10 WWE Authority Figures Who Weren’t Actually All Bad
4. Daniel Bryan
A revelation in his new role on SmackDown Live and especially on sister show Talking Smack, Daniel Bryan has smoothly transitioned from wrestler to well-intentioned General Manager better than most could have imagined.
Watching his WWE 24 retirement special through glassy eyes, it appeared he needed deep separation from the business he loved so much and was forced away from, but his quick return has implied he's either considered this a compromise for his living, or is masking incredible mental health problems and probably needs to be taken off television immediately.
For the sake of this piece, let's assume the former, because as new SmackDown Live chief, he's lovely! He's harnessed his incredible popularity into becoming a beloved GM. A non-physical threat, he mostly commands respect through respect itself, an interesting dynamic on an old trope.
A loose cannon on Talking Smack (as much as mild-mannered D-Bry can be), he's dry, witty, and genuinely seems to want to get talent over in the forum. Long may his run continue, especially as the last thing he needs in his condition is a feud with physical behemoth Shane McMahon.