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=== Japan (2001–2004) ===
 
=== Japan (2001–2004) ===
Danielson first toured Japan with [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]] (FMW) with [[Lance Cade]], a fellow trainee from the TWA, competing in several tag team matches.<ref name="OWOW" /><ref name="Gerweck">{{cite web|url=http://www.gerweck.net/americandragon.htm|title=Bryan Danielson|publisher= Gerweck|accessdate=July 18, 2009}}</ref> He returned to Japan after his release from the WWF, competing in Japan's premier promotion, [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] (NJPW), where he used his American Dragon [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|persona]], and donned a red, white, and blue mask reminiscent of a dragon.<ref name="Mask">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/pictures/a/americandragon/07.jpg|title=Dragon mask|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> As a part of the junior heavyweight division, Danielson had success in both singles and tag team competition in the company, winning (without wearing a mask) the [[IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship]] with [[Christopher Daniels|Curry Man]] on March 12, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=NJPW Hyper Battle tour results|url=http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/hyper01.php|publisher=Strong Style Spirit|accessdate=July 8, 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070929104623/http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/hyper01.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archivedate=September 29, 2007}}</ref>
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Danielson first toured Japan with [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]] (FMW) with [[Lance Cade]], a fellow trainee from the TWA, competing in several tag team matches.<ref name="OWOW" /><ref name="Gerweck">{{cite web|url=http://www.gerweck.net/americandragon.htm|title=Bryan Danielson|publisher= Gerweck|accessdate=July 18, 2009}}</ref> He returned to Japan after his release from the WWF, competing in Japan's premier promotion, [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] (NJPW), where he used his American Dragon persona, and donned a red, white, and blue mask reminiscent of a dragon.<ref name="Mask">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/pictures/a/americandragon/07.jpg|title=Dragon mask|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> As a part of the junior heavyweight division, Danielson had success in both singles and tag team competition in the company, winning (without wearing a mask) the [[IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship]] with [[Christopher Daniels|Curry Man]] on March 12, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=NJPW Hyper Battle tour results|url=http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/hyper01.php|publisher=Strong Style Spirit|accessdate=July 8, 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070929104623/http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/hyper01.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archivedate=September 29, 2007}}</ref>
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=== Ring of Honor ===
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==== Founding father (2002–2005) ====
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In 2002, Danielson joined the independent promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is acknowledged as a "Founding Father" of the company.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bryan Danielson: The American Dragon (2 Disc Set)|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/product/bryan-danielson-american-dragon-2-disc-set|publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]|accessdate=September 16, 2012|archivedate=September 16, 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Aid4r45S|quote=One of the founding fathers of Ring of Honor, Bryan Danielson fought to earn his reputation as one of the best wrestlers in the world from day one and helped put ROH on the wrestling map.}}</ref> He competed in the main event of the company's debut show, ''The Era of Honor Begins'', in a three-way match against Low Ki and Christopher Daniels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/50208/|title=The-Independent-Mid-Card-01.30.07:-Danielson-vs.-Rave.htm 411mania.com: Wrestling – The Independent Mid-Card 01.30.07: Danielson vs. Rave|publisher=411 Mania}}</ref> One of his matches, with Austin Aries, lasted eighty minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/040807.html|title=Testing the Limit|publisher=Online World of Wrestling| accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> One of the more notable rivalries he had in the early years in the company was with Homicide; the two fought numerous matches with a variety of stipulations, culminating in a steel cage match at ''The Final Showdown'', won by Danielson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/050513.html|title=Final Showdown|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=May 13, 2004}}</ref>
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Despite winning the company's inaugural Survival of the Fittest tournament in 2004, championship gold eluded him. In 2005, Danielson announced in the company's newsletter, the ROH Newswire, that he had quit ROH after being frustrated by his inability to defeat Austin Aries for the ROH World Championship. It was later revealed Danielson had become frustrated in general with professional wrestling and planned to take some time off to evaluate his career options.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlemag.com/news/index.php?p=376|title=Danielson evaluates options|work=[[Ring of Honor]]|publisher=Wrestle Mag}}</ref> Danielson had several dates booked in Europe and Japan, however, leading fans to believe that the periodical was likely a storyline claim for Danielson's absence during this period. In May 2005, rumors started that Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) was interested in signing Danielson, and he also had some more tryout matches with WWE at that time, but none of these events led to anything and he remained in ROH.<ref name="OWOW" />
