and concussions led to decision NXT TV overrated?... pg. 10 Multiple concussions ended Bryan’s career in WWE (3) Titus O’Neal suspended for 90 days •KELLER’S RAW REPORT: Ambrose calls and, given the style he wrestled, it’s not a surprise. due to grabbing Vince’s arm on Raw out Lesnar, takes a beating... pg. 6 ROH’s style was grueling, especially when the (4) C.M. Punk will have back surgery, •KELLER’S IMPACT REPORT: Matt Hardy promotion relied on Bryan for top-notch main events delaying his potential UFC debut further defends against Kurt Angle... pg. 4 to sell DVDs and live event tickets during his time on (5) ECW origianl Axl Rotten dies at age •RINGSIDE BEAT: Balor vs. Samoa Joe, Del top. 44, drug overdose suspected Rio vs. Reigns headline events... pg. 2 8 RADICAN continued on pg. 10 RINGSIDE BEAT was wasting their time holding the Super Bowl in San Accolade. Rusev then got on the mic and asked for Jose and it should be held in a real city like Moscow. competition. This brought out Jack Swagger… WWE NXT Live Results But, if the Super Bowl has to be in the United States, (4) Jack Swagger beat Rusev (w/Lana). Another February 5, 2016 how about a much better place, like San Francisco? short match followed that saw Swagger roll up Rusev Nashville, Tenn. Brock Lesnar’s music hit to bring out The Beast in a few minutes. Report by PWTorch contributor “Common with Paul Heyman to a loud pop. Paul got on the mic (5) Ryback & The Usos beat WWE tag champions Fan” Jimmy Eaton (@TheCommonFan) and said he thinks no one can understand Lana because New Day (Big E. & Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (1) Asuka beat Alexa Bliss in the opener. Really she’s Russian, and her client is Russian, but tonight in a six-man tag match. Huge reaction for New Day, nice match, as both women had a lot of energy and the only place they are going to rush is to Suplex City. who came out first and then had to return to the back charisma. Heyman said that tonight Brock is the United States because their smoke pyro didnt go off. Light boos for (2) Blake & Murphy beat Johnny Gargano & and he would destroy Rusev.