Daniel Bryan--A new Jericho?

[Dwayne_Jason]

At age nineteen Irvine entered the Hart Brothers School of Wrestling where, on his first day, he met Lance Evers, the future Lance Storm. Two months later, he was ready to start wrestling on independent shows, making his debut on October 2, 1990, in a draw against Storm. The pair would go on to work as a tag-team, initially called "Sudden Impact". He took the name "Jericho" from the Helloween album, Walls of Jericho.[4]
Jericho and Storm worked for Tony Condello in the tours of Northern Manitoba with Adam Copeland (Edge), Jason Reso (Christian Cage), and Terry Gerin (Rhino).[2] The pair also wrestled in Calgary's Canadian National Wrestling Alliance (CNWA) and Canadian Rocky Mountain Wrestling (CRMW). In 1991, Jericho and Storm started touring in Japan for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, where he would befriend Ricky Fuji, who also trained under Stu Hart. In the winter of 1992, he traveled to Mexico where he wrestled for several small wrestling companies as well as the largest in the country, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). In CMLL, Jericho took on Silver King, Negro Casas, and Último Dragón en route to an eleven-month reign as the NWA Middleweight Champion that began in December 1993.[2] His burgeoning wrestling skills also took him to Japan in 1994 where he competed for the Wrestling and Romance (WAR) promotion, facing the likes of Gedo and Último Dragón, to whom he lost the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship. 1994 also saw Jericho reunited with his former teammate from CRMW, Storm, as the Thrillseekers in Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion. In December 1995, Jericho competed in the second Super J Cup Tournament, hosted by WAR, losing to Wild Pegasus.[2]


Danielson's first exposure in wrestling was as a backyard wrestler competing for Backyard Championship Wrestling (BCW) under his real name with the nickname "The Dagger". There he won the promotion's Heavyweight Championship.[1] After Danielson graduated from high school in 1999, he decided to pursue wrestling professionally and initially attempted to train at Dean Malenko's wrestling school. Due to its subsequent closure, however, he instead trained under Shawn Michaels at the Texas Wrestling Academy.[18] Danielson debuted in Michaels' promotion, the Texas Wrestling Alliance (TWA), and on March 21, 2000, he won his first professional wrestling championship, when he teamed with Spanky to win the TWA Tag Team Championship by defeating Jeromy Sage and Ruben Cruz.[4]


Now, this might be shooting darts in the dark but Jericho's career while not as long as Danielson's lasted in indie circuits. He progressed through that to get where he is right now--A legend.

My question is, if Jericho does decide to leave (He'll be coming back) should Danielson be the idle replacement of a rare wrestler--one who can switch from a mid carder into a main event (Even winning a world championship) in a matter of months and be believable in doing so, if the company needs him to do it? (Chris Jericho--Tag Team Champion, feuded with mid-carders, at elimination chamber he was a WHC and main evented WM 26

 

[Ferbian]

I don't believe that Bryan Danielson will be the one to take the place of Chris Jericho in terms of card mobility and the fact that he can make people look like gold.

Bryan will be able to do a lot of great matches. He'll be able to thrive very well in the mid-card. But I do not see him taking it to the main event, I really do not see it. WWE seems to love the hell out of pushing Bryan as a strong champion right now, and certainly Chris Jericho was giving a lot of popularity and a lot to deal with back in the days. As well as he took YEARS to become a main event wrestler, and win the big one. Yet Chris Jericho is still a bit bigger than Bryan is, which will disqualify Bryan in a large manner.

I made a thread some time ago discussing Dolph Ziggler becoming the next Chris Jericho. Because like we saw with Bryan vs Dolph, Dolph just as well as Bryan can carry out gold matches each and every time they step into the ring with the right people, or perhaps with everybody. That's one thing that stands a bit out for Bryan right now, as well as for Dolph - We don't know whether they can make the bigger guys look like gold. Sure Ted DiBiase is a "bigger" guy as well as John Morrison was somewhat of a bigger guy against Dolph. Yet they're not the "bigger" guys like Triple H and John Cena for example.

Chris Jericho however could make anybody look like gold. Anybody of any size. Also just by cutting a promo he could sell a match, sell the credibility or lack thereof for a wrestler. He is the guy that took a broken down and irrelevant Big Show, and turned him into a monster heel again. He turned him into the machine that he hadn't been for a long period of time. Simply by tag teaming with him. Bryan Danielson is a guy I seriously do NOT see having that ability.