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==== ROH World Champion (2005–2006) ====
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Danielson defeated James Gibson for the ROH World Championship at ''Glory by Honor IV'' on September 15, 2005.<ref name="slam" /><ref name="ROHworld">{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/rohworldtitle.php|title=Ring of Honor Title|accessdate=April 5, 2010|publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/24/15320|title=Glory By Honor IV|last=Keller|first=Wade|authorlink=Wade Keller|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The rest of the year saw Danielson have successful title defenses even against wrestlers from other companies, such as Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) star Naomichi Marufuji, at ''Final Battle 2005''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/051217.html|title=Final Battle 2005|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
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At the beginning of 2006, Chris Hero, a representative from Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), invaded ROH and targeted Danielson; the two exchanged words over the Internet before having a match together, with nearly the entire roster of both companies embarking on an interpromotional feud.<ref>Meltzer, Bill. "The ROH-CZW Philly Turf War." ''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'' May 2006: 40–43.</ref> Danielson became personally invested in this feud, and invaded CZW himself,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/czw/060114.html|title=Combat Zone Wrestling|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=January 14, 2006| accessdate=July 8, 2009}}</ref> which led to him having physical altercations with a number of CZW wrestlers. Hero intensified the rivalry, leading to the two wrestling at ROH's ''Hell Freezes Over'' event, where Danielson successfully defended the ROH World Championship.<ref name="Hell">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/060114.html|title=ROH Hell Freezes Over|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=January 14, 2009|accessdate=July 8, 2009}}</ref> He soon filled the vacant slot on ROH's five-man team which participated in one of CZW's more popular attractions, a steel cage match called the Cage of Death, a ten-man tag team match in which a man from each team starts in the cage, and a random wrestler enters periodically thereafter. During the match he turned on his team by assaulting his rival, Samoa Joe, before leaving the match and effectively abandoning his involvement in the animosity between the two promotions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/060715.html|title=Cage of Death|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> As the interpromotional hostility with CZW heightened, Danielson also defended against challengers from the rival company, who had signed an open contract for any CZW wrestler willing to challenge for the ROH World Championship. Former champion Samoa Joe also challenged Danielson at "Fight Of The Century" on August 5th, but their match ended in a 60 minute draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/060805.html|title=Fight of the Century Results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=August 5, 2006|accessdate=June 8, 2009}}</ref>
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ROH, while having the ROH World Championship, faced the issue of having another title with seemingly equal value, the ROH Pure Championship. Danielson and the ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness had a match to unify the titles. They met at April 29 in a match fought under pure wrestling rules and McGuinness left Danielson outside the ring after a chair shot to win by countout; this was enough to retain the Pure title, but not to win Danielson's World Championship. They had another unification match in McGuinness' native England, where ROH declared there would be a winner, with a title changing hands by countout and disqualification and a draw forcing a restart.<ref name="nigelfeud">{{cite web|last=DeRosenroll|first=Mike|title=ROH History: Classic Feud – History of Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_35663.shtml|publisher=PWTorch|accessdate=November 15, 2010|date=September 26, 2009}}</ref> Danielson won the match on August 12 and retired the Pure title as its last champion.<ref name="ROHpure" /><ref name="Unified">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/060812.html|title=Unified|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=August 12, 2006|accessdate=July 8, 2009}}</ref> During a match with Colt Cabana on August 26, Danielson separated his shoulder,<ref name="slam" /> tearing two tendons in it, and he tore another tendon in his chest.<ref name="OWOW" /> Danielson returned at ''Glory by Honor V: Night 2'', and was challenged by KENTA, a guest competitor from NOAH, due to the two company's talent exchange agreement; Danielson again retained his championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/content/2006-ring-honor-results|title=2006 Ring of Honor Official results|date=September 16, 2007|quote=Bryan Danielson defeated Kenta to retain the ROH World Title|publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]}}</ref> At the last ROH's event of 2006, ''Final Battle'', Danielson's fifteen-month title reign finally ended after he lost to Homicide at his 39th defense, and he subsequently took time off from wrestling in order to heal his shoulder.<ref name="slam" /><ref name="ROHworld" />
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==== Final feuds and departure (2007–2009) ====
