10 Things We Learned From Daniel Bryan On Talk Is Jericho
WrestleMania 34 was almost very, very different...
Surrounded by an adoring throng of WWE fans who had enthusiastically said "Yes" to his in-ring return, Daniel Bryan looked happy at WrestleMania 34. It was the first time in a long time for a man who, between 2016-2018, believed he'd never have the chance to wrestle in front of such a large crowd again.
Truthfully though, it wasn't the scale of a stadium or the pageantry behind 'Mania that appealed to Bryan. He just wanted to wrestle, and he planned to do so whether WWE agreed to medically clear him or not. That was one prevailing message from Daniel's latest appearance (his third overall) on Talk Is Jericho.
To Daniel Bryan, pro wrestling is happiness, and nothing was going to stop him from feeling good.
As ever, Chris Jericho showed his ability to pull the best from guests on the podcast. Taped right before WWE's Greatest Royal Rumble show in Saudi Arabia, this interview covered Daniel's retirement in 2016, his stint as SmackDown GM, his post-WWE plans and that emotional, brilliant return pre-WrestleMania.
It also revealed just how different that supercard might have been...
10. Vince McMahon Asked Bryan To Retire Over The Phone
WWE were not happy when they learned that Daniel Bryan had kept details on (at least) four concussion-related seizures hidden earlier in his run with the company. It was Brie Bella who encouraged her husband to open up and be honest, so that's exactly what Bryan did.
That candour would eventually lead to one of the most heartbreaking phone conversations Daniel had ever experienced.
After sharing with his boss reports on a reflex delay and lesion on his brain, Bryan was horrified to get the call from Vince McMahon asking him to retire two days later. That's right, it wasn't done face-to-face. Daniel, already cut up emotionally and fearful that WWE might take steps to stop him wrestling, found out over the phone that he'd be announcing his retirement live on Raw.
Despite other reports from doctors clearing him to wrestle, the failed reflex test and lesion discovery forced WWE's hand. It was Vinnie Mac himself who delivered the dire news.