Overall Chris Jericho is a very very rare case of a wrestler. Chris is the type of wrestler very few people could hope to emulate in terms of accomplishments and ability to make people shine. Shawn and Kurt Angle are the only two that comes to mind. And I just do not see Bryan in that list of people, or close.

So no, Bryan Danielson most certainly won't become the next Chris Jericho. If I had to count on anybody, it had to be Dolph.

 

[Dwayne_Jason]

Though I do admit, Bryan does not have Jericho's promo skills, he can put on amazing matches with anyone. Especially if someone is as technical as he is. I think with a little but of work Bryan can get there. He certainly seems to be on a roll and his match against DiBiase was one of the matches of the night. In fact he has managed to steal the show ever since Summerslam. Took out half of Nexus, Beat Miz, Beat Miz and Morrison in a submission match, took the roof off with Ziggles, and his latest victim; Ted Dibiase. If he incorporates that aggression he showed at NXT against Cole, I think he can be a legit ME'r.

Right now WWE is using him as a fun loving, but can kick your ass if he wants to type of guy.

 

[Ferbian]

If he incorporates that aggression he showed at NXT against Cole, I think he can be a legit ME'r.

No. Quite simply due to the fact that even if WWE has lessened up on the whole "We discriminate cause you're a small fucker" there's still a very big limit in terms of the fact that Bryan is practically only a bit larger than Rey Mysterio, who isn't really either a legit main eventer, or for that sake a main eventer at all.

Rey Mysterio has the whole underdog thing going for him. Which means Bryan can't take it, and he won't be able to legitimately hang with the big guys due to that. He's over and all that, but even Rey Mysterio was over, and has only held the world title twice with 4 years in-between. And a lot of people like to think it's only due to Eddie Guerrero dying, and his popularity spiking due to it.

I really don't see Bryan becoming a legit main eventer ever. He'll most likely be the lucky winner once or twice. But he won't have the main event establishment that even Chris Jericho had, who was also an upper mid-carder / main event jobber.

 

[Arkham Noir]

Also just by cutting a promo he could sell a match, sell the credibility or lack thereof for a wrestler. He is the guy that took a broken down and irrelevant Big Show, and turned him into a monster heel again. He turned him into the machine that he hadn't been for a long period of time. Simply by tag teaming with him. Bryan Danielson is a guy I seriously do NOT see having that ability.

I think that is the key difference between the two. As great as an in-ring performer as Jericho is, he is most reconized for his mic-skills.I will agree with the fact though that he can make anyone look good in a match, which is one of Jericho's trademarks.

It's possible that maybe Bryan will get close to him some day, but will never be cable of doing it on Jericho's level. Jericho is considered one of the best of all time because he is simply one of the best of all time. A rare combination of skills that I don't think can simply be replaced. It will probably be awhile before someone of such a caliber emerges.

As for Ferbian's Ziggler comments, I do have to disagree. Ziggler does have most of the qualities on paper, but they just don't translate the same. Jericho has always managed to get over no matter how badly he is being held back. That is a quality that can't really be made or developed, and is crucial to who Jericho is. Granted, Jericho did have more freedom coming up than guys do today in terms of promos .

 

[jrichardson25]

I'm a big Bryan Danielson fan (Daniel Bryan STILL doesn't sound right...). I feel as though he DOES have that potential. He has to continue to build credibility. If we remember Jericho years back after the Undisputed Championship reign but before the present runs of his he didn't hit the championship ring at all. Jericho stayed solid in the mid card bouncing to the main event from time to time never getting the title...

What I'm trying to say is that Bryan and get to where Jericho is BUT and it is a big BUT, he has to have the right build and continue to develop on the mic and get a character. Everyone has to agree with that fact. Bryan can talk but he just needs talk time and a chance to fully develop behind the mic.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

Thay had this thread just with miz instead of bryan like a week ago. Why do you want these guys to be the next jericho, wouldn't you rather them be the next daniel bryan or mike 'miz' mizanin. I'll give you an example. Jck swagger is locked into doing a kurt angle impersonation and that only elevates angle in the competition company, its basically a bad idea and swagger will never grow as a character as long as he is stuck trying to be kurt, which he never can be anyway because he isn't a shadow of the talker that angle was and the only way I've seen swagger drawe serious heat was that segment with all of the trophies because it dragged on so long and was stupendously boring.

It is good to look up to your idols, but not to want to be them. That road leads to failure and the realisiation you never can be them.

