Daniel Bryan

Suffice it to say Kenny Omega thinks bringing Daniel Bryan and CM Punk into All Elite Wrestling would be a strong move by the company.

Stepping outside his heelish onscreen role, Omega spoke to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio and said both rumored AEW signings would bring a loyal fanbase with them. Omega cited Bryan's creation of the "Yes!" Movement in 2014 as one of the greatest moments in wrestling history. 

They're two very different athletes, two very different performers. I respect both. ... Daniel Bryan, I always knew that he was incredibly intelligent. He's ridiculously smart, especially as it relates to professional wrestling. And for him to kind of create a movement, an actual legitimate movement, with the Yes! Movement and all that, for him to come up with that, he created it ... there's absolutely no way you could find written documented evidence saying that, '[WWE] always planned to have [Bryan] have [his] WrestleMania moment, be the champion. I wouldn't believe it. Even if I saw it in front of my face. I don't think that was ever the plan, but he made it the plan because he's just that smart.

He was able to kind of turn everything around and emerge as a megastar, because he is smart enough in a wrestling sense, in a business sense. Just like in ROH, how he was able to have those fans in the palm of his hand, he was able to have the entire WWE universe in the palm of his hand with one word. The only other person I can think of to do that was [Steve] Austin.

Bryan's contract with WWE expired at the end of April, and he's not been seen on programming since. The wrestling community has been abuzz over the last week amid reports of Bryan and Punk both signing in AEW, moves that could shift the hierarchy of wrestling in the United States.

H Jenkins of Ringside News reported Friday that Punk has agreed a return to wrestling with AEW, while Meltzer has reported receiving indications a deal between AEW and Bryan is "done" (h/t Wrestling Inc.).

Punk left WWE in 2014, and his only reported in-ring appearance since came under a mask in 2019 on an independent show. Omega noted that the continued loyalty of Punk's fans is nearly unheard of in the modern era. 

"CM Punk ... he probably has a different line of thinking than your current-day performer, the average performer," Omega said. "He has this incredible reputation—he has fans to this day who would follow him to the end of the earth. Very dedicated fanbase, and that fanbase believes he's the best in the world and will be the best until the end of time.

"If you're able to have people like that follow your career so passionately, you probably have something very special about you."

AEW has not confirmed either signing. 

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All Elite Wrestling landing both Daniel Bryan and CM Punk would be among the most unprecedented moves in pro wrestling history.

The column could end right there too. A promotion not named WWE giving wrestling fans more Daniel Bryan and the long wished-for Punk return—in the same calendar year, if not month—would be unparalleled in terms of scope given today's wrestling landscape.

So with Bryan apparently on the way to AEW, according to Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Jason Ounpraseuth of Wrestling Inc), in part because of its relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Punk in talks, according to Fightful (h/t Wrestling Inc's Joshua Gagnon), fans just entered a we're-living-history moment.

AEW bringing in Bryan alone is wild. We're talking about one of the best performers in WWE history, one of the most over Superstars of his generation and a guy who main-evented WrestleMania. Only the most negative person would fool themselves into thinking Bryan's WWE fans who haven't watched AEW wouldn't go check him out there.

The Punk angle isn't hard to figure out, either. He's been fantasy-booked into endless returns for close to a decade, whether it's fans hoping for his entry in a Royal Rumble to even working with AEW when the company was in its infancy.

That's a short way of saying he would bring in a ton of new fans too. Remember the pipe bomb and how many lapsed fans it brought back? Imagine Part II. How many of those people who turned off would be lured right back into the thick of things if Punk returns? How many new fans does he pull into the business outright thanks to his forays into things like the UFC, comics and movies?

It helps that AEW is already stacked roster-wise. How many dream matches are we talking here? Bryan and Kenny Omega would light the world on fire. Punk verbally sparring with Adam "Hangman" Page would be legendary. We're talking encounters with Sting, a rejuvenated Jon Moxley, Darby Allin, fun rehashes like Punk vs. Chris Jericho, never mind crossovers with NJPW and other promotions.

Comparisons only make this greater point all the more salient. WWE recently brought back Goldberg for another title match he hasn't earned. As fun as it might be, it's running John Cena and Roman Reigns again. It's cutting loose talent like Aleister Black and not making the most of guys like Keith Lee.

In short, we would go from wondering whether AEW can sell out a mid-sized arena to one that seats 50,000 or more. We'd go from spitballing whether Tony Khan's promotion could ever consistently beat Raw in all ratings metrics to a matter of when.

Yes, there are risks involved. Both are at least 40. Bryan has past injury issues. Punk hasn't been in the ring in years, at least that we know of, and his most recent stint with a promotion didn't end so well. But right now? Bryan is still one of the best wrestlers on the planet, Punk was criminally underrated for his in-ring work and, if nothing else, is probably still the best in the world on the mic.

It's saying something that the only thing bigger than this would be John Cena or Roman Reigns defecting to AEW. The risks just come with the territory—and are totally worth it.

