10 Ups & 7 Downs For Daniel Bryan’s WWE Career

by Michael Sidgwick

10. Becoming A Monster, Part II

Daniel Bryan Smackdown
WWE.com

The New Daniel Bryan may be the best extension yet of his tumultuous, seminal journey throughout professional wrestling.

Subverting his time in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber as something that didn’t heal but warped his brain beyond recognition, Bryan emerged from dormant stasis renewed after kicking AJ Styles in the balls. Showing his own to management in a rare step, Bryan, dismayed at his return run, petitioned to turn heel.

Vince, conceding his error, granted the request.

Bryan, facing yet another challenge, had to briefly turn tweener before he turned heel proper, in order to perfect the dynamic of his match with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. An incredible story-driven match, Bryan channelled the best and worst of the Beast’s post-2014 style to make us feel sinking despair and soaring adrenaline. Spamming nothing, every second mattered, and no second was wasted. Carving a unique eco-shaming character in its aftermath, Bryan entered into an excellent, ongoing rivalry with AJ Styles, with whom he has thus far wrestled a trilogy of terrific clashes that have built from one to the next without obvious call-backs.

As both soaring in-ring performer and unique segment-carrier, the New Daniel Bryan is currently doing what Vince McMahon asks of all his top stars: he is leaving WWE better than he found it.

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Contributor
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!