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

If ANYONE takes the place of Jericho in the realm of card mobility, it will be CM Punk. Punk has had a few championship reigns that resemble Jericho's transitional reigns. Punk can also be a fan favorite as well as the most hated guy on the roster. Punk has superior mic skills much like Jericho. Punk is believable anywhere on the card whether he is heavyweight champ or jobbing. No matter where you need him, Punk is a fit. Could Daniel Bryan do this? He could, just not yet. He is a mid carder with a world of potential. That's it at the moment. Punk (when he comes back) will take the Jericho type role of being everywhere and anywhere, much like he was doing ALREADY before he got injured.

 

[The Wrestler`s Wrestler]

Danieslon lacks the promo skills of Jericho. If I was to compare someone to Jericho I would go with The Miz. He has the mic skills, But not the ability to make whoever he face's look great. Come to think about it C.M Punk would b my pick for the next Chris Jericho. Danielson is more like the new Chris Beniot, His mike work might not be up to par but it dosn't matter because of what he brings in the ring, Which is hard hitting realistic action and he can make whoever he face's look good. That being said its not a knock on Dolph Ziggler because I have believed from last year that he would be good if given the chance to shine.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

One thing about Chris Jericho, especially over the past few years as has been pointed out, has been able to make anyone that wrestles against him look like a million bucks. No matter how many times Jericho loses, nothing just seems to lower his stock. He elevates other guys and still looks like a superstar. I haven't seen anyone other than Jericho really pull that off. It's extremely unique and I'm not going to bet the farm on someone like that coming along anytime soon.

Since Daniel Bryan has been in the WWE, we've heard him cut a few extremely good promos. He hasn't spent much time on the mic, but the stuff he delivered after being eliminated from NXT Season I was very good in my view. However, can Bryan be good on the mic consistently? That's a question that's yet to be answered. We all know he's got the goods inside the ring, he's shown that time and time again since SummerSlam. For companies that are as large as the WWE or TNA, wrestling promotions that are seen by millions across the world each week, mic skills are every bit as important as in-ring ability. The truth is, it might actually be somewhat more important.

Chris Jericho is someone that's got the ability in the ring and on the mic and he has charisma. I don't think we've seen quite enough of Bryan to determine what he's ultimately going to be made of as far as mic skills and charisma. The WWE seems to be taking their time with Bryan, though they're still going at a good pace. They haven't been ramming him down the throats of the audience, he's been steadily getting over more and more with the fans and they're using his background on the indy circuit to help with credibility. Thus far, they've done exactly the right things with Bryan.

 

[onewayleeway69]

The only thing Jericho has got in common with Daniel Bryan is the fact you internet nerds pure lick his ass clean out till its red raw! Jericho is ok but hes boring most of the time face it. Daniel Bryan hasnt got the look, hes average at best and he looks like he just crawled out of the gutter.His finisher is nothing more the the crossface with his legs switched a different way and thats a different move? label lock? my ass If he gets released again tomorrow I'll be happy.Benjamin and Hass are 10 times the wrestler Daniel Bryan will ever be plus they look the part and they dont look like a complete nerd. They might be crap on the mic but guess what so is Daniel Bryan. I do agree C M Punk is awesome though! i get what you guys see in him liked him from day 1!

 

[bottomline_al316]

is daniel bryan the next jericho? i think it is to soon to tell. while bryan has the in ring ability to make a match good, he has yet to sharpen his mic skills. jericho has both the in ring ability and the mic skills. daniel bryan has paid his dues in the wrestling world with the indy surcuit run but has not quite developed a main event wrestler status. he reminds me of chris benoit more than he reminds me of a jericho. benoit had the in ring ability but not much for mic skills. jericho is one of a kind and i don't think anyone will be quite like him.

 

[GideonGodsend]

i hope that danielson could become his own icon and not be the next anything. but if there is anyone that you could say 'will take his place' is jericho. most of the people in the main event now didnt have the mic skills then that they do now, he will mold into to the main event scene soon enough. he just needs to do it his own way.

 

[blackmetalbuick]

Bryan and Jericho don't even belong in the same sentence. Even trying to say they both came up through the indies is just wrong. They went about it in very different ways. Jericho gets labelled as probably the last guy who came through the real territory system and made his own way. I don't hear anyone saying "oh wait, now Daniel Bryan gets that distinction", because he doesn't. They are polar opposites in terms of good mic work, and while I'll admit Bryan has been winning me over with his matches against Ziggler, he still can't compete with Jericho. Making yourself look good and making others look good are entirely different things. Jericho can carry a lot of people through a match and make them look good, I'm not sure Bryan could do the same thing.

