10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (March 23)

3. Daniel Bryan's SmackDown Beating Was A Last-Minute Decision

Kevin Owens Daniel Bryan Sami Zayn
WWE

The Wrestling Observer are reporting that Daniel Bryan wasn't booked to do anything physical on this past Tuesday's SmackDown until just a few short hours before the show started.

Though Daniel was going to appear and celebrate news of his medical clearance with fans, he wasn't initially supposed to take a beating from Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Specifically, that ring apron Powerbomb used to end their segment (leaving Bryan on a stretcher) wasn't considered part of the plans until the last possible minute.

WWE didn't book Bryan to do any in-ring work as soon as they found out he was healthy and doctors would allow it either. That's fascinating insight, and it shows that things all happened so quickly on the day of the show.

It's a good thing WWE leapt on the opportunity, because the Bryan beat down was one of the best angles the promotion have produced this year.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.