Bryan Lloyd Danielson is an American professional wrestler and author currently signed to WWE under ring name Daniel Bryan.
In WWE, Bryan held the WWE Championship three times and WWE's World Heavyweight Championship once, in addition to being a one-time United States Champion, a one-time Intercontinental Champion and a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion as part of Team Hell No (with Kane). He was also the 2011 SmackDown Money in the Bank winner, the 2013 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner and the SmackDown General Manager from July 2016 to April 2018. Bryan is the 26th Triple Crown Champion and the 6th Grand Slam Champion in WWE history and headlined several major pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania XXX.
Danielson was previously signed to the WWE, then known as the WWF, for an 18-month period from 2000-2001. Prior to joining WWE for his second stint in 2009, Danielson wrestled for various companies internationally using both his real name and the ring name (and later nickname) American Dragon.
He wrestled for Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2002 to 2009, being recognized as a "Founding Father" of the promotion, where he was a one-time ROH World Champion as well as the final Pure Wrestling Champion (unifying the Pure title with the World title). He was the first winner of ROH's annual Survival of the Fittest tournament in 2004.
Danielson also wrestled extensively in Japan, winning the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship in Pro Wrestling Noah and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (with Curry Man) in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Between WWE, ROH and Japanese promotions, he held eleven total championships. Danielson also won numerous titles on the independent circuit, including two PWG World Championships, the FIP Heavyweight Championship and the wXw World Heavyweight Championship.
Made his WWE debut in a dark match defeating Chavo Guerrero. [January 2010]
Baltimore, MD, USA: Wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on The Big Show at TLC. [December 2011]
Signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) [August 2009]
Appearing on "WWE NXT" with The Miz as his mentor [February 2010]
Wrestling in FCW, a WWE developmental territory under the name "Daniel Bryan" [February 2010]
Chicago, IL, USA: Wins the WWE United States Championship by making The Miz tap out at Night of Champions. [September 2010]
His "Yes" chant has caught on so feverishly with fans that the mere mention of his name has, on several occasions, caused fans to chant it over wrestlers who are talking, or to hijack segments of WWE programming or wrestling matches which he is not (or minimally) involved in, much to the (occasionally legitimate) annoyance of management and other wrestlers.
Formerly a vegan, Danielson developed a sensitivity to soy-based proteins. That, combined with the difficulty in finding non-soy vegan protein products, especially while spending months at a time on the road, made it virtually impossible for him to continue. As a result, he had to incorporate various lean meats into his diet, but still maintains a largely vegetarian lifestyle when possible.
Published author.
(February 10,2016) Announced his retirement due to brain injuries.
Finishing Move: The Yes Lock/The No Lock/LeBell Lock (Omoplata crossface)
Trademark Move: Multiple kicks to an opponent's head or chest, followed by a roundhouse kick to the head
Trademark Move (independent circuit): Crossface chickenwing, sometimes with bodyscissors
Trademark Move (independent circuit): Cattle Mutilation (Bridging double chickenwing)