Daniel Bryan Pitches Interpromotional Match To WWE

[Jack-Hammer]

An interesting little story on wrestlinginc.com states that over WrestleMania weekend, Daniel Bryan pitched a match idea to WWE officials. It was part of a larger interview in which Bryan discussed Hideo Itami, video games, why he wanted Reigns to beat Lesnar, etc. The idea Bryan pitched was an interpromotional bout against New Japan Pro Wrestling star and current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura as part of WWE's upcoming tour of Japan, sort of a battle of the Intercontinental Champions kinda thing, but Bryan didn't really think anyone bought the idea.

It doesn't mention who Bryan pitched the idea to or anything along those lines. I have a feeling that it's not the sort of idea Vince himself would be all that into because you always get the sense that no other wrestling promotion exists apart from WWE. It does strike me as something that Triple H might be open to as he seems to be much less rigid and more open minded. At any rate, I don't know how serious Bryan was, if it's something he really wants to do, if it's just sort of a rough idea that he pitched to see if there was any real interest or what. If it was something the powers that be were open to, I think it'd help draw bigger crowds to the WWE shows as Nakamura's one of the biggest stars in New Japan.

 

[BringThePain834]

^^ Optimistically, you could say it would draw more people to house shows, but not really, there just isn't enough of a fanbase to make money off it the way they can with the Hispanic demographic. They tried with Ultimo Dragon and it didn't go so hot. The Jap-Americans are a different beast than the Hispanic demographic. Vince will always be open to making money off exploitation, but he'd much rather try sending out a funky colored panda with freakishly over exaggerated pupils with Jap-pop theme music. He'd probably make as much money off that as he would importing a Jap worker from a promotion 99% of his audience hasn't heard of with the way they'd book him.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

It could benefit the Japanese Market. Wasn't there a report that business is down in Japan? Pro-Wrestling is still a pretty big culture in Japan and having a cross promotion match could help WWE get some publicity there.

 

[laodaron]

I'll preface by saying that I'm really not against this idea, at all.

But, the only person this benefits is The American Dragon Bryan Danielson, who hasn't been in the world or Indy arena in several years, and who might want to leverage his popularity in case the WWE thing ever falls through. I don't think that his intentions were to undermine the WWE, or to look out for himself, but this idea really can't benefit the WWE. It just doesn't offer any net gain to anyone except Daniel Bryan.

But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The WWE Intercontinental Champion fighting someone from NJPW, that's unheard of. The thing is: WWE fans don't generally watch NJPW, nor would a casual American fan even KNOW about Japanese Pro-wrestling culture. It could be aired on the Network, or USA, or both. I could see there being some promise in it.

But again, the WWE doesn't really make dollars from it. Plus, I have a feeling that Daniel Bryan would probably wrestle a much more dangerous style if the reigns were pulled back.

So, my vote is no, not for any other reason except I can't see the benefit. That doesn't even mean that there isn't a benefit, I just don't see it.

What I DO like hearing, though, is that Daniel Bryan felt confident enough to go to management about these ideas. That flies directly into the face of some shoot interviews that talk about the stifling environment at WWE.

 

[boywithbluehanger]

I feel like I'm supposed to care but I don't. AJ Lee (imo) is just another WWE Diva. She was overhyped by people for years. I want to see another badass like Chyna or Beth Phoenix was. Women who are good in the ring and still look like they could kick ass in real life.

AJ Lee might not have fancied herself as one of the Divas but she was to me.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Shinsuke Nakamura responded saying that he would be interested.

This match if it happened would be amazing, Both are over as hell. Pretty hard to name two more over people in the industry today. Both are amazing workers, both say yes in their own way that gets them over. They both knee people in the face. Intercontinental match where it ends in a broadway would be amazing. It would main event because it is that amazing, they could tape that house show and put it on the WWE network. It would be godlike in its awesomeness.

Its something that would raise the profile of the WWE in Japan, that Nakamura takes them seriously enough to accept a challenge from one of their Wrestlers. Though I would also love to see a Cena/Tanahashi match as well.

 

[kadroan]

It would be interesting if WWE could promote it right. I'd love to see it. Can't really the last time I seen an Asian wrestler have a match against a prominent American WWE wrestler.

 

[A11oftheLights]

It really wouldnt be that hard to promote, a few highlight packages of nakamura and then hype it up as THE two biggest stars(which is where it would fall down because Vince will want Cena) in each promotion fighting it out for promotion supremacy. The sticking point is going to be coming up with a result that keeps WWE happy, Bryan & Nakamura happy and of course New Japan happy.

 

[DB2CMPUNK]

Why don't they just do it for the house show? I don't see the harm doing that instead of WWE programming.

 

[Bagpipes]

This would be incredible.

Nakamura is probably my favorite wrestler in the world right now, the guy just oozes charisma and can work his ass off in the ring.

He and Bryan are actually very similar. Both probably the most over superstars in their respective promotions, both great workers, both use their legs a significant portion of their offense (Bryan with the kicks, Nakamura with the knees), the YES! vs. the Yeaohhhh, and both incorporate the running knee (although Nakamura's is usually a single knee as opposed to Bryan's double knee) as finishers.

I'd love to see this, but seriously doubt it would happen, mainly because as was stated above, Vince's superiority complex tends to dismiss the existence of any other professional wrestling promotion.

 

[SoulTrain4]

It wouldn't benefit WWE at all it would mostly benefit NJPW and Nakamura, I think just the idea raises great interest though.

I love Nak (pause) and if this was the 70s or the early to kid 90s it might actually happen but today WWE goes along like no one else exists.

 

[goalieman31]

I don't ever see Vince allowing this to happen but oh my would it be good. I think it could wwe in the Japanese market may be use it to promote the network along with the house shoes in Japan. I think it could help both companies njpw more than wwe but wwe could use help in japan where njpw is the big show.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Vince wouldn't allow this to happen not because he's an egomaniac (even though he probably is) or a racist (even though he might be) or an idiot (which he arguably can be on occasion). This match wouldn't happen because nobody outside of Japan watches Japanese wrestling. Not literally nobody - virtually nobody. Yes, "virtually nobody" probably amounts to hundreds of thousands of people, or even a few million, which is still very small compared to WWE's total audience. If most people in WWE's audience have heard of New Japan Pro Wrestling, it's because CM Punk said the words in a promo. Japanese wrestling is a niche within a niche within a niche.

And that's a shame because I think Shinsuke Nakamura is fantastic. In a world of men in trunks who hit each other really hard, he's a man in colourful tights with a weird haircut, long legs and crazy mannerisms who hits really hard. He's definitely in that not very exclusive club called People Who Could Have A Really Good Match With Daniel Bryan.

But there's really no reason for the match to happen.