WWE Management Reportedly Never Considered Bryan Danielson A 'Top Guy'

Bryan Danielson was reportedly never considered 'the top guy' in WWE by higher ups, despite main-eventing two WrestleManias and holding multiple World Championships.

Known as Daniel Bryan during his time in WWE, Danielson became a fan-favourite over the course of 2012 and 2013, eventually leading to a fan movement that WWE could not deny, forcing the promotion to change plans and put him in the main-event of WrestleMania 30, winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from Randy Orton and Batista.

Bryan was also added to the main event of WrestleMania 37 as Vince McMahon reportedly looked to make the match even more spectacular in what would transpire to be the 40-year-old's final outing at the Showcase Of The Immortals.

While Danielson is now in All Elite Wrestling and a major loss for WWE, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has noted that, while the promotion were aware that Danielson had a certain star-power, they never considered him 'the top guy', despite his standing with fans.

Meltzer notes that, while Danielson was crossing over into mainstream media because of the 'Yes' chants, WWE had already identified that they wanted Roman Reigns to be the 'top guy' in the promotion and would not consider any other option.

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer said: ""Keep in mind while they absolutely liked him and saw him as a star, even as he saved a WrestleMania and sports teams throughout the country were doing “Yes,” chants, they never thought he was the top guy and that Roman Reigns was, because they know more than the fans."