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On May 11, 2007, Danielson returned to ROH at ''Reborn Again'', and defeated Shane Hagadorn and Adam Pearce in separate matches. On May 12, ROH filmed its first pay-per-view, Respect is Earned, which had Danielson team with ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima against Nigel McGuinness and Kenta. Danielson's team won after Danielson made Kenta tap out to his signature submission hold, the Cattle Mutilation. Danielson vied to contend for the ROH World Championship by defeating McGuinness at ''Domination'', which appeared on the company's next pay per view, Driven.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/070609.html|title=ROH Domination|date=June 9, 2007|accessdate=July 3, 2009}}</ref> This allowed him, now as a face, to challenge Morishima for the title at ''Manhattan Mayhem'' in a losing effort;<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/070825.html|title=ROH Manhattan Mayhem|date=August 25, 2007|accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> he also suffered a legitimate detached retina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com|title=Danielson injured|last=Sapolsky|first=Gabe|accessdate=June 9, 2009|publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]}}</ref> Following surgery, he fought Morishima again in a match at Man Up, but the referee stop the match since Danielson was unable to respond to him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_23805.shtml|title=ROH PPV Report: Coverage of "Man Up" PPV|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=February 27, 2010|date=December 2, 2007}}</ref> In a rematch at Rising Above, Morishima was disqualified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/071229.html|title=Rising Above|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=December 29, 2007|accessdate=July 9, 2009}}</ref> Morishima returned to the company at ''Final Battle'' in a match billed as a "Fight Without Honor"; both men were allowed weapons, and which Danielson won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/_081227/|title=Final Battle 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=December 27, 2008|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}</ref> Danielson commented in March 2012 on how he felt validated at ''Final Battle 2008'', because he and Morishima managed to get 2,500 people to see the show in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|title=WWE News: D-Bryan radio interview – career validation came at ROH event, not at WM28; why WWE didn't like him at first; using WM27 disappointment with Sheamus as motivation|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_59753.shtml|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=April 29, 2012}}</ref>
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The following months, Danielson worked with Austin Aries again as friendly rivals exchanging victories,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/071102.html|title=ROH Glory by Honor VI: Night 1|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> including a match on pay-per-view at Take No Prisoners, which Danielson won. He helped Aries as a partner in order to take on The Age of the Fall; the two wrestled all members of the group in a series of different stipulation matches, and teaming together frequently to challenge members Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/_080606/|title=ROH Up for Grabs|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=September 6, 2009}}</ref>
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As part of ROH's agreement with Pro Wrestling Noah, the company held a show in Japan; at ''Tokyo Summit'', Danielson wrestled GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Yoshinobu Kanemaru and won the championship. Following his victory, he announced that Noah would allow him defend the title in Ring of Honor,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/_080914/|title=Tokyo Summit|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|date=September 14, 2008|accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> with his first defense being at ''Glory By Honor VII'', defeating Katsuhiko Nakajima.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noah.puroresufan.com/?p=14|title=Glory by Honor VII|publisher=Puroresu Fan}}</ref> This was his only successful defense, however, as he returned to Japan on October 13 to lose the title to KENTA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noah.puroresufan.com/?p=84|title=NOAH Autumn Navigation 2008, Hiroshima Green Arena|date=October 13, 2008|publisher=Puroresu Fan}}</ref> Following his loss, Danielson challenged McGuinness for the World Championship at the next ROH pay-per-view, Rising Above, in a losing effort.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=34229|title=ROH Rising Above 2008|accessdate=March 4, 2015|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref> Ring of Honor made its national television debut with the program ''Ring of Honor Wrestling'', and Danielson made his television debut in the main event of its third episode by defeating Austin Aries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/_090228/|title=ROH on HDNet Tapings|accessdate=February 28, 2009}}</ref>
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In the fall of 2009, Danielson signed with WWE, after a farewell tour with ROH, during which he challenged Aries for the title again and lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1253460874.php|title=9/19 ROH Results: Chicago Ridge, IL|publisher=WrestleView|date=September 20, 2009|accessdate=June 8, 2010}}</ref> On September 26 at ''Glory by Honor VIII: The Final Countdown'', he won his last match in the company against McGuinness, who was also having his final match with the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1254065751.php|title=9/26 ROH Results: New York, NY|date=September 27, 2009|accessdate=January 26, 2010|last=Martin|first=Adam|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref>
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=== Other promotions (2003–2009) ===
