Why Daniel Bryan will wrestle again

WWE gave Daniel Bryan a send-off on RAW fit for a Hall of Famer. After months of uncertainty, the company finally closed the ongoing issue of Bryan’s likelihood of returning to a ring. In private they made it clear they were never going to clear him to wrestle. But that doesn’t mean the former World Champion is finished with wrestling.

It’s been a standoff that has dragged on for months. Bryan has been cleared by a multitude of private doctors but has been unable to convince WWE medical staff that there is no danger after years of consecutive concussions.

The writing was on the wall for him when they failed to give in to his demands despite Vince McMahon’s outfit suffering injury after injury to top level stars. There must have been a temptation to agree with Bryan’s private doctors. But the WWE is currently being sued by former wrestlers (that never made the main roster) for concussion injuries. They just couldn’t take the risk.

Vince no longer sees the point of in-ring dangers, or even entertaining storylines, his risks are all on the stock market. The days of making the best product to ward off WCW have been replaced by keeping profit margins up. This method is bearing financial fruits; there was no reason to take a risk that could have cost him millions.

Bryan is somewhat tied to WWE. They handled his autobiography release and helped market it. His wife works for the company on the active roster and they both feature in Total Divas. His unique connection to the WWE Universe forced the company to elevate him to the main championship.

But before all this he is a wrestler.

Severing ties with WWE was his way to seek his thrills elsewhere. In July 2015 he told Sirius XM 92's: “I told them, regardless of them, if they won't clear me . . . we're independent contractors, in theory . . . I will wrestle again. I am cleared by the neurologist in Phoenix that I've been going to see. It's not like he's a quack doctor. He was the neurologist for the Super Bowl.”

That was a not-so subtle warning to WWE: “Use me or lose me.” After much deliberation they have decided to let him go.

Why they took so long only Vince can answer honestly – and probably never will.

Did they want to ensure they had all the facts and gave the docs enough time before axing him? Did they want to kill his momentum before he competed elsewhere?

It’s likely a little bit of both.

One thing’s for sure, even though WWE said, “No!” to a return we’ll see Bryan back in the ring before he retires for real.

Am I happy about this?

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” 

Fury/Klitschko: Boxing becomes real Sports Entertainment

You may be wondering why a wrestling blog has taken a moment to comment on boxing. Well, Sports Entertainment could be described as fictitious characters performing physical excursions to fulfil predetermined results. In this regard, Saturday’s World Heavyweight Championship boxing match is pure “Sports Entertainment.”

Just like in the world of WWE, everyone knows how the result should go unless there’s a mistake. And this doesn’t matter, we’ll be watching for the spectacle. Tyson Fury has played his part well. Unable to bring equal boxing ability to the ring, he’s been an excellent entertainer. Whether he is aware of the sideshow he’s become is debatable. He probably thinks the entire would is laughing with him.

But he is playing a part: The role of a fictitious boxer. In his 24 bouts there has been no evidence to suggest he is worthy of being a world champion. When compared to upcoming talents like Anthony Joshua, it’s clear his performance in the role, which he has fully embraced like a method actor, is the main reason he fights for gold on Saturday night.

In Wladimir Klitschko we have the giant from the Eastern Bloc, but in the politically correct world of today, rather than play the stereotypical Cold War villain, he plays the soft-spoken good guy. The brains to Fury’s village idiot act.

Tyson deserves credit for making the public ponder the possibility that an upset could occur. He’s out jabbed Wlad with words all week in the run-up to the fight. Minds will be cast back to Klitschko’s two defeats, when he was knockout by Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster.

This is the same narrative contenders use every time they face Wladimir and threaten a repeat. But the last of those KOs was over 11 years ago. What makes Fury’s hope less probable is the belief he lacks a powerful punch.

Cliché Alert! But in the heavyweight division anyone can land a knockout. The wrong punch at the right time will end a fight. Klitschko has reinvented himself since the last defeat and has become as defensive as Mayweather, highly unlikely to make a mistake.

Mistakes do occur though. We also know the Klitschko DNA drops away fast when age sets in. His brother, Vitali, was the better boxer. But when age caught up with him it happened all at once. Against Dereck Chisora he flattered the British boxer, making him appear more credible than he is, and laboured through to a points victory.

Wladimir could well face such a moment in a fight anytime soon. Tyson Fury proved against Chisora he can be patient and manage a fight correctly when he cares to concentrate. What if he tears up the script and lands an accidental knockout punch?

It would make a sport struggling for credibility fall further apart. Klitschko needs a big win to validate his title reign – which should get more recognition than it currently enjoys – and to prove that Tyson Fury is a level or two below the top prize fighters.

 

That video was just meant as a fun dig at Tyson, it was made at the start of 2014 before his planned July bout with Dereck Chisora. Its creation shows how little regard there is for Fury. Nobody would dream of such a jibe at Klitschko’s expense or would have started a humorous campaign against Lennox Lewis when he was still active in the ring.

It’s possible with Fury because no one takes his boxing ability seriously and when he’s parading around dressed as Batman it’s hard to give the man much consideration. I see the hypocrisy, as I’m sat typing with facemask and lion headwear, but I’m not claiming to be the man that will knockout Wladimir Klitschko.

For the sake of the sport he needs to finish the night lay on the canvas. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that was flirting with the idea of hoping he wins. It’s the same part that cheered on Sid Justice against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VIII, or how I secretly hope the Joker gets one over on Batman (and was chuffed when he killed Robin) or smiled when Germany thumped Brazil 7-1 in their own World Cup.

My head says it will be a Klitschko win. My heart hopes it is. The part of me that enjoys a bit of anarchy and turmoil hopes it’s Fury.

In a boxing world where everyone’s more concerned with their legacy than the contest, it’s refreshing to see Tyson Fury’s attitude. In his own words: He’s a fighting man. Regardless of the result on Saturday, his outlook will remain the same.