WWE SmackDown: Daniel Bryan’s Return Will Be Remembered Forever
By Josh Raibick
March 20, 2018, fans received the news that has been over two years in the making, Daniel Bryan is cleared. The positive reaction across the WWE Universe is why this past Tuesday is a day that fans will remember forever.
It seemed like any other day, waking up after an exciting end to WWE Raw the night before with the Final Deletion. As the day rolled on like most fans I was snapping out of my Raw hangover and starting to set my sights on WWE SmackDown Live.
As the early afternoon hit, so did the notifications and text messages from friends started to blow up my phone. Could it be? Yes, it was true. Daniel Bryan has officially been cleared for in ring competition by WWE.
SmackDown now went from a show that had intrigue just a few weeks out of WWE WrestleMania 34 to must-see television. WWE capitalized with a video package to start the show, and an in-ring promo from the main attraction himself, Bryan.
As soon as Bryan started to speak I was quickly reminded of why the Leader of the Yes Movement was so popular in the build to WrestleMania 34. Bryan is one of the most relatable superstars that WWE has to offer from his humbleness in talking about his weakest moments, to his short stature, and finally his tireless work ethic.
In the same way that Bryan does not have the muscular physique that other superstars of the show boast, most fans also do not have an over the top trait that sets them apart from the rest of their workplace or school setting. As Bryan spoke about the obstacles that he had to overcome the reference of “every hard thing seems impossible until it becomes real” struck myself with instant inspiration.
The message that Bryan conveyed through thousands of ear drums live and millions of television sets was to never give up on your dreams. Every fan watching has some dream that seems far fetched or has the odds stacked against them, but as Bryan proved with hard work you can turn a no in life into a yes.
And if we are being honest on the topic, there are just so many negative days as a fan of WWE. There are minor issues with most members of the WWE Universe from frustration with certain storylines or simply bad booking.
Then there are the more serious days where injury occurs that knocks a superstar out of action for a substantial amount of time. Sadly most fans of professional wrestling are familiar with an even worse type of day, and that is when word breaks of a former or current superstar’s death.
As a kid these superstars all appear like superheroes, and it becomes tragic as we all grow older and we watch our heroes appear more mortal. Why am I bringing up the negative and tragic parts of professional wrestling?
It is simply looking at life as a wrestling fan. Heartache, maybe boredom, frustration, and arguments with other fans is sadly a big part of the internet wrestling community.
With that said, how many times do we collectively get to celebrate good news as a fan base as a whole? Daniel Bryan being able to compete in a WWE ring again is a story of triumph.
The WWE Universe is invested in Bryan, and the proof is that SmackDown had its best viewership in a year on the night that The Beard returned. After two years of uncertainty and even doubt, Bryan has given fans a reason to ignore everything negative and rejoice as a fan of professional wrestling.
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Bryan’s determination and message will be his legacy, and that goes beyond the world of WWE. “If you fight for your dreams then your dreams will fight for you.” A message that is more than words, and a message that will be remembered forever.