Daniel Bryan Reveals He Did Not Want To Sign With WWE In 2009
DBry made his feelings known on WWE Backstage.
Daniel Bryan has revealed on an episode of FOX's WWE Backstage that he was initially apprehensive about signing with the company in 2009.
Prior to being signed, Bryan was one of the premier professional wrestling talents in the world not signed to a major organisation after he was released from his initial developmental deal with the then-WWF in 2001.
On the show, Bryan explained how he enjoyed working on the independent circuit as it allowed him to decide which dates that he worked, particularly in contrast to WWE's notoriously gruelling schedule:
"I actively did not want to go WWE. I really liked the DIY aspect, I liked being in control of my own schedule. Like being able to take a couple of weeks off here and I’m gonna do this thing. I am gonna watch a Seahawks game with my dad. You know, all that kind of stuff."
Bryan also discussed how he felt his 2012 feud with WWE Backstage host CM Punk had been mishandled as the pair were regularly denied a spot in the main event despite being two of the top stars in the company, including a particular instance where they played second billing to John Cena versus John Laurinaitis at Over The Limit 2012:
"This was a period where Punk and I are doing stuff with the WWE Championship against each other, and we're not in the main event? I don't get rubbed the wrong way very often, but that was just like one of those things. We did a title match once — the main event was John Cena versus my now father-in-law. So, this is all starting to get weird."
Despite the WWE Championship being on the line, none of the three pay-per-view contests between Bryan and Punk closed their respective shows.