10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Daniel Bryan

5. He Was Originally Hired By WWE In 2001 And Released Him At 20 Thinking He'd Never Make It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_9l8AgA__U Looking back at Bryan's career, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he actually stayed with WWE after signing with them in 2001. Bryan was assigned to Memphis Championship Wrestling where the likes of William Regal were wrestling and he also provided additional training to Bryan. That's where he got the "American Dragon" nickname while wrestling under his real name Bryan Danielson. Over the years, Bryan has talked a lot about how instrumental Regal was in his development as a performer. He wasn't his first trainer, but he was somebody that really taught him everything he needed to know to be a successful professional wrestler. In the summer of 2001, MCW ended up closing down as a WWE territory because they had absorbed a lot of talent from when they bought WCW. Some of the talents were sent to other developmental territories, but Bryan ended up being released when he was just 20 years old. If Bryan ended up staying in WWE from the time he was first signed he would have 13 years of experience in the company. However, he may not have developed the way he did because all the wrestling lessons he learned from being in Ring of Honor, Japan and other places never would have happened. In the end, it all worked out for him. Not like WWE would ever mention it.