7 Moments That Will Define Daniel Bryan's WWE Career

7. NXT And The Miz

Daniel Bryan's arrival on WWE TV didn't set the alarm bells of optimism ringing for fans of the 'American Dragon', Bryan Danielson. He made his debut on the new show called NXT, which was equal parts wrestling parts and reality show. 

The best professional wrestler in the world going to be subject to challenges and tasks instead of wrestling, but his assigned pro continued the pessimism.

The Miz.

If Daniel Bryan has a polar opposite in modern professional wrestling, it is The Miz. Both individuals grew up wanting nothing more than to be wrestlers, but their paths to that life couldn't have been more different. Bryan went all over the world, wrestling in front of small crowds in gyms, only to get into a car and drive for hours to do much the same. This journey took a long time to say the least.

The Miz went on reality TV and espoused his love for the sport. He was a contestant on Tough Enough (runner up nonetheless), gaining a contract in the process. From here he went from host of SmackDown to nothing wrestler to tag team specialist to a quality singles run to the main event of WrestleMania. 

The Miz took the modern WWE route, Bryan took the arduous one.

Yet here they were, stuck together in a new show, with the real life roles reversed. The talented veteran now the rookie, the cocky inexperienced performer the pro.

Not the most auspicious of starts.