In a way, it's funny to have this conversation. Bryan and Punk were the two biggest ex-indy stars to change WWE's big guys only thing with its main event scene. They are apparently walking out the exact door they swung open in order to join AEW, which says as much about WWE as it does AEW.

None of this is meant to discredit AEW. The company went from a fun upstart that gives a niche segment of fans exactly what it wants to an industry juggernaut faster than most would have ever felt comfortable predicting.

But adding Bryan and Punk? That would be historic and could possibly swing the balance of power in the industry more than anything to date this century.

Amid rumors that Daniel Bryan is set to join All Elite Wrestling, one factor that reportedly played into his decision was the opportunity to work with New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Jason Ounpraseuth of Wrestling Inc.), AEW "has a relationship" with NJPW based on Lance Archer winning the IWGP title from Jon Moxley on Wednesday night's episode of Dynamite. 

Meltzer added that "the company with the relationship with New Japan was going to be the favorite" to sign Bryan. 

Meltzer said he didn't know if Bryan has officially signed with AEW, but all indications right now are that a deal has been finalized. 

Early in his wrestling career, Bryan worked for NJPW from 2001-04 when he adopted the American Dragon gimmick. He won the IWGP junior heavyweight tag team championship one time with Curry Man. 

The former WWE world heavyweight champion has spoken openly about his desire to work with wrestlers in different companies, including AEW and New Japan. 

In a March interview with B/R's Graham GSM Matthews, Bryan singled out Kazuchika Okada, Jungle Boy, MJF and Darby Allin as potential dream opponents he'd like to wrestle. 

Bryan's final match in WWE came on the April 30 episode of Friday Night SmackDown when he lost a universal title match to Roman Reigns with the stipulation he would be banished from the blue brand. 

Per Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), Bryan's contract with WWE expired around the time of his match with Reigns. 

Bryan has spent most of the previous 12 years in WWE. He debuted on the first-ever episode of NXT in 2009 when he lost a singles match to Chris Jericho.

Moxley defended the IWGP United States title on both nights of Fyter Fest. He successfully retained the crown on Night 1 against Karl Anderson before dropping the strap to Archer.    

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No "Internal Discussion" About Bryan's WWE Return

There is reportedly no talk within WWE about Daniel Bryan returning to the company any time soon.

According to PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), Bryan is not listed on WWE's internal roster, and there is belief among some within WWE that a lack of movement on bringing Bryan back to WWE means he will sign with AEW.

PWInsider also reported that Bryan is not part of any upcoming merchandise or action figures being produced by WWE.

Bryan competed in the main event of WrestleMania 37 against Roman Reigns and Edge in April. Later that month, he lost a match to Reigns on SmackDown with the stipulation that he would have to leave SmackDown if he lost.

Reports surfaced after the match that Bryan's WWE contract had expired, which was why he lost to Reigns.

Bryan is among the most successful stars in WWE history, as the 40-year-old veteran is a five-time world champion and has competed in the main event of WrestleMania twice.

He would represent a big loss for WWE and a potentially huge gain for AEW, which has not shied away from signing former WWE talent.

Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and Cody Rhodes are some of AEW's foundational stars, and AEW has more recently brought in the likes of Malakai Black, Andrade El Idolo and Miro.

Bryan would be one of AEW's biggest gets yet, although there is no concrete proof that Bryan is leaning toward signing with AEW rather than returning to WWE or going elsewhere.

Wyatt Reportedly Not Off TV for Creative Reasons

Bray Wyatt has not been on WWE programming since the night after WrestleMania 37 in April, and fans have been left in the dark about the reason for his absence.

According to PWInsider (h/t Middleton), there is a "specific reason" why Wyatt is being kept off TV, and the feeling within WWE is that the reason isn't related to creative decisions.

Wyatt's most recent match occurred at WrestleMania 37, where he lost to Randy Orton after Alexa Bliss distracted him.

He took part in a Firefly Funhouse segment the next night on Raw, but there hasn't been any follow-up since then.

Wyatt has remained active on social media, tweeting last week about missing the fans:

Now that fans are back in attendance at WWE shows for the first time in over a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it would seemingly be a great time to bring Wyatt back if the possibility is on the table.

Wyatt's Fiend character is hugely over with the WWE Universe, and he would undoubtedly get a massive pop upon returning.

WWE has brought some big names back into the fold already in recent days, including John Cena and Goldberg.

With SummerSlam scheduled to take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas next month, having Wyatt return during or after a match may be the most impactful way possible to re-introduce him to the fans.

Ripley Reportedly Has Officially Turned Face

After initially being presented as a heel on the main roster, Rhea Ripley is reportedly now a full-fledged babyface.

According to PWInsider (h/t Middleton), Ripley is internally being listed as a babyface "100 percent" after her match against Charlotte Flair at Money in the Bank.

