#25. Daniel Bryan
Achievements/Accolades:
- 4-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WWE United States Champion
- 1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion
- 1-time ROH World Heavyweight Champion
- Money In The Bank Winner (2011)
Opinions:
“I’ve gone on record since the mid 2000s that Daniel Bryan is one of the greatest wrestlers I’ve ever seen. I was lucky enough to have seen his run in Ring of Honor while it transpired & was in attendance for some of his classic matches during his run there. As far as an in-ring competitor, “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson could be the greatest ever. He could wrestle a broom in a “5-star match.” It’s a true wrestling tragedy that his run in WWE was cut extremely short. However, the mark he left on the company will be felt forever. His run to WrestleMania 30 and everything that transpired during it is one of the greatest & most organic stories ever told. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that if his career continued, he would have went on to main event & have meaningful matches for years to come. Easy Top 25…depending on your criteria, Top 10.” — Jay Alletto
“Daniel Bryan captured the hearts of fans like no other, and his “Yes” chants will live on forever as a result. An indie sensation, few would have believed he would go on to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania XXX, which is exactly why he gained the following he did. He was a true grappler, submission specialist and a one of the most technically sound wrestling storytellers ever. He connected with the fans, and his career was unfortunately cut short. However, it is great to see Daniel Bryan at number #25.” — Matt Burgess
“Game-changer. That’s the word I like to use when talking about Daniel Bryan. Someone who not only opened the door for guys that don’t have the “traditional” backing from the powers that be in the back, but kicked it down. When looking at all aspects of this list, you can argue that Daniel Bryan should be higher on this list. Above, I think pretty soon we can add WWE Hall of Famer to that list. Bank on it.” — Eron Ramadanov