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Aside from competing primarily in ROH, Danielson has also competed in a multitude of other independent promotions, both in the United States and abroad. In 2003, Danielson also toured the United Kingdom for British promotion, All Star Wrestling (ASW). While he was in the UK, Danielson won the World Heavvy Middleweight Championship on May 6 in an eight-man one-night tournament in Croydon defeating James Mason. He spent the next six months in the UK, working for ASW, FWA, WAW and Premier Promotions.<ref name="slam" /> He returned several times over the next five years, working for various promotions. In February 2005, at ''New Dawn Rising'', Danielson made his debut in ROH's sister promotion, Full Impact Pro (FIP), teaming up with Rocky Romero in a match against Austin Aries and Homicide.<ref>[http://www.fullimpactpro.com/results/results2005.htm#dawn Full Impact Pro]. Full Impact Pro (January 7, 2005). Retrieved on April 16, 2011.</ref> The next night at ''Dangerous Intentions'', Danielson competed in a losing effort against CM Punk,<ref>[http://www.fullimpactpro.com/results/results2005.htm#intentions Full Impact Pro]. Full Impact Pro (January 7, 2005). Retrieved on April 16, 2011.</ref> which led to a brief feud between the two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/fip/|title=FIP Results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=June 9, 2009}}</ref> Danielson's biggest success came in 2006 by winning the FIP World Heavyweight Championship,<ref name="FIP">{{cite web|url=http://solie.org/titlehistories/htfip.html|title=FIP World Heavyweight Championship Title History|publisher=Solie Title Histories|accessdate=April 8, 2009}}</ref> holding the belt for eleven months before losing it to Roderick Strong.<ref name="slam" /> Danielson wrestled his last match for FIP in December 2006 at ''Florida Rumble'', in a losing effort to Erick Stevens.<ref>[http://www.fullimpactpro.com/results/results2006.htm Full Impact Pro]. Full Impact Pro. Retrieved on April 16, 2011.</ref>
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Danielson wrestled in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) promotion. He made his début in November 2003 at ''An Inch Longer Than Average'', in a losing effort to PWG Champion Frankie Kazarian.<ref>[http://www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/results/2003/show0005.html An Inch Longer Than Average], prowrestlingguerrilla.com</ref> He continued to appear in PWG over the next couple of years, winning the PWG World Championship in 2007, and holding it for six months before taking an eleven-month hiatus from the company. He made his return to PWG at the 2008 Battle of Los Angeles tournament. In May 2009, he made another appearance teaming with Paul London, referring to himself as ''American Dolphin'' in a parodied manner.<ref name="AmDolph">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSh2s_lmthI|title=PWG One-Hundred: Paul London & Bryan Danielson|date=April 22, 2009|accessdate=April 26, 2009|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]] on [[YouTube]]}}</ref> On September 4, 2009, at ''Guerre Sans Frontières'', during his last night in PWG, Danielson defeated Chris Hero to win the PWG World Championship for the second time and immediately vacated it afterward.<ref name="Danielson2">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/results/world_champion/champion014.html|title=Bryan Danielson's second reign|accessdate=September 5, 2009|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]]}}</ref>
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Following his return from his injury in 2007, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) published a video of Danielson stating his intent to challenge for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, as the establishment that sanctioned the title at the time, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, was relinquishing the title back to the NWA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship: American Dragon makes a challenge|url= http://www.nwawrestling.com/PHP-Nuke/modules.php?name=News&file=categories&op=newindex&catid=6}}</ref> A tournament, titled Reclaiming the Glory, was held to determine the new champion with Danielson making his way to finals, scheduled to compete face Brent Albright on September 1, but due to the eye injury he sustained at ''Manhattan Mayhem'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=1556|title=ROH Newswire for the Week of August 26th|date=August 27, 2007|quote=Danielson paid the price for the hard-hitting contest. He suffered a small orbital fracture and there is something wrong with his retina.}}</ref> the NWA announced he withdrew from the tournament with and Adam Pearce replacing him; Danielson was appointed the referee of the match.<ref name="OWOW" />
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In 2009, Danielson's contract with Ring of Honor expired;<ref name="WV">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1239315389.php?style=dark|title=Bryan Danielson's status with ROH|date=April 9, 2009|last=Martin|first=Adam|accessdate=June 9, 2009|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> this opened up Danielson to travel to other companies more freely while competing in his home promotion.
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Danielson signed a short-term contract with German wrestling promotion westside Xtreme wrestling (wXw). Shortly after his début Danielson won the wXw World Heavyweight Championship against Bad Bones holding it over a month until losing it to Absolute Andy.
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After his departure from wXw, he made his debut with Philadelphia-based independent promotion, CHIKARA to compete in their King of Trios tournament, which saw him team with Claudio Castagnoli and Dave Taylor in a contingency called ''Team Uppercut''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chikarafans.com/?page_id=2994|title=Team Uppercut|accessdate=June 20, 2009}}</ref> In the same year, it was announced Danielson would compete in [[Dragon Gate USA]] (DGUSA) in their second show, which saw him lose to [[Open The Dream Gate Championship|Open the Dream Gate Champion ]][[Naruki Doi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Dragon Gate USA announces Bryan Danielson and Davey Richards to début with DGUSA|url=http://www.pwbts.com/messages/28732.htm}}</ref>

