Written by: Ryan Frye
April 6, 2014 was a day that Daniel Bryan will never forget. A day that Bryan couldn't have anticipated coming throughout the peaks and valleys of his illustrious career. And with his admitted lack of ambition, Bryan would have been perfectly content with that.
He was an independent wrestling lifer, one of the best wrestlers in the world. Whether it was competing in a rec hall, or in Japan, or in a burgeoning, young company known as Ring of Honor, he was just happy to be able to practice the craft he loved for a living.
He wasn't supposed to make it to the WWE. He was too small, he was never considered to be a very good talker, he just didn't possess the qualities to be anything more than a B+ player. Even once he got signed, he certainly was never considered to be a potential main eventer, but his talent and popularity simply couldn't be denied. No matter how hard the McMahon family tried, they failed to keep Bryan from reaching his destiny.
He was an independent wrestling lifer, one of the best wrestlers in the world. Whether it was competing in a rec hall, or in Japan, or in a burgeoning, young company known as Ring of Honor, he was just happy to be able to practice the craft he loved for a living.
He wasn't supposed to make it to the WWE. He was too small, he was never considered to be a very good talker, he just didn't possess the qualities to be anything more than a B+ player. Even once he got signed, he certainly was never considered to be a potential main eventer, but his talent and popularity simply couldn't be denied. No matter how hard the McMahon family tried, they failed to keep Bryan from reaching his destiny.
After fifteen long years, Daniel Bryan finally reached the pinnacle of the wrestling industry. He defeated Triple H in the opening match of WrestleMania, then defeated Batista and Randy Orton in the main event to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He raised two championships above his head, and chanted "Yes!" in unison with over 75,000 people in the Mercedes Benz Super Dome in New Orleans.
Unfortunately, in the next year, Bryan would suffer numerous injuries. He had to relinquish both the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and the Intercontinental Championship due to injury. Ultimately, he was forced to retire.
That's where Bryan's wrestling story ended. The conquering hero that overcame the odds to live his dreams, only for his dreams to be prematurely pried away from him. Or so we thought.
Unfortunately, in the next year, Bryan would suffer numerous injuries. He had to relinquish both the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and the Intercontinental Championship due to injury. Ultimately, he was forced to retire.
That's where Bryan's wrestling story ended. The conquering hero that overcame the odds to live his dreams, only for his dreams to be prematurely pried away from him. Or so we thought.
"You fight for your dreams, and your dreams will fight for you."
DANIEL BRYAN
Daniel Bryan was never one to give up easily. So really, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he didn't give up on his life's passion. He saw doctor after doctor, tried treatment after treatment. Two years after being forced to tearfully retire, he was cleared to return.
In that two years away, resentment and bitterness grew inside of Bryan. It wasn't immediately evident upon his return, but those feelings came bubbling out when in a match against AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. He low-blowed Styles while the referee was out, giving him the victory, then he attacked Styles after the match as well. He soon proclaimed himself to be "The New" Daniel Bryan. This new Daniel Bryan, we would soon learn, is the antithesis of the old one.
In that two years away, resentment and bitterness grew inside of Bryan. It wasn't immediately evident upon his return, but those feelings came bubbling out when in a match against AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. He low-blowed Styles while the referee was out, giving him the victory, then he attacked Styles after the match as well. He soon proclaimed himself to be "The New" Daniel Bryan. This new Daniel Bryan, we would soon learn, is the antithesis of the old one.
The causes "The New" Daniel Bryan claims to fight for are respectable. He claims to be the planet's champion, fighting against consumerism, over-consumption, and pollution that harms the environment.
However, there's more to Bryan's cause than this.
You see, Bryan had his career ripped away from him once he had just reached the pinnacle of the industry. This ate Bryan up inside, to where he grew embittered and resentful of that. Through those feelings, his eco-friendly views became more extreme, but he also knew that if he ever became WWE Champion again, he wasn't going to allow the title to slip so easily from his grasp this time.
