Daniel Bryan

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

WWE Trying to Re-Sign Daniel Bryan

Following his loss to Roman Reigns in a Universal Championship match on SmackDown last week, Daniel Bryan's WWE contract reportedly expired, according to Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton).

On Wednesday, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Sai Mohan) confirmed the report and added that WWE is "pushing hard" to sign Bryan to a new deal.

Per Fightful Select, there were no reports of Bryan saying his farewells backstage after the loss to Reigns, and it is unclear if he may have already signed a new deal with WWE, intends to work for the company without a contract or plans to go elsewhere.

As per the stipulation of the match, Bryan is banned from SmackDown, meaning he could return on Raw or NXT should he remain with WWE.

In an interview with Keisha Hatchett of TV Line last week, Bryan said his neck was "wrecked" going into the match with Reigns. That could be a sign that he intends to take some time off to heal up before wrestling again for WWE or any other company.

The 39-year-old Bryan has a history of neck injuries, plus he is a father of two and has spoken often about potentially taking on a lighter wrestling schedule.

Since Bryan is one of WWE's biggest stars and has been for many years, it stands to reason that the promotion will work with him as much as possible to give him a contract that provides him with the type of money and schedule he desires.

Bryan has no shortage of options at his disposal, including All Elite Wrestling, and that should help him secure the best deal for himself regardless of where he ends up.

Jericho Talks Possibly Wrestling Sting

Chris Jericho has been in the wrestling business for over 30 years, and Sting has been around even longer than that, but the two legendary performers have never locked horns in the ring.

In an interview with Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, Jericho was asked about the possibility of facing The Icon in AEW.

While Jericho prefers working with younger talent, he is open to the idea since it is something the fans have never witnessed before:

"Painmaker versus Sting, kind of my alter ego, bat versus bat. It's all there. Once again, it's always based on the story. But one thing I've done really well since 2016 when I came back to WWE and worked with Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, I concentrated on working with kind of guys from the younger generation because I didn't want to see another Jericho versus Triple H match for example. We've done it. So Jericho versus Sting for a one-time dream match, I think it would work. I don't want it to be like WCW in '96 where it's Piper versus Hogan, Piper versus Savage where it's just kind of like the same thing."

Sting made his AEW debut in December, and although he has appeared weekly since then, he has been kept special to some degree by only having one match.

At Revolution, Sting teamed with TNT champion Darby Allin to beat Team Taz members Brian Cage and Ricky Starks in a cinematic tag team match. Since then, Sting has both been helping out Allin and engaging in a budding rivalry with Lance Archer.

Even at 50 years of age, Jericho can still have great matches against the right opponent and in the right situation. Things are a little more uncertain with Sting, as he is 62 and has a history of neck injuries.

Jericho vs. Sting would likely have to be cinematic, but that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, as it would allow AEW to present the match exactly how it wants to and ensure that both performers are protected.

Since Jericho and Sting are two of the greatest of all time and may not have a ton of time left in the ring, it would behoove AEW to make that match happen sooner rather than later.

Angle Recalls Backstage Fight with Eddie Guerrero

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle told a story this week about a fight he got into with Eddie Guerrero backstage at a WWE event.

On his Kurt Angle Show podcast, Angle described how the fight occurred, as well as the hilarious aftermath of the scuffle (beginning at the 2:20 mark):

Angle explained that Guerrero was upset after a match and accused Angle of being too stiff with him, although Angle said he never touched Eddie and it was the doing of his lackeys.

Kurt noted that Eddie got in his face, prompting him to push Guerrero. Angle said Guerrero then went for a double-leg takedown, which Kurt stopped before putting Eddie in a front face lock until Big Show broke it up.

Angle added that JBL joked around later in the night by asking Eddie, "Why would you try to double-leg an Olympic gold medalist?" Guerrero responded, "Because I'm freaking stupid, that's why."

Guerrero and Angle had no shortage of incredible matches in WWE, and they were friends outside the ring as well, but their skirmish is proof that anything can happen when emotions are running high.

Eddie tragically died at the age of 38 in 2005, but he left an enormous impression on wrestling fans during his career, and his moments with Angle are among those that the fans still celebrate the most.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Daniel Bryan's WWE contract reportedly either expired or was set to expire last week following his Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns on SmackDown.

