Recap of Daniel Bryan’s Appearance on ESPN’s “Off The Top Rope” with Jonathan Coachman

Daniel Bryan was the special guest on ESPN’s “Off The Top Rope,” a show covering the week in wrestling, hosted by former WWE employee Jonathan Coachman. This was Bryan’s first public appearance since officially announcing his retirement from professional wrestling last night on “Monday Night Raw.”

The interview began with Coachman asking Bryan about “Raw” last night, and how difficult it was for him to announce his retirement in front of his hometown. He said that it was an emotionally difficult day, and when he saw his family and friends sitting in the front row, he had to turn away for a moment so that he wouldn’t cry.

A discussion about concussions came up, as it is the reason that Bryan is retiring. Bryan said that they had documented 10 concussions, but that you can’t document them all. He said that it is also hard to define what exactly a concussion is, with all of the new medical research being brought to light each day.

Bryan went on to say he learned that would have to retire after undergoing some tests in New York City, which revealed that there was slowing in the area of his brain which causes seizures. He admitted that he had been having post-concussion seizures which he hidden from people.

“The Coach” went on to ask Bryan if he had a message for any young person who was trying to play their sport in the safest way possible. He said that you have to be cognizant of how to be safe, and that if you sustain a concussion, you need to report it immediately. The worst thing that you can do is return to a contact sport before your brain has had time to fully heal.

Daniel Bryan on concussions: You have a responsibility to yourself – ESPN Video

The topic of the “Yes” chant came up, and how that came to be. Bryan said that he began doing the chant just to be annoying, as a way to add to the heel character that he was playing at the time. He also said that the “Yes” chant really propelled his career forward and defined him as who he is today.

Coachman went on to ask how it felt to receive the ovation that Bryan did last night, with everyone in the audience and in the locker room, including Vince McMahon doing the “Yes” chant. Bryan said that it was surreal, and that it was so cool for him to be able to close his eyes for a moment and just feel the reaction from the crowd.

 Daniel Bryan: I started ‘YES!’ chant to be annoying – ESPN Video

“The Coach” asked Bryan what he would miss most about wrestling. After comparing that question to asking him what his favorite gelato is, Bryan said that he would miss the people the most. Last night, he had the opportunity to say goodbye to some of his friends that he now won’t see every day. They would go on to talk about the car rides in between towns, and how those were the best. Bryan recalled a time when he, William Regal, Sheamus and Ted Dibiase drove 450 miles and had a wonderful time.

The topic of Bryan’s size came up, and how a guy who is 5’8″, and weighs 190 pounds can make to the top of the wrestling business. Bryan said that he honestly has no idea how he achieved the success that he did, and how he was able to connect to the audience the way that he did. It was one of those things that just happened.

Coachman asked Bryan what his favorite moment of all time was. Bryan said that he eluded to it last night, but it was at the 2013 “Slammy” Awards, when the Seattle crowd hijacked the show and kept chanting his name. What made that special for him was not that people were chanting his name, but that his dad got to see that happen, and it was the last event that he ever saw his son wrestle at before he passed away.

Being only 34 years old, the topic of “What’s next” came up. Although he’s had time to think about it, he isn’t sure because the last real job that he had was working at a video store/tanning salon. He knows that he wants to help people, and he has considering doing something to help with concussion awareness.

Bryan then discussed Connor Michalek and what he meant to him. Michalek had brain cancer, but you would have never known it by meeting him. WWE formed a foundation known as “Connor’s Cure,” which is dedicated to finding a cure for brain cancer. Bryan said that he wants to be more involved in things like that.

The final question was “How do you want people to remember Daniel Bryan?” Bryan said that he doesn’t want anybody to remember him specifically; rather he wants them to remember the experiences that they had at a show that he was performing at, and to remember the good times with the people that they were with at that show.

He would go on to tell a story about how the first wrestling show that he attended was with his sister and dad, and the Ultimate Warrior pulled Rick Rude’s pants down, exposing his butt to the audience. That was the first time that his sister had ever seen a male butt, and that experience was something that the three of them talked about until the day that Bryan’s dad passed away.

What will Daniel Bryan miss most? – ESPN Video

Editor’s Note:

This was one of the most heartfelt, and genuine interviews I have ever seen. Daniel Bryan is a man of incredible character; a guy who just gets it. He has a heart of gold, and is one of the greatest ambassadors for wrestling that has come around in a long time. Everyone needs to watch this interview in full, as it is inspiring and will make you feel good about his decision to retire

Thank you so much for the memories, Daniel Bryan, and for providing all of us with so many wonderful and entertaining moments. YES! YES! YES!

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