Over the years, WWE has released and fired many wrestlers for a variety of reasons, with some cases standing out more than others. One well-known star was once dismissed for breaking WWE’s PG guidelines during an on-screen segment, which also happened to be his debut on the main roster.
This wrestler is none other than multiple-time WWE World Champion Daniel Bryan, also known as Bryan Danielson outside of WWE. Despite his massive success, including a WrestleMania main event and legendary matches, his early WWE career faced setbacks, primarily because he was fired.
Daniel Bryan first appeared on NXT Season 1 and then made a shocking debut on Monday Night RAW as part of the Nexus, a faction of rookies from NXT led by Wade Barrett. This group aimed to take over WWE by force, infamously ambushing John Cena and causing chaos on the show. The debut remains iconic despite weak creative follow-up. Bryan stood out during the Nexus attack with his aggression and skill.
However, his debut segment went too far in terms of violence. Bryan choked announcer Justin Roberts with his tie and spat on John Cena, actions that WWE executives found too extreme for their PG-rated programming. As a result, WWE fired Bryan, with sources suggesting the spitting incident was a key factor. Interestingly, David Otunga, another Nexus member, revealed Bryan was simply following Vince McMahon’s orders, making the firing seem all the more harsh.
Luckily for Bryan, his firing was short-lived. After a stint on the independent circuit, WWE re-signed him just two months later, turning his departure into a storyline where Nexus claimed he was kicked out for remorse. Bryan returned at SummerSlam 2010 as the final member of Team WWE, helping defeat Nexus. From there, Bryan’s WWE career soared as he moved up the ranks, gained immense fan support, and won multiple world championships.
Fan Take: Daniel Bryan’s firing and swift return highlight the unpredictable nature of WWE’s creative decisions and talent management. For fans, this story is a reminder of how adversity can fuel a wrestler’s rise to greatness, adding depth and drama to the sport they love.