According to Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), little is known of Bryan's situation aside from the fact that his contract was set to expire. It was noted that Bryan could have signed a new deal since then or could be willing to continue working for WWE without a contract.

Fightful Select also reported that there were no leaks regarding Bryan saying any farewells backstage as if he was leaving for good.

Per the stipulation of the match against Reigns, Bryan is no longer part of the SmackDown roster following his loss. As a result, Bryan was moved to the alumni section on WWE's website.

The 39-year-old Bryan has said some things lately that would lead one to believe that he may want to take some time off before either returning to WWE or wrestling elsewhere.

In an interview with Keisha Hatchett of TV Line last week, Bryan said his neck was "just wrecked" during his match against Reigns. Bryan has a history of neck injuries and has had neck surgery in the past.

Also, in a recent interview with BT Sport, Bryan said he felt "detached" during his match against Reigns and Edge in the main event of WrestleMania 37. 

With regard to that feeling, Bryan added:

"Maybe it was a sign that it's time to let go of being a full-time wrestler. The odd detachment, I was like, 'Woah.' Like I said, I'm either gonna die [laughs] or maybe it's a sign that this isn't it and it isn't the same type of fulfillment that it was before. I've been trying to meditate on it and talk to my friends that I'm close with, like, 'What is that?' My contract is up relatively soon. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life."

Based on those comments, Bryan seems uncertain about his future in wrestling, at least as a full-time competitor. WWE has been willing to work with top stars in the past in terms of giving them favorable schedules, so perhaps it would be willing to do the same for Bryan.

Bryan's contract reportedly expiring is also sure to lead to speculation that he could go elsewhere, such as AEW, since the upstart company has signed many wrestlers who have departed WWE over the past two years.

The fact that Bryan is even wrestling at this point is remarkable since he was briefly forced into retirement in 2016 because of head injuries. Bryan was already an all-time great at that point, but he has added to his Hall of Fame resume since returning in 2018.

Overall, the four-time WWE champion and five-time world champion is one of the top stars WWE has to offer, and one can only assume WWE will go to great lengths to keep him if there is any inkling that he has interest in wrestling elsewhere.

WWE has a lot to offer in terms of money and a less-taxing schedule, plus it could work with Bryan and give him the opportunity to work with talent that he hasn't yet.

One thing that could possibly appeal to Bryan is a run in NXT, where he could have fresh matches against the likes of Finn Balor, Johnny Gargano, Kyle O'Reilly, Tommaso Ciampa, Timothy Thatcher, Walter, Pete Dunne and Kushida, among others.

Bryan will be highly sought-after by all wrestling promotions if he is indeed a free agent, meaning the leverage will be on his side when it comes to negotiating precisely what he wants for the remainder of his wrestling career.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

After yet another disappointing WrestleMania and the continuation of lackluster storytelling, the WWE Universe has shifted its attention to WrestleMania Backlash and how the biggest Superstars will be handled.

There are several top names on the main roster who need to be portrayed strong at the May pay-per-view to make up for the past several months of booking, including Braun Strowman, Cesaro and Bayley.

Here are the predictions for top stars at WrestleMania Backlash, which is set to take place May 16.

Braun Strowman

While defeating Shane McMahon at WrestleMania is supposed to be an iconic moment for any performer, Braun Strowman gained little from the victory because the story leading into the match was arguably the worst of the year.

At WrestleMania Backlash, Strowman needs to show why he is one of the best big men in the business.

With a WWE Championship match scheduled against Bobby Lashley and former champion Drew McIntyre, Strowman will undoubtedly be in the main event of the PPV and have the chance to recoup some of the momentum lost during his program with McMahon.

Both Lashley and McIntyre have been excellent in their respective roles, but the WWE Championship scene is an afterthought and needs a major shakeup. With the division needing a new direction, WWE Creative should let Strowman win the title.

Strowman is the shot in the arm the WWE Championship needs.

Cesaro

One of the stars shining the brightest on SmackDown recently has been Cesaro, and after being forced to watch the recent brutal assault of his friend Daniel Bryan at the hands of Universal champion Roman Reigns, it's time for the Swiss Superman to get his revenge.

At WrestleMania Backlash, Reigns must be pushed to the limit by Cesaro.

