5 Lesser known best matches involving Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan would be looking forward to spending some quality time with his wife now that he has retiredDaniel Bryan, on monday, announced that he was going to retire from Professional wrestling effective immediately. It goes without saying that the fans would miss the former ‘American Dragon’ dearly and even though his WWE main roster run lasted a mere five years, Bryan had grown in stature so much that he was miles ahead of most of his colleagues in terms of popularity.Bryan has had numerous memorable moments in the WWE, winning the World, United States, Intercontinental and Tag team titles. The pinnacle of his WWE run would be winning the WWE World Heavyweight title in the main event of WrestleMania against Randy Orton and Batista.However, Bryan had been wrestling for over a decade in the independent circuit before coming over to the WWE and had made a name for himself way before his main roster debut. This list takes a look at the top five Bryan matches from the Indies that are lesser known than his WWE matches, but just as good.

#1 Daniel Bryan Vs Nigel McGuineess - ROH Unified 2006

Bryan vs McGuinness at ROH

The match that firmly established Bryan on the very top of the ROH roster was his title unification match with Nigel McGuinness aka Desmond Wolfe (in TNA). Bryan was the ROH World champion and McGuinness was the ROH Pure champion and the two began a feud to determine who the best was.

They had a series of matches with McGuinness winning the first via count out – which meant that the ROH World title did not change hands. The second match took place in McGuinness’ native England with hundreds of fans cheering wildly for their countryman.

However, it would be Bryan that came out on top and he became the only man to hold both the ROH World and Pure titles at the same time. Bryan and McGuiness would battle once again for the now unified world title, with Bryan coming out on top again.

#2 Daniel Bryan vs Takeshi Morishima - Final Battle 2008

Bryan suffered a damaged retina against Morishima

This match happened before ROH was on television and by sheer word of mouth, 2500 people came out to attend the ROH show held in New York City just to watch the Bryan vs Morishima main event.

The match was the culmination of nearly a year of matches with Bryan even suffering a legitimate detached retina in one of their previous encounters. However, Bryan was able to beat the Tokyo native this time around.

This is what Bryan had to say about the match “It’s something I was very proud of because we were the main event of that show in New York City and we sold out the Manhattan Center of 2,500 people without any television, because that was before Ring of Honor had TV. That, to me, was really cool and special and shows just how into the product the fans were at the time.”

#3 Danie Bryan vs Kenta - Glory by Honour 2006

Bryan vs Kenta

A match that told a great wrestling story, Daniel Bryan and Kenta had the ROH crowd thoroughly invested during their 2006 match. Bryan’s ROH World title was on the line against Kenta, who was competing in ROH at that time as part of a talent exchange with Pro Wrestling Noah.

Bryan had a separated shoulder coming into the match and Kenta focussed on just that. Bryan was dominated throughout long periods of the match and Bryan’s sister in the crowd is supposed to have legitimately broken down in tears after seeing the punishment handed out to her brother.

Bryan was still able to retain his title, though.

“I consider wrestling art. You want people to be entertained. If you can, make ‘em laugh, but when you really get ‘em, you make ‘em cry. And that was one of those matches that was able to do that.” – Bryan about his match against Kenta.

#4 Robbie Brookside vs Daniel Bryan - EWP Intercontinental title match

Robbie Brookside would have a great match with Bryan in 2003

The match voted by Bryan himself as his favourite happened far away in Germany in 2003.

Bryan was wrestling all over the world at this time and he welcomed the chance to go to the European Wrestling Promotion and challenge for the EWP Intercontinental title against the champion Robbie Brookside.

Brookside was well on his way to having a phenomenal 750 day run with the title and after a technically acclaimed match, beat Bryan to retain the title.

“A match that nobody will ever be able to see but was one of my favorite matches I’ve ever done was against Robbie Brookside....They do rounds systems [in Germany], so we went out there and I want to say it was a match that was 10 rounds. It was just one of those things where Robbie Brookside helped train me, he helped me be the wrestler that I am today. It’s also one of those moments where people don’t think you can do it, and then you come in and the promoter is like, ‘Holy cow, he is what you said he was.’ And that was really cool.” – Said Bryan in an interview later on.

Brookside would lose the title to Kendo Kashin soon after, but would regain the title within two weeks a start another record breaking reign, this time lasting 1150 days! Brookside is currently a trainer with NXT.

#5 Chris Hero vs Daniel Bryan PWG Guerre Sans Frontires

Bryan with another Indie great in Chris Hero

The last prominent match Bryan had before he signed with the WWE was against Chris Hero for the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla World title in 2009. Hero had become the longest reigning PWG World champion of all time, but his 425-day reign ended at Guerre Sans Frontières event at the hands of the then Brian Danielson.

The finish would have Bryan take a power bomb and immediately counter into his then Label lock submission hold, leaving Hero with no choice but to tap out. The entire PWG roster would come out to show their appreciation towards the match.

Bryan would relinquish the PWG title soon enough owing to his departure to the WWE.