Post by michael burhan scott on Aug 4, 2008 15:05:23 GMT -5
An interview conducted by Power Slam Magazine’s August additioin. This month – Bryan Danielson.
Danielson talks us through his gruelling schedule, ROH, injuries and of course, his WWE tryout match.
You may have clocked up more air miles in recent weeks than any other wrestler. Talk us through your gruelling grappling schedule over the last month.
I did a WWE tryout in the States on a Monday (June 9). From there, I flew on the Wednesday to Mexico for a week, and wrestled in front of 19,000 people on the Friday (in a triple threat elimination match at AAA’s TripleMania spectacular). I flew back to the States and did a show in Chicago. Then, I flew to England and did the NOAH show (on June 21 in Coventry) and a show in Germany. Then, I flew back to the States and did ROH in Dayton before coming back to England to work for All-Star Wrestling last Monday (June 30). I’m in England for 2 weeks.
Going back to your WWE tryout. On June 9th, you defeated Lance Cade in a dark match prior to RAW in Oakland, California. How did that come about?
WWE called me on the Friday and asked me to a meeting on the Monday. I had the meeting with Vince McMahon and Johnny Ace, and they said they wanted to see me wrestle…I told them I was under contract to ROH and all of that kind of stuff. I think they know that I was trained by Shawn Michaels and William Regal, and I think Shawn’s spoken about me, which is how the whole thing came about.
When does your ROH contract expire?
May 2009.
Do you believe WWE will offer you a spot on its roster once you’ve completed your contractual obligations to ROH?
I don’t know. I’m actually very content with what I’m doing right now. I’m just waiting to see if they offer me anything and, if they do, I’ll see if it’s something I’m interested in.
You seem impassive at the prospect of working for WWE. Surely, a job there would provide you with some more money and greater security than you currently have on the independent circuit.
In my life, money isn’t actually that important. Obviously, it’s appealing…But I am happy with my life right now. I’m a single guy. I hardly have any bills. I don’t crave anything. So, I don’t need a whole lot of money
Those who have seen your hard-hitting ROH and Pro Wrestling NOAH matches might think your ring style might be incongruous in WWE. However, on your frequent trips to the UK, I’ve seen you adjust and work a completely different style that I reckon would be ideal for WWE. Do you agree with that assessment?
Yeah, definitely. I think wrestlers get branded as only being able to work a certain style – but I think most wrestlers can adjust to different styles, especially if they’ve travelled a lot. I’ve never been concerned about it because, whether I go to Japan, Mexico or England, I always make my style fit.
I must ask you about this. You suffered a serious shoulder injury in August 2006, but continued to wrestle until December 23 of that year when you dropped the ROH title to Homicide in New York City. As champion, did you feel pressure from your peers or management to continue wrestling when you were injured?
Or was it a decision made entirely of your own volition?
You know, you just get on with it…I wanted to get to the point where I had a meaningful title loss to Homicide.
In a Power Slam interview earlier this year, Nigel McGuinness was understandably critical of ROH spectators who had jeered and insulted him when he withdrew from shows because he was in no physical condition to perform. You must be aware of this reaction. Was it a consideration in your case?
Erm…no. That was a bigger problem for Nigel than it was for me. I didn’t feel the pressure to continue wrestling. I think people would have been okay if I had vacated the title. But I just thought I could get through it.
Probably one of the most amazing athletes in ring of honor, lets see if he can be the next CM PUNK and break through the Indy scene to attain the world titles of major companies like the wwe