Are... are they trying to do a CTE/concussion storyline with Daniel Bryan?

[The Life Of Pablo Ren]

Watching Smackdown last night, there was a backstage segment between Shane and Daniel Bryan where Shane questioned some of the decisions that Bryan's been making on Smackdown as of late. This story has been going on for a few weeks now and originally I thought this was just standard discord between the GM and the commissioner that would hopefully lead to a blow off somewhere down the line... but last night was different.

There's a moment in the segment where Shane asks Bryan, "Are you doing okay?" to which Bryan obliviously responds, "What do you mean?" Shane continues, "I don't want to offend you, you may have a lot going on in your life but you're coming off as a little... unstable."

And thats when the realization hit me that they might be going in a direction that implies Bryan might have something wrong with his brain.

Now... I hope this isn't true... for multiple reasons. Maybe Bryan's history is just making me read things the wrong way... but I can't help but think that even if it's a direction they don't plan to go in, last night was still a subtle allusion to it, which is still a bit tasteless in my opinion.

What do you think?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

In my opinion, I think you're just reading it the wrong way. Vince McMahon wants to do anything and everything possible NOT to associate WWE with any and all aspects regarding concussions and cranial trauma in general. There's a class action suit that's been brought by an attorney, Konstantine Kyros, that's basically made it his life's mission to successfully sue WWE and there are between 50 and 60 former wrestlers and non-wrestlers alike who're part of it claiming WWE lied to them and concealed information regarding head trauma. My initial feeling is that it's just people looking to get a pay day as most of these wrestlers haven't worked for WWE in many, many years and continued to work in wrestling long after they parted ways. However, that's neither here nor there; I just don't see Vince wanting to make Bryan's real life issues regarding his concussion history a WWE storyline and, truth be told, I don't think Bryan would go along with it in. On top of that, knowing Vince the way we do, there's a better than average chance of that this storyline would devolve into something that leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. Vince might want to see things like Bryan talking to himself, speaking gibberish, have "seizures" and just generally using some sort of offensive stereotypes to portray Bryan as being something less than human because of past head injuries. You know, stuff that would probably offend any reasonable person but Vince would find funny.

 

[The Life Of Pablo Ren]

In my opinion, I think you're just reading it the wrong way. Vince McMahon wants to do anything and everything possible NOT to associate WWE with any and all aspects regarding concussions and cranial trauma in general. There's a class action suit that's been brought by an attorney, Konstantine Kyros, that's basically made it his life's mission to successfully sue WWE and there are between 50 and 60 former wrestlers and non-wrestlers alike who're part of it claiming WWE lied to them and concealed information regarding head trauma. My initial feeling is that it's just people looking to get a pay day as most of these wrestlers haven't worked for WWE in many, many years and continued to work in wrestling long after they parted ways. However, that's neither here nor there; I just don't see Vince wanting to make Bryan's real life issues regarding his concussion history a WWE storyline and, truth be told, I don't think Bryan would go along with it in. On top of that, knowing Vince the way we do, there's a better than average chance of that this storyline would devolve into something that leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. Vince might want to see things like Bryan talking to himself, speaking gibberish, have "seizures" and just generally using some sort of offensive stereotypes to portray Bryan as being something less than human because of past head injuries. You know, stuff that would probably offend any reasonable person but Vince would find funny.

Truth be told, I forgot ALL about the concussion lawsuit. It would seem that would make all of this a lot less likely.

But even with that, there's still something about the segment from last night that doesn't sit right with me. Bryan's at first oblivious to it all and then later throws accusations back in Shane's face, telling him that since he's a McMahon he's bound to do unstable things too, but that still doesn't justify what Bryan's been doing. I don't think that's just shoddy writing, it was done purposefully and with more of a reason than just to continue to draw the rift between the two. I wonder if even if they don't fully explore a storyline like that, it'll get teased in that direction and it'll be what's assumed by Shane until Bryan shows his cards.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Truth be told, I forgot ALL about the concussion lawsuit. It would seem that would make all of this a lot less likely.

Which is funny, because I guarantee you it's a relevant reason you'll likely never see DB wrestle in WWE again. Yet too many marks can't seem to understand that it's a very good justification on their part. Not to mention the whole, health/die in the ring/go crazy and kill yourself aspect of it. But why should wrestling fans care about that?

 

[Dave]

I might be in the minority but I reckon we'll see Bryan wrestle at Mania in some way. Honestly, I don't see them letting one of the most over talents to ever wrestle in their company go, so they're going to have to allow him to wrestle. It's either that or he walks out the door and goes somewhere else when his contact is up. If you think Vince is gonna allow that to happen, then you're crazy. So with that in mind, I definitely think this is a big build up towards Daniel Bryan being a part of WrestleMania in a wrestling capacity.

As far as a concussion angle goes, I think you're reading a but too much into it. Shane was just questioning his decision making but he wasn't going as far as to say their was something wrong with his brain. It's too touchy of a subject to be addressed like that.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

It's interesting but unlikely. Daniel Bryan, the character, has a history of not being stable. Team Hell No was built on the humor of that instability. Still I don't see that coming in to play here. Even less do I see the head injury angle come in to play. I think it was just Shane being passive aggressive. It was an employer reminding their employee that they made some big decisions that the employer doesn't agree with.

