On Monday afternoon, Daniel Bryan announced his retirement. That’s not a thing we’re going to get used to typing. He’s supposed to address the retirement on Raw, and WWE’s already sharing pictures of him arriving to the arena.
Many fans are holding out hope that this is all a big misdirect, and that Bryan will pull what is affectionately known as a “Mark Henry” — teasing a retirement only to reveal that it was all a gag, and that he’s coming back stronger than ever. Maybe he’ll tease a retirement and be interrupted by someone, and that’ll send him forward in WWE stories and keep him on TV heading into WrestleMania.
Or, you know. He could be retiring.
Whether it’s a legitimate retirement from the sport or something different, the pro wrestling world has already shown an outpouring of support for the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
There are too many to list here — there are few performers in wrestling as universally respected for their abilities as Bryan, or many as well liked for who they are outside of the ring — but here are a few. We’ll be happy to retract this entire post if it all turns out to be an angle, and God, we’ll have never been so happy to be worked.
#ThankYouAmericanDragon #ThankYouDanielBryan Thank you for your contributions to @ringofhonor @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/Qsa3gPRx5G
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/mikethemiz/status/696774740636098560
I wanted to see you @WWEDanielBryan in the ring one more time… #ThankYouDanielBryan #YesYesYes
— KENTA aka LilβK (@KENTAG2S) February 8, 2016
#ThankYouDaniel π One of the guys who made me want to better myself even more! π https://t.co/xCUQZKuhfv
— RYBACK (@Ryback) February 8, 2016
Without @WWEDanielBryan, many of the performers you love in @WWENXT & @WWE would never have been hired. He broke down barriers for us all.
— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/MooseNation69/status/696773678722375680
https://twitter.com/PrinceCGR/status/696765127702413312
https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/696806464141152256
#ThankYouDanielBryan @WWEDanielBryan https://t.co/VW51b8oFR8
— ecIII (@therealec3) February 8, 2016
Sad news for @WWE…But, was his career so special that it will live on forever? #YesYesYes #ThankYouDanielBryan https://t.co/h6yEFd36Vn
— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/HEELZiggler/status/696768100922839040
Old school Nxt seems like ages ago! #thankyoudanielbryan. It's been my honor to add a voice to all your accomplishments @WWEDanielBryan
— Michael Cole (@MichaelCole) February 8, 2016
U have to work w/ the best to learn…sorry to hear the news but a pleasure sharing the ring. #ThankYouDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/KVpJj9txf9
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) February 8, 2016
Love you @wwedanielbryan! You are one of the smartest, funniest, strongest, most courageous and⦠https://t.co/whwDWDLOFS
— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/mauroranallo/status/696813116143722496
I owe @BookItGabe a debt of gratitude for convincing me to come back in 2006 to wrestle @WWEDanielBryan a career highlight for me #Respect
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/RichBrennanWWE/status/696802510875418624
The trade off in pro wrestling is our bodies. As much as Iβd like to see Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle wrestle forever, thatβs just selfish.
— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) February 8, 2016
Thank-you @WWEDanielBryan. pic.twitter.com/o5XhqZ0Avs
— Nattie (@NatbyNature) February 8, 2016
Wrestling was given a lot by @WWEDanielBryan & we'll be losing a lot in his absence. It was a blast to tour w/you bud! Be well. #DanielBryan
— πΏππ πππππππππ (@JoshLBarnett) February 8, 2016
.@WWEDanielBryan arrives and signs autographs for the @WWEUniverse! #ThankYouDanielBryan https://t.co/r9TRls6Gax pic.twitter.com/df0WBGuDJ1
— WWE (@WWE) February 8, 2016