Daniel Bryan has decided that he's no longer going to sacrifice his body for the fickle fans that will turn on him in an instant. He's going to fight dirty, he's recruited his "intellectual equal" Rowan as an insurance policy for his title reign, he's going to do anything and everything to assure a longer stint on top this time.
Daniel Bryan turned into the sort of monster he once fought against. He's clinging to the status quo, and hopes to destroy the dreams of any threat to his throne. As it turns out, the biggest threat to his throne is an unlikely one--Kofi Kingston.
Kofi Kingston has caught the proverbial lightning in a bottle. If (Mustafa) Ali hadn't gotten injured, none of this would have happened. While Ali's injury was unfortunate, the domino effect it's had has just been a happy accident for Kingston.
Eleven years into his WWE career, he was firmly entrenched in the middle of the card. He's a former United States and Intercontinental Champion, and as a member of New Day, he's part of the longest reigning tag team champions in company history. His one shot at the top was a rivalry against Randy Orton, where he objectively delivered multiple memorable moments. Yet, his moment in the spotlight was only for a fleeting moment.
At this late stage, nobody could have foreseen a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania for Kofi. Not his biggest fans, and perhaps not even Kofi himself.
He was never considered to be WWE title material, for many of the same reasons as Bryan. Also much like Bryan, even once gaining incredible popularity, countless obstacles were placed in his way by the McMahons to prevent him from getting to WrestleMania. But similar to Bryan, Kofi couldn't be denied.
Kofi fought for his dreams, so his dreams fought for him, as did Xavier Woods and Big E.
Woods and Big E have made it their careers' goal to ensure that Kingston becomes WWE Champion before he retires. They've been selfless in putting their own aspirations aside in order to give Kofi the opportunity that's alluded him for his entire career. Selfless friendship isn't often a story told in wrestling, which makes this one all the more unique and touching.
The irony is rich that the foil to Kofi's story had such a similar struggle just five years ago. Daniel Bryan went from the one Stephanie McMahon called a B+ player, to the one using that very same condescension towards Kingston.
Eleven years into his WWE career, he was firmly entrenched in the middle of the card. He's a former United States and Intercontinental Champion, and as a member of New Day, he's part of the longest reigning tag team champions in company history. His one shot at the top was a rivalry against Randy Orton, where he objectively delivered multiple memorable moments. Yet, his moment in the spotlight was only for a fleeting moment.
At this late stage, nobody could have foreseen a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania for Kofi. Not his biggest fans, and perhaps not even Kofi himself.
He was never considered to be WWE title material, for many of the same reasons as Bryan. Also much like Bryan, even once gaining incredible popularity, countless obstacles were placed in his way by the McMahons to prevent him from getting to WrestleMania. But similar to Bryan, Kofi couldn't be denied.
Kofi fought for his dreams, so his dreams fought for him, as did Xavier Woods and Big E.
Woods and Big E have made it their careers' goal to ensure that Kingston becomes WWE Champion before he retires. They've been selfless in putting their own aspirations aside in order to give Kofi the opportunity that's alluded him for his entire career. Selfless friendship isn't often a story told in wrestling, which makes this one all the more unique and touching.
The irony is rich that the foil to Kofi's story had such a similar struggle just five years ago. Daniel Bryan went from the one Stephanie McMahon called a B+ player, to the one using that very same condescension towards Kingston.
"Don't mistake a fad for reality. You see, I have been in exactly your same spot. I have been in your shoes. The way that they chanted yes for me, is the same way they chant Kofi for you. And I know how you feel. I know how it reverberates through your body. I know how you feel like this love and adoration makes you feel stronger. But here's the reality: you don't feed off of them, they feed off of you, because they are parasites."
"THE NEW" DANIEL BRYAN
Perhaps Bryan sees himself in Kofi, which is why the prospect of facing Kofi on the grandest stage of them all frightens him. That frightening prospect is now a reality, however. On April 7, from Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Kofi Kingston will receive both his first singles match at WrestleMania, and his first singles match for the WWE Championship, when he steps into the ring with Daniel Bryan. Will Bryan maintain his platform as WWE Champion in order to continue to preach his message, or will Kofi's eleven year odyssey reach its climax?