Revision as of 16:35, 30 August 2016


Bryan Lloyd Danielson (born May 22, 1981)[1] is an American retired professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under the ring name Daniel Bryan,[1] where he is the on-screen general manager of SmackDown Live.

In WWE, Bryan held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship three times and the World Heavyweight Championship once, in addition to being a one-time United States Champion, a one-time Intercontinental Champion, and a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion as part of Team Hell No (with Kane). He was also the 2011 SmackDown Money in the Bank winner and the 2013 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner. He is the 26th Triple Crown Champion and the 15th Grand Slam Champion in WWE history and headlined several major pay-per-view events, including SummerSlam in 2013 and WrestleMania XXX.

Danielson was previously signed to the WWE, then known as the WWF, for an 18-month period from 2000–2001. Prior to joining WWE for his second stint in 2009, Danielson wrestled for various companies internationally using both his real name and the ring name (and later nickname) "American Dragon".[1][2] He wrestled for Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2002 to 2009, being recognized as a "Founding Father" of the promotion, where he was a one-time ROH World Champion, as well the final Pure Wrestling Champion (unifying the Pure title with the World title). He was the first winner of ROH's annual Survival of the Fittest tournament in 2004. Along with CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens, Danielson is one of four men to have won a world championship in both WWE and ROH.

Danielson also wrestled extensively in Japan, winning the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship in Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (with Curry Man) in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Between WWE, ROH, and Japanese promotions, he held 11 total championships, including five world titles. Danielson also won numerous titles on the independent circuit, including two PWG World Championships, the FIP Heavyweight Championship, and the wXw World Heavyweight Championship.