From a technical standpoint, Cesaro is one of the most gifted wrestlers to ever grace a WWE ring. In a one-on-one Universal Championship match, the Swiss Cyborg should put on a spectacle, living up to the hype about his in-ring work.

While inevitable interference from Jey Uso will cost Cesaro the victory, just stepping into the ring with Reigns and taking the Tribal Chief to the edge would be momentous for the often-overlooked Superstar.

Bayley

During the pandemic, the WWE product was carried by several stars who shone despite the adverse conditions.

Bayley was one of those. But what did she get for being a highlight of WWE television for months? Instead of wrestling a marquee match at the biggest PPV of the year, she was relegated to comedy bits with Hulk Hogan and Titus O'Neil. At WrestleMania Backlash, Bayley deserves better.

The matchup between SmackDown women's champion Bianca Belair and Bayley should be excellent from a technical standpoint, but there are some suspicions that former titleholder Sasha Banks could get involved.

While Bayley not earning the win in another championship match wouldn't be ideal, she would be protected by a non-finish and finally involved in a storyline worthy of the work she put in over the past year.

A Banks, Belair and Bayley Triple Threat match would be must-see.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).

Friday night's episode of WWE SmackDown featuring a Universal Championship main event between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan included a ratings decline compared to last week.

According to Showbuzz Daily, SmackDown averaged 1.923 million viewers during its two-hour broadcast on Fox, which was down from last week's 2.042 million. SmackDown also scored a 0.5 rating in the 18-49-year-old demographic, which was No. 1 on the night.

SmackDown faced stiff competition in the form of the second night of the 2021 NFL draft, but it beat the draft in the 18-49-year-old demo.

Reigns and Bryan clashed in a huge main event match with major implications, as Bryan agreed to the bout last week with the stipulation he would leave SmackDown if he lost.

Bryan did indeed lose when Reigns made him pass out in a guillotine choke, meaning Reigns retained the Universal Championship, and Bryan is no longer part of the blue brand.

After the match, The Tribal Chief tried to put Bryan on the shelf once and for all, but Cesaro ran down to make the save. Jey Uso then attacked, however, and tied Cesaro up in the ropes, forcing him to watch Reigns hit Bryan with a conchairto.

SmackDown also featured an Intercontinental Championship match with Apollo Crews putting the title on the line against Big E. While Big E won by disqualification due to interference from Commander Azeez, Crews retained the title.

After the match, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn got involved, which means the IC title may be defended in a Fatal 4-Way at WrestleMania Backlash.

Another big SmackDown match featured SmackDown Women's champion Bianca Belair and The Street Profits beating Bayley and SmackDown Tag Team champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode in a six-person tag team match ahead of Belair vs. Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash.

Also, Natalya and Tamina beat WWE Women's Tag Team champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler in a non-title match, Aleister Black read another chapter of his tale, and WWE announced that next week's SmackDown will be a throwback edition.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

WWE has done a pretty good job sticking with its brand split, but it still has creative ways to move Superstars around if one brand happens to need help. 

And Raw needs some help. 

Go figure Daniel Bryan is the one WWE dials up in an emergency. 

Let's backtrack a bit. After losing to Roman Reigns twice with the universal title at stake, including in the main event at WrestleMania, WWE trotted out the matchup again for the April 30 edition of SmackDown. Somewhat behind the scenes, though, the company started to build Cesaro as the next big threat to Roman. 

The stakes went beyond the title itself, because if Bryan lost again, he'd be "banished" from the blue brand. 

That's one way of saying the proverbial writing was on the wall—Bryan was going to lose and leave. 

Make no mistake, Reigns and Bryan are so good together that WWE could book that as a title match every week for a year and the two would find a way to make it interesting. Fans would still tune in for it, too. 

But this particular match clearly felt like a vehicle to get Bryan off the blue brand and over to Raw. And to the two Superstars' credit, they put on another classic, with Bryan technically losing because he passed out during a submission. 

Bryan going to Raw just makes way too much sense. The main-event scene is an absolute disaster on the red brand right now, in no small way thanks to WWE booking. Drew McIntyre lost his title right before Mania, which seemed to set him up for a big Mania moment and win in front of actual fans in the arena. 

Instead, McIntyre lost again. Which would have been fine given how good the match was and that it seemed to signal Bobby Lashley would get the same lengthy, quality title run that McIntyre himself got over the last year. 