I don't care how a guy makes it to the big time, once in WWE, you have to show me something to get my attention. People can throw out all the excuses they want about WWE limiting guys movesets or preventing them from really doing what they're capable of, but other guys still find a way to be impressive. Bryan just hasn't shown me all that much yet. Like I said, he put on some great matches in those 2 or 3 meetings he had with Ziggler recently, but I give Dolph an equal amount of credit for those matches. He is completely underrated while guys like Bryan ride a wave of hype from old indy matches. Hell, now that I think of it, Ziggler makes a better comparison to Jericho than Bryan.

 

[Malenko316]

Damn, a love in this big must need a huge amount of KY.

It is unfair to compare Danielson and Jericho. Danielson has infinitely more ring ability and refinement than jericho will ever have. I really do get tired of people calling jericho great, as a talker yes, but a ring worker, there's shite on the tapes than there gold. I've followed Danielson for about 5yrs now and have never seen a bad mathch. Now, maybe that's because he hasn't had to carry a Cena, Trips or Show in a match, and I'll admit, that will be a test, but (and it's a big but), if creative let him take the shackles off his full range of moves, then he could put a good match even if weighed down by Cena.

I didn't expect Danielson to be as good on the mic as he has been. Watch WCW and you'll see even Chris started out slow. But in comparison with Benoit or Punk, the better comparison in my opinion, he is right where he needs to be given the exposure. But the fact is, Danielson is not going to carve out a great career by being the next anyone (as mentioned just look at the Swagger/Angle disaster). If you want to be a legend, which if creative let him, he can become again in front of a new audience (to real wrestling fans, Danielson is already a deserved legend), in the Benoit mould, but with the range to both face or heel (anyone in doubt look back to ROH in 2005).

The problem will be his size, can't do anything about that (Benoit tried, and well, that didn't end great) and the lack of guys available for him to put on truely stellar matches. Dolph, for his faults, is not terrible and even Ted Jr looked ok last night. When Punk comes back and Bourne is fit, Danielson moves to the next level.

Danielson is not Jericho, he's better. Period. If you want to look for an overrated loudmouth who gets his breaks by sucking up to management, three simple letters: M I Z. And unless creative evaluate talent like Bischoff, Danielson will have more titles by retirement than Tom Brady had rings, and MIZ as many as Chad OC.

 

[wwe australia]

no i dont believe that he'll be the next jericho but will go onto his own path and achieve his own legend status, danielson's full character has still not fully developed, it may be a while before we see him as a main eventer but i assure you he will get there with his in ring ability and if he imporves his persona

 

[Dwayne_Jason]

Thanks for keeping the thread going, now I do admit many of you say that Bryan doesn't have Mic Skills that compares to Jericho but is he versatile when it comes to going from a Main Event to a upper/mid card feud? For example, he fought an epic battle with Morrison and the Miz at Hell in a Cell, later on he fought Ziggler then Ted. He's switching back and forth from upper to mid/mid carder. And lets not forget his face debut on the Main Event of Smackdown. WWE had enough faith in him for it to be only Bryan Danielson and Cena left. AFTER he made most of the nexus tap out. So, I think he definately has the potential. And as far as promo skills are concerned I think it's better that he not talk; not because I don't have faith in him as a good promo worker. Simply because if he talks like three or five times before a PPV comes along it seems as if he's that much special. Look at Orton. He's been the silent killer esque persona and only talks if he needs to. I'm not saying Bryan should become a silent killer eque. I'm saying he should do promos after someone attacked him, etc. right before the PPV. (If Ted attacked him on Raw, Bryan could spend a minute or two on PPV talking about it, and the match will follow.)

Sorry, I meant Summerslam. Though Summerslam was a smackdown quality ppv.

 

[flipmood]

what i would like to see is a dragon heel turn, maybe teaming up with punk, this will enable him to be more himself in terms of mic talk (heels have it easier) .... just like jericho saying he is the best at what he does... dragon can talk about him being the best in the world (talking about all his accomplishments around the world etc...) a heel dragon will give him more mic exposer thus can reach his full potential. though dragon is not yet in the league of jericho on the mic but once he gets that mic "vibe" he will be the full package, being able to talk garbage to your opponent/s and have the ability to back it up in the ring