In 2016, at age 34, Danielson retired from professional wrestling due to medical issues (including seizures) arising from multiple concussions and a brain lesion. Later that year in July, Danielson was named the General Manager of SmackDown Live following the return of the WWE brand extension.

Early life

Danielson was born and raised in Aberdeen, Washington, to a father who was a logger and a therapist mother, who divorced when Danielson was young. Danielson has an older sister, named Billie Sue. He competed in various sports at Aberdeen-Weatherwax High School including football.[3]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1999–2000)

After Danielson graduated from high school in 1999, he decided to pursue wrestling professionally and attempted to train at Dean Malenko's wrestling school. When it closed he trained under Shawn Michaels and Rudy Gonzalez at the Texas Wrestling Academy (TWA).[4][5] He debuted in the TWA, and on March 21, 2000, won his first title when he teamed with Spanky to win the TWA Tag Team Championship, defeating Jeromy Sage and Ruben Cruz.[1]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

Memphis Championship Wrestling (2000–2001)

While touring the country he was signed to a developmental deal by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to work in their developmental system, and was assigned to Memphis Championship Wrestling (MCW). There, Danielson gained exposure, and was trained by WWF competitor William Regal, whom he credited as instrumental in the development of his career.[4] During this time Danielson adopted his moniker "American Dragon".[6] WWF severed its ties with MCW in 2001, releasing Danielson from his contract, but not before he won the MCW Light Heavyweight Championship and the MCW Tag Team Championship with Spanky.[1]

After 18 months with the company, Danielson was released from his WWF contract in July 2001. Danielson revealed in his 2015 autobiography that he was close to being called up to the main roster during the 2001 Royal Rumble match. He explained the WWF thought of using him as one of their key figures in the newly created cruiserweight division which was inspired by World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Enhancement talent (2003)

Danielson went on to make four non contracted appearances for the renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2003 on its secondary programming, Velocity and Heat, initially as enhancement talent before being allowed to compete in longer matches; he wrestled Jamie Noble at a Velocity taping in January, Rico at a Heat taping in February, John Cena at a Velocity taping also in February and making his final appearance in November in a tag team match against Paul London and Spanky at a Velocity taping in which Danielson was partnered with John Walters.[7][8]

Japan (2001–2004)

Danielson first toured Japan with Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) with Lance Cade, a fellow trainee from the TWA, competing in several tag team matches.[9][10] He returned to Japan after his release from the WWF, competing in Japan's premier promotion, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he used his American Dragon persona, and donned a red, white, and blue mask reminiscent of a dragon.[11] As a part of the junior heavyweight division, Danielson had success in both singles and tag team competition in the company, winning (without wearing a mask) the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship with Curry Man on March 12, 2004.[12]


Ring of Honor

Founding father (2002–2005)

In 2002, Danielson joined the independent promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is acknowledged as a "Founding Father" of the company.[13] He competed in the main event of the company's debut show, The Era of Honor Begins, in a three-way match against Low Ki and Christopher Daniels.[14] One of his matches, with Austin Aries, lasted eighty minutes.[15] One of the more notable rivalries he had in the early years in the company was with Homicide; the two fought numerous matches with a variety of stipulations, culminating in a steel cage match at The Final Showdown, won by Danielson.[16]

Despite winning the company's inaugural Survival of the Fittest tournament in 2004, championship gold eluded him. In 2005, Danielson announced in the company's newsletter, the ROH Newswire, that he had quit ROH after being frustrated by his inability to defeat Austin Aries for the ROH World Championship. It was later revealed Danielson had become frustrated in general with professional wrestling and planned to take some time off to evaluate his career options.[17] Danielson had several dates booked in Europe and Japan, however, leading fans to believe that the periodical was likely a storyline claim for Danielson's absence during this period. In May 2005, rumors started that Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) was interested in signing Danielson, and he also had some more tryout matches with WWE at that time, but none of these events led to anything and he remained in ROH.[9]

ROH World Champion (2005–2006)

Danielson defeated James Gibson for the ROH World Championship at Glory by Honor IV on September 15, 2005.[1][18][19] The rest of the year saw Danielson have successful title defenses even against wrestlers from other companies, such as Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) star Naomichi Marufuji, at Final Battle 2005.[20]