Plus beyond the concussion lawsuit, lest we not forget he who they want us to forget.

 

[mooseman]

I kind of doubt it but for arguments sake lets say it is. It's well known why he isn't wrestling so if he were to suddenly get clearance i'm sure they wouldn't just be like oh hey Bryan can wrestle again! It would have to be made a huge deal and some kind of storyline. So maybe after a bunch of weeks of Shane questioning Bryan's abilities mentally they agree to a test. Bryan passes it and boom Bryan vs Shane at Wrestlemania!

 

[That N Word]

You're reading FARR too much into it. Shane clearly threw it out there as an insult towards Bryan, which is why Bryan snapped back with one of his own. It would literally make no sense if they went into that direction, as Bryan is only looking out for the entire roster despite their "clean" or "dirty" status. If anyone's character is building up to be unstable, it's Shane McMahon. Only story I think we're seeing is Shane slowly turning into his father. Part of me feel Bryan will wrestle in WWE again, despite the stupidity of that decision.

I remember reading Bryan took a bump at Clash of Champions, and that he was running the ropes on SmackDown after a dark match. IF the former is true then he'd most certainly have to already to be cleared right? I mean when was the last time you seen someone like Edge take a bump? WWE tend not to let disqualified talent take any sort of bumps, or be involved in anything violent. Some may bring up Steve Austin but he was never "technically" disqualified. I could see Shane vs. Bryan at WrestleMania. However, part of me feel as if WWE wouldn't be dumb enough to put Bryan in harms way by allowing him to compete. Mainly, not against a stiff "competitor" like Shane McMahon.

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

If they do that, with all the backlash concussions have caused them (from Benoit to the lawsuit) I couldn't even possibly imagine the backlash something like this could have.

However, it doesn't seem far fetched for me if it comes from WWE. They usually avoid stuff that have a little bit of controversy in them, but man, they really go for the stuff that cause a big one. Like exploiting Bearer's death during the build up to Undertaker vs CM Punk and by having Punk play with his ashes.

Or you know, saying that Vince used to beat up Shane. Or having a man win the first ever women's MITB. It wouldn't surprise if they wanted to run this angle.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

They won't go there while a lawsuit is ongoing, it would basically be admitting the suit.

"So you acknowledge CTE affects wrestlers in a storyline, yet deny it actually happened to my clients?"... Not gonna happen.

The reality is they are sowing the seeds for Bryan to inevitably leave when his contract is up. He seems pretty determined to wrestle again away from the WWE and at this stage WWE can't really do much other than make sure any fallout doesn't leak on them. Hence why Trips has gone out of his way in his presser to say "No Exceptions", he's basically saying that if someone elses protocols allow him to wrestle, so be it, but ours won't and we won't be liable.

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

No they already have the lawsuit. The last thing they want to do is highlight the very issue they're being sued over.

If anything they seem to be sowing the seeds for Bryan to turn heel, which would be the wrong move. Bryan is not gonna be booed.

Also I seriously doubt Bryan wrestles again for any company. I imagine he certainly wants to but will ultimately not. Obviously that's best for his long-term health.

 

[Wolf Pac]

I think it's going to lead to Daniel Bryan vs. Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania.

Shane should be a safe opponent for him to work with as Bryan wouldn't have to do much and work his usual style against a non-wrestler.

 

[Spencesc11]

If Daniel Bryan doesn't wrestle at Mania this year I would put money he faces Cody Rhodes at the ALL IN event. It's not till September and they can keep the spots safe for him and if he's been cleared by non-WWE doctors don't be surprised to see him on a part time basis with Ring of Honor.

 

[rmp0012002]

When his contract is up he might get re-signed to a talent contract but he’s never getting getting in the ring for the WWE, unless Vince wants to lose his company over the current lawsuit. There’s nothing he can do in a match that is completely safe and be entertaining, without his rough wrestling style he’s not Daniel Bryan.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

From what a remember, they tried something similar to this a few years ago, when Triple H and Vince were sort of feuding (leading up to Triple H's heel turn at Summerslam '13) against each other. I think Triple H had a match with Curtis Axel, where he might've had a concussion, but he gutted it out. I can't remember if it happened on the next Raw or not, but Vince and Stephanie were in the ring cutting a promo about putting Triple H's health first, because Vince wouldn't let Triple H wrestle, and the fans were just insensitive assholes or something like that.

I think they eventually dropped HHH possibly having a concussion from the storyline, and I just remember the whole thing being really stupid. I just can't picture WWE actually doing something like this now. WWE and Vince would take a lot of heat, and it's just another reason for people to have more ammunition for all the stigmas attached to pro wrestling. Bryan was constantly banged up towards the end of his run. He couldn't stay healthy, and there's basically a snowball's chance in hell of Vince allowing him to go in the ring again.