All Drop In
Moderator
The Voice of Reason
Posts: 32,574 
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Post by All Drop In on Feb 9, 2016 19:24:05 GMT -6
I don't mean his personal career. What impact did he have on the company? Do we have this influx of indy and international stars because of him? Or was that Eddie, Benoit, and Rey? Do they see smaller guys can be insanely over and make money? Or was that Punk? Or did it further the belief they know more than their paying customers? Are they going to sign more guys like him early, in an attempt to control the beating their mind and body takes over their prime years?
What say you?
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Post by Positivity KS on Feb 9, 2016 19:48:10 GMT -6
I'm thinking as far as little guys go it was LCW.
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Post by Danny Busch on Feb 9, 2016 19:54:36 GMT -6
He empowered the crowd.
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Post by randomone on Feb 9, 2016 20:20:37 GMT -6
Time for me to ramble.
They never used the word "indie darling" before Bryan. Of course they'd say things like "champion around the world" for people like Punk, but with Eddie & Benoit they always played off the WCW days when talking about their past.
With Bryan though, it was really the first time they recognized (no matter how smarmy it may have sounded) that someone mastered their craft on the independent circuit. Of course heels would talk down to that, but I think in this Internet age, it got people who might not have been familiar with him prior, to check out his stuff online. Add to that the growing IWC getting fed up with seeing the same shit constantly & they (we) got behind him.
Fans loved Punk, but not to the level of Bryan (not talking about his Summer of Punk, prior to that). Benoit & Eddie weren't made World Champ & main evened Mania because of fans. Contrary to what some may think, Wrestlemania 30 would've sucked balls had Bryan not been in that main event. WWE changed their plans because the fans kept shitting on their main event talent. Constantly cheering for this guy who, according to higher ups, shouldn't have gotten this over. This also has nothing to do with Punk leaving either, because all Bryan did was take Punks spot & beat Trips like Punk was going to. The fans changed the Mania main event.
Benoit, Eddie or Punk couldn't say that during their careers. I don't think any wrestler can honestly. In a company where they are so hell bent on sticking to the script, they were actually forced to change their plans for their biggest show of the year. And Daniel Bryan & his fans are to thank for that.
With his popularity, more independent wrestlers have been recognized not just by the fans but by the WWE as well. The success of Bryan you know made Trips look at the indies more carefully. Sending people like William Regal to PWG to scout, the partnership with EVOLVE, etc.
None of at happened until Bryan got as over as he did. So while I think Jericho, Benoit, Eddie, Rey, they got littler guys more recognized, I think Bryan's responsible for the independent guys getting looked at more. Makes WWE more aware of what is out there. Instead of the whole "have them come to us" it's more "have us go to them"
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