At the beginning of 2006, Chris Hero, a representative from Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), invaded ROH and targeted Danielson; the two exchanged words over the Internet before having a match together, with nearly the entire roster of both companies embarking on an interpromotional feud.[21] Danielson became personally invested in this feud, and invaded CZW himself,[22] which led to him having physical altercations with a number of CZW wrestlers. Hero intensified the rivalry, leading to the two wrestling at ROH's Hell Freezes Over event, where Danielson successfully defended the ROH World Championship.[23] He soon filled the vacant slot on ROH's five-man team which participated in one of CZW's more popular attractions, a steel cage match called the Cage of Death, a ten-man tag team match in which a man from each team starts in the cage, and a random wrestler enters periodically thereafter. During the match he turned on his team by assaulting his rival, Samoa Joe, before leaving the match and effectively abandoning his involvement in the animosity between the two promotions.[24] As the interpromotional hostility with CZW heightened, Danielson also defended against challengers from the rival company, who had signed an open contract for any CZW wrestler willing to challenge for the ROH World Championship. Former champion Samoa Joe also challenged Danielson at "Fight Of The Century" on August 5th, but their match ended in a 60 minute draw.[25]

ROH, while having the ROH World Championship, faced the issue of having another title with seemingly equal value, the ROH Pure Championship. Danielson and the ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness had a match to unify the titles. They met at April 29 in a match fought under pure wrestling rules and McGuinness left Danielson outside the ring after a chair shot to win by countout; this was enough to retain the Pure title, but not to win Danielson's World Championship. They had another unification match in McGuinness' native England, where ROH declared there would be a winner, with a title changing hands by countout and disqualification and a draw forcing a restart.[26] Danielson won the match on August 12 and retired the Pure title as its last champion.[27][28] During a match with Colt Cabana on August 26, Danielson separated his shoulder,[1] tearing two tendons in it, and he tore another tendon in his chest.[9] Danielson returned at Glory by Honor V: Night 2, and was challenged by KENTA, a guest competitor from NOAH, due to the two company's talent exchange agreement; Danielson again retained his championship.[29] At the last ROH's event of 2006, Final Battle, Danielson's fifteen-month title reign finally ended after he lost to Homicide at his 39th defense, and he subsequently took time off from wrestling in order to heal his shoulder.[1][18]

Final feuds and departure (2007–2009)

On May 11, 2007, Danielson returned to ROH at Reborn Again, and defeated Shane Hagadorn and Adam Pearce in separate matches. On May 12, ROH filmed its first pay-per-view, Respect is Earned, which had Danielson team with ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima against Nigel McGuinness and Kenta. Danielson's team won after Danielson made Kenta tap out to his signature submission hold, the Cattle Mutilation. Danielson vied to contend for the ROH World Championship by defeating McGuinness at Domination, which appeared on the company's next pay per view, Driven.[30] This allowed him, now as a face, to challenge Morishima for the title at Manhattan Mayhem in a losing effort;[31] he also suffered a legitimate detached retina.[32] Following surgery, he fought Morishima again in a match at Man Up, but the referee stop the match since Danielson was unable to respond to him.[33] In a rematch at Rising Above, Morishima was disqualified.[34] Morishima returned to the company at Final Battle in a match billed as a "Fight Without Honor"; both men were allowed weapons, and which Danielson won.[35] Danielson commented in March 2012 on how he felt validated at Final Battle 2008, because he and Morishima managed to get 2,500 people to see the show in New York City.[36]

The following months, Danielson worked with Austin Aries again as friendly rivals exchanging victories,[37] including a match on pay-per-view at Take No Prisoners, which Danielson won. He helped Aries as a partner in order to take on The Age of the Fall; the two wrestled all members of the group in a series of different stipulation matches, and teaming together frequently to challenge members Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.[38]