Instead, WWE, has WWE'd again. McIntyre has been involved with this weird combo of T-BAR and MACE, members of a flop of a stable, plus Braun Strowman. Lashley is in there somewhere, too, all for a strange build to the Backlash pay-per-view. 

Want to know why WWE is going this route with its odd main-event scene right now, and risking major harm to McIntyre and Lashley? Because there isn't anyone else. AJ Styles is off doing tag stuff, Bray Wyatt's last title run was a disaster, and Keith Lee's push is on hold. 

And bringing over a different Superstar to help Raw wouldn't work, either. Maybe the best example, Seth Rollins, needs to stick on the blue brand for his inevitable Shield-infused feud with Roman. Moving somebody else just doesn't have as natural of an excuse as Bryan losing again. 

Plus—and most importantly of all—Bryan is just that good. 

Want a guy to keep McIntyre relevant long before he reclaims his title? That's Bryan. Want a guy to make champion Lashley look like a believable monster, and hated? It's all about Bryan, arguably the best in the business on the planet right now no matter what character and role WWE asks him to portray. 

Maybe this is giving WWE too much credit. Perhaps upon arrival, Bryan gets locked in a feud with former Retribution members for some reason (which he'd still somehow manage to make look good). But the obvious hints of "banishment" and Superstar movement sure seem to hint at bigger, much more important plans. 

That plan, no matter how it officially unfolds, needs to shift Bryan to Raw. He can be the headline star and recapture that lead-guy magic seemingly whenever he wants. He's not going to do that on SmackDown, not with the Reigns heel turn in its infancy and popping off better than even the wildest of expectations. 

In fact, it's almost funny WWE is suffering from the success of having the most talented roster in history by being able to creatively wiggle a guy like Bryan to a struggling brand. Funny, but also impossible to complain about, as fans know what Bryan will do when presented with the task.

It should go without saying, but this should be a one-off situation. WWE can't suddenly get trade-happy and hurt the integrity of brands. But Bryan is the jolt Raw desperately needs, and WWE creative has expertly opened the door that lets it happen organically. 

Roman Reigns defeated Daniel Bryan on Friday night's edition of WWE SmackDown to retain the Universal Championship, meaning his rival must now leave the blue brand. 

Reigns used the guillotine to submit Bryan by referee decision after a battle that saw the two future Hall of Famers go back-and-forth in an instant classic. The Universal champion survived a running knee and Yes Lock before turning the tide on Bryan, whose WWE future is up in the air.

After the match, Reigns attacked Bryan with a conchairto with Cesaro tied to the ring ropes and held back by Jey Uso. 

The contest was made official last week when The Tribal Chief eschewed Cesaro's challenge for a title match and instead decided to challenge Bryan despite the fact that Bryan was trumpeting for The Swiss Cyborg.

Cesaro urged his friend to accept, but Reigns added a caveat, noting that if Bryan could not beat The Tribal Chief, he would have to depart SmackDown.

While the stakes were high, Bryan decided to accept the challenge after falling short of winning the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37.

The issues between Reigns and Bryan began at Elimination Chamber when Bryan won an Elimination Chamber match to earn a title shot. The Tribal Chief came out to face him immediately after, and Bryan was no match for him due to the damage he incurred during the Chamber match.

Bryan did earn another title bout, however, and he challenged Reigns again at Fastlane. He actually made The Head of the Table tap out, but the referee was incapacitated, allowing Edge to hit Bryan with a chair and Reigns to eventually pin The Yes! Man.

Given the controversial finish to that match, WWE official Adam Pearce agreed to give Bryan another opportunity in the form of making the WrestleMania 37 main event between Reigns and Edge a Triple Threat with Bryan also involved.

Both Bryan and Edge pushed Reigns to the limit, but the titleholder was victorious once again, as he took his opponents out with a conchairto and pinned them at the same time.

That was seemingly the end of the line for Bryan in terms of title shots, but since he appeared to get under Reigns' skin last week, The Tribal Chief gave him another chance.

By virtue of his win, Reigns extended his 240-plus-day universal title run, while Bryan's future is now in question.

Bryan could be set to take some time off or perhaps even leave WWE completely, or the loss could simply be a way to transition him to Raw or NXT. He could also move to a more permanent creative role behind the scenes.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).