In his latest piece for PWP Nation, Eron Ramadanov writes an open letter to WWE SmackDown LIVE general manager Daniel Bryan pleading him to remain retired after WWE.
Dear Bryan Danielson,
As a wrestling fan for over 15 years, I understand and appreciate your love and passion for the art and science that is professional wrestling. There isn’t anything on the planet earth like it. Watching professional wrestling has been an outlet for me to forget reality and emerge myself into a fantasy world with superheroes and supervillians, antiheroes and corrupt bosses, and larger-than-life personalities that cannot be found anywhere else.
Not only do the sights and sounds of wrestling amaze me, but the in-ring precision and effort is what makes professional wrestling special for all of us, including you, Bryan. Watching from a far, I understand how hard it must be to be unable to do what you love. Personally, I couldn’t imagine that feeling of total and complete hopelessness. Yes, I’ve had bad days (or weeks or months or years), but I cannot imagine the pain, anger and sadness that comes with losing that one thing you love doing the most.
Mr. Danielson, I am not writing this letter to you to put my name out there or to try to tell you what to do with your life. Only you and your family can decide that. I’m here to give you my opinion; you can take it or leave it. Now, many will say to me that I have no place doing that or I should keep my opinion to myself. That’s fine. I can accept that.
BUT…
You have to accept something too. Your in-ring wrestling career is over. Done. Finished. I don’t mean to be harsh or cruel towards your situation, but it’s become very clear that you will not listen to reason or to the doctors who say that you shouldn’t wrestle again. Your continued hinting of an in-ring return isn’t of sound judgement and I think you know that.
Before I go on, some might be wondering why I’m writing this letter to Bryan Danielson. In all honesty, I’ve felt this way toward his injury since it was first reported. But what re-sparked my passion for this topic is an appearance on WWE Network’s, “Talking Smack” show weeks ago, where Daniel Bryan and The Miz exchanged heated words yet again. And once again, Bryan Danielson (the person, not the character) alluded to the idea that once his WWE contract is up, he will (at the very least) reconsider his decision of retirement and make an in-ring return in some capacity.
Also, the timing of this is very interesting and could be an omen to Danielson.
In that same week, New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Tomoaki Honma suffered a horrible injury which left him paralyzed for several days. It appears, as of this writing, Honma will regain feeling in his limbs, but with neck and head injuries, you never truly know. This all happened from a routine hanging DDT from the second rope, a move done a million times by countless polished and world-class professional wrestlers. Honma’s condition has improved (CLICK HERE for the full story), but this leads me to my next point.
Bryan, I understand you want to go out into a wrestling ring and put on a show for us and for yourself, but we don’t want to see it… well, at least, I don’t. At some point, enough has to be enough; for Honma… it might be. Now, I know this is professional wrestling and shit happens all the time. It’s inevitable. But in your case Bryan, it’s not inevitable. You don’t have to get back into the ring again. You have reached a point in your career where you have outgrown the role of professional wrestler. You can do whatever it is you want in professional wrestling. Go to NXT and coach up some of the young talent that needs help. Continue as the general manager of SmackDown LIVE, as you’re one of the more refreshing authority figures of the past decade or so.
But wrestling isn’t an option for you and doesn’t have to be. Listen, I’m no doctor, but do I really have to remind you of your own symptoms? Uncontrollable seizures, loss of feeling in your arms and legs and… oh, right…. possible temporary and permanent paralysis.
Finally, I want to end on this. In life, I have learned that to set yourself up for success or to be happy, you have to set priorities. I’ve failed, like many, in that department and it’s not easy. But Bryan, you have a beautiful wife, a new baby on the way and a loyal and passionate fanbase. You have new priorities in life. And I know people aren’t going to want to hear this, but it’s the truth: there is more to life than fake professional wrestling.
There is more to life than a four sided ring and spandex. As much as I know you want to wrestle again, and as much as I WANT to see you wrestle again, I’m asking on behalf of many fans around the world and myself, please don’t. We’ve had too many tragedies in this business to see another. All it takes is one DDT or one 619.
Stay retired and enjoy your life.
Sincerely, a concerned wrestling fan.
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