As part of ROH's agreement with Pro Wrestling Noah, the company held a show in Japan; at Tokyo Summit, Danielson wrestled GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Yoshinobu Kanemaru and won the championship. Following his victory, he announced that Noah would allow him defend the title in Ring of Honor,[39] with his first defense being at Glory By Honor VII, defeating Katsuhiko Nakajima.[40] This was his only successful defense, however, as he returned to Japan on October 13 to lose the title to KENTA.[41] Following his loss, Danielson challenged McGuinness for the World Championship at the next ROH pay-per-view, Rising Above, in a losing effort.[42] Ring of Honor made its national television debut with the program Ring of Honor Wrestling, and Danielson made his television debut in the main event of its third episode by defeating Austin Aries.[43]

In the fall of 2009, Danielson signed with WWE, after a farewell tour with ROH, during which he challenged Aries for the title again and lost.[44] On September 26 at Glory by Honor VIII: The Final Countdown, he won his last match in the company against McGuinness, who was also having his final match with the company.[45]

Other promotions (2003–2009)

Aside from competing primarily in ROH, Danielson has also competed in a multitude of other independent promotions, both in the United States and abroad. In 2003, Danielson also toured the United Kingdom for British promotion, All Star Wrestling (ASW). While he was in the UK, Danielson won the World Heavvy Middleweight Championship on May 6 in an eight-man one-night tournament in Croydon defeating James Mason. He spent the next six months in the UK, working for ASW, FWA, WAW and Premier Promotions.[1] He returned several times over the next five years, working for various promotions. In February 2005, at New Dawn Rising, Danielson made his debut in ROH's sister promotion, Full Impact Pro (FIP), teaming up with Rocky Romero in a match against Austin Aries and Homicide.[46] The next night at Dangerous Intentions, Danielson competed in a losing effort against CM Punk,[47] which led to a brief feud between the two.[48] Danielson's biggest success came in 2006 by winning the FIP World Heavyweight Championship,[49] holding the belt for eleven months before losing it to Roderick Strong.[1] Danielson wrestled his last match for FIP in December 2006 at Florida Rumble, in a losing effort to Erick Stevens.[50]

Danielson wrestled in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) promotion. He made his début in November 2003 at An Inch Longer Than Average, in a losing effort to PWG Champion Frankie Kazarian.[51] He continued to appear in PWG over the next couple of years, winning the PWG World Championship in 2007, and holding it for six months before taking an eleven-month hiatus from the company. He made his return to PWG at the 2008 Battle of Los Angeles tournament. In May 2009, he made another appearance teaming with Paul London, referring to himself as American Dolphin in a parodied manner.[52] On September 4, 2009, at Guerre Sans Frontières, during his last night in PWG, Danielson defeated Chris Hero to win the PWG World Championship for the second time and immediately vacated it afterward.[53]

Following his return from his injury in 2007, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) published a video of Danielson stating his intent to challenge for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, as the establishment that sanctioned the title at the time, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, was relinquishing the title back to the NWA.[54] A tournament, titled Reclaiming the Glory, was held to determine the new champion with Danielson making his way to finals, scheduled to compete face Brent Albright on September 1, but due to the eye injury he sustained at Manhattan Mayhem,[55] the NWA announced he withdrew from the tournament with and Adam Pearce replacing him; Danielson was appointed the referee of the match.[9]

In 2009, Danielson's contract with Ring of Honor expired;[56] this opened up Danielson to travel to other companies more freely while competing in his home promotion.

Danielson signed a short-term contract with German wrestling promotion westside Xtreme wrestling (wXw). Shortly after his début Danielson won the wXw World Heavyweight Championship against Bad Bones holding it over a month until losing it to Absolute Andy.

After his departure from wXw, he made his debut with Philadelphia-based independent promotion, CHIKARA to compete in their King of Trios tournament, which saw him team with Claudio Castagnoli and Dave Taylor in a contingency called Team Uppercut.[57] In the same year, it was announced Danielson would compete in Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA) in their second show, which saw him lose to Open the Dream Gate Champion Naruki Doi.[58]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Bryan Danielson . Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved on 2010-02-20.
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