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Raw went off the air with Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan's official retirement announcement. It was a really special moment, one of those real moments where the emotion can't be concocted or written, just an outpouring of respect and love. Bryan, who was on the verge of years several times, even noted that he was able to close his eyes and "feel" the energy in a way that he's never had the chance to before and noted he would never forget it.
Admitting he didn't want to be doing this any more than the fans wanted it, he's been wrestling since he was 18. He suffered three concussions within the first five months of his career and over the years the concussions have added up. It got to the point where he was told that he can't wrestle anymore. He said that for a long time, he was fighting that decision because all of the test results he received independently said he was fine. He was training to come back and would have been ready to wrestle at a moment's notice, because he's loved wrestling in a way that he's never loved anything else.
Bryan admitted he took a test a week and a half ago that told him that his brain may not be as OK as he believed it was. He and his wife want to start having children soon and he has a family to think about, so he is announcing his official retirement. He said that's been angry and sad and frustrated but today, when he woke up, he felt nothing but gratitude because he's had the chance to do what he's loved for 16 years.
Bryan then said he wanted to talk about a few things that he loves, naming the Seattle Seahawks, the joy that the fans bring to him and getting the chance to dive out of the ring with tope suicidas (noting they make him feel like Superman). He said that he loves that he's wrestled in Stadiums and in parking lots. He named Kane, William Regal and getting the chance to meet children like Connor Michalek who "were stronger than I thought anyone could ever be." Bryan said that he's grateful because wrestling and WWE and the fans don't owe the performers anything. He said they all perform because they love to perform.
Bryan said that he just performed because he loved to do it and then the fans just got behind him in a way that he never thought was possible, because he was just a guy who was 5'8" and he was just him. He said that he was grateful because just a little over two years ago, the fans in Seattle, where he was right now, hijacked Raw. He talked about the fans losing it for him, but that's not why he was grateful. He pointed out to where his father, who has since passed away, was sitting and almost broke down talking about his dad getting to see his son get that sort of reaction. He noted it was the last time his father saw him wrestle and the fans made it special for his father and his entire family.
Danielson said that because of wrestling, he got to meet the most wonderful woman in the world. He said that he's grateful to come out before his hometown fans and announce his retirement and share this moment with his mother, his sister and his friends and family as well as his wife and his friends in the back. He said that he is grateful.
Bryan said that tomorrow morning, he will start a new life where he is no longer a wrestler. He said that was tomorrow, not tonight and asked the fans for one last "Yes" chant, the sight of which had to give anyone watching chills to the bone.
Brie Bella came to the ring and kissed her husband as Michael Cole told the audience that everyone was grateful. Raw went off the air with Bryan hugging his mother at ringside as he finally began crying. Michael Cole then announced they would continue the coverage live on the WWE Network.
When coverage picked up on the WWE Network, the WWE roster, including Vince McMahon and The Authority, came out on stage and did the "Yes" chant in tribute to Bryan, who returned to the ring and led the crowd in a rousing, loud "Yes" chant. Bryan went to ringside to hug some friends and high-five other members of the audience. Bryan spent a long time making his way around ringside.
Bryan kissed his wife again and then walked through the WWE roster, which parted in half, before the former American Dragon, the former ROH champion, the former WWE World Heavyweight champion disappeared through the curtain and back into the Gorilla position, out of sight, for the last time as a member of the WWE roster.
For those who didn't see the speech, Bryan also noted that he cut his shaggy hair off for a charitable organization titled "Wigs for Kids", who create and donate wigs to children who have lost their hair while battling cancer. To donate to them, visit www.WigsforKids.org. It would be a great way to honor Danielson's contributions to pro wrestling.
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