Daniel Bryan Birthday Special: A Look-back at 'YES! Movement' Leader's WWE Career As He Turns 37!

Bryan Lloyd Danielson, popularly known as Daniel Bryan, will be celebrating his turn 37^th birthday, this year, on May 22. Currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Bryan is on SmackDown LIVE roster. Bryan is one of those rare few wrestlers who has won a Championship Grand Slam. Bryan has been a three-time WWE Champion and has won WWE Heavyweight Championship, Intercontinental Championship, Tag-team Championship, and United States Championship – once each. Bryan was also awarded the WWE Superstar of the Year award in 2013.

Daniel Bryan was born in Washington in the year 1981. Bryan competed in several events in Football during his college days, before his inclination to Wrestling in later years. Not many know that Bryan is mentored by none other than Shawn Michaels, early in his career. Also, the fact that Bryan had worked with WWE for a period of 18 months in his initial wrestling years is known by very few. What could have been his stature in WWE had he had the main roster debut on WWE in Royal Rumble 2001? Can’t even think of it.

He travelled across the globe and took in several independent wrestling circuits before signing with WWE in the year 2009. Another unknown fact about him is that his ring name was decided by former WWE superstar William Regal. He was then released to fulfil his prior commitments in independent circuits and was seen with WWE for the third time in the year 2010, at their pay-per-view Summer Slam. Since then, there has been no looking back.

Daniel Bryan has had interesting match-ups and feuds since his return in WWE. His feuds with The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, CM Punk, Kane, and Triple H amongst others were much loved by the WWE fans. The pioneer of ‘Yes!’ movement in the WWE, Bryan was at the pinnacle of his career when he feuded with The Authority and eventually went on to become the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania 30.

Watch Daniel Bryan's Meteoric Rise in WWE:

However, a freak injury, concussion-related, after he winning an Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania 31, in 2015, saw him out of the in-ring competition for three years. However, he was still working with the WWE in some or the other capacity. His role as SmackDown LIVE General Manager, after the second brand extension in 2016, was loved by one and all.

Watch Daniel Bryan Win WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 30:

After almost a gap of three years, Bryan made an in-ring return to compete against Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens and ally with Shane Mcmahon. At present, he is involved in a feud with Big Cass.

Daniel Bryan’s journey in the WWE is everything a WWE superstar would wish for and not wish for it, at the same time. For someone who had the persona to rally the crowd behind him – like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin & John Cena had during their prime – to someone who had to bow out with a career-ending injury; Bryan has been through it all. Bryan has been one of those rare breeds of wrestlers who could carry an entire show on their shoulders. One can simply imagine what impact had he would have on WWE had he been able to crack a deal way back in 2001? Or what would be his stature had he not been injured in 2015!

Well, with all said and done, it is heartening to see the wrestler back in the ring, doing what he loves to do best – not commentating or scheduling matches, but wrestling. As Daniel Bryan celebrates his 37^th birthday today, we wish a great day, on his birthday, i.e. May 22!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 22, 2018 02:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).