After being a babyface for most of her NXT run, Ripley had a different attitude upon arriving on the main roster. It served her well initially, as she beat Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37.

Ripley eventually entered into a feud with a heel Flair, but rather than having Rhea go all-in as a babyface, she played the tweener role instead.

Flair and Ripley won the crowd over at Money in the Bank after they reacted poorly early in the match, and a big part of that was Ripley managed to get sympathy through her selling of a knee injury.

Ripley and Flair faced off in a rematch on Raw, and Ripley was smiling much more than usual, which may have been a sign her babyface transformation was complete.

Rhea won the match by disqualification, and Nikki A.S.H. subsequently cashed in her Money in the Bank contract on Flair to become the new Raw Women's champion.

Given that scenario, a Ripley vs. Charlotte vs. Nikki Triple Threat for the Raw Women's title could be in the cards for SummerSlam.

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Black Discusses AEW Debut Details

Just one month after his WWE release, Aleister Black made his All Elite Wrestling debut on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite under the name Malakai Black.

Black interrupted a promo segment with Arn Anderson by hitting him with Black Mass and then took out Cody Rhodes with Black Mass as well when Rhodes attempted to intervene.

Appearing Thursday on the Twitch stream of his wife and WWE Superstar Zelina Vega (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), Black provided some details regarding how his AEW debut went down.

With regard to keeping it a secret, Black said:

"Once I found out that my contract was a tad different than the usual, I just came up with this idea. We made it a thing to make it available to as limited people as possible because that's how you keep it under wraps. Security, Cody Rhodes, and a few others. It may have been five or six total people.

"It was all very last second. I feel like, in modern day wrestling, there are few moments to make a genuine surprise and get people to look your way. For me to sneak in, not be seen, dip and dive so they wouldn't see me, that took some skill."

Black mentioned that his WWE contract is different than most, which explains why he was able to appear on AEW programming so soon after his WWE release.

Typically, wrestlers have 90-day non-compete clauses after getting released from WWE, but Black's was only for 30 days.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported this week that a clerical error on WWE's part resulted in Black's 30-day clause never getting converted to 90 days when he got called up from NXT to the main roster, which is why the move to AEW was able to come together so quickly.

Furthermore, Black explained why he decided to go to AEW and how it felt to make his debut:

"It was the right move for me to make for me, my family, my career, the state of mind I'm in. It's just a really good company. I can't say enough good things about it. They have a bright future. Last night was top three one of my favorite moments of my career. … It was the accumulation of months and months and months and having this big payoff was worth the pain, chaos, and perseverance."

Black's WWE career ended in abrupt and disappointing fashion, as he was released just after returning to television and starting a rivalry with Big E, but now he has a chance to potentially establish himself as a top star in AEW.

Meaning Behind Bryan Mentions on WWE Programming

The recent mentions of Daniel Bryan on WWE programming reportedly have nothing to do with his status with the company.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Middleton), the mentions have simply been done as a means of advancing the storyline involving Universal champion Roman Reigns and Edge, and they are not an indication that Bryan is returning.

The main event of WrestleMania 37 was originally supposed to be Edge vs. Reigns after Edge won the 2021 men's Royal Rumble match, but Bryan got involved in the angle and was ultimately added to make it a Triple Threat.

Reigns won that match and then beat Bryan on the April 30 edition of SmackDown with the stipulation that Bryan would have to leave WWE in the event of a loss.

Bryan has not been seen on WWE programming since then, and it was subsequently reported by Fightful Select (h/t Middleton) that Bryan's WWE contract had expired.

The 40-year-old veteran is technically free to sign anywhere, but it isn't known if he intends to return to WWE or sign elsewhere, such as AEW or New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Bryan has been one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling over the past decade with five WWE world title reigns to his credit, and signing him would undoubtedly be a huge coup for any company.

A return to WWE seemingly isn't out of the question, but mentioning his name reportedly has no bearing on whether it will happen.

Heyman Permanently Removed from Talking Smack

After about eight months as the co-host of Talking Smack with Kayla Braxton, Paul Heyman is reportedly gone from the show.

According to Meltzer (h/t Middleton), Heyman's recent absences from Talking Smack are because he is permanently done with that role.

SmackDown commentator and former NFL All-Pro punter Pat McAfee has hosted Talking Smack alongside Braxton for the past couple of weeks, and it appears as though WWE will move forward with that pairing.

Per Meltzer, no specific reason was given for the change other than it being a "company decision."

Heyman thrived in the role and helped create plenty of memorable moments on Talking Smack, but stepping away will allow him to put even more time and energy into his partnership with Reigns.

The longtime manager remains a key part of SmackDown, and his removal from Talking Smack doesn't figure to change that fact.

If McAfee is the permanent replacement, he is a quality choice given his energy level and ability to thrive in that type of environment.

McAfee has brought a great deal of excitement to SmackDown, and he figures to do the same for Talking Smack moving forward.

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