WWE Was Forced To Fire Bryan Danielson In 2010 After Pressure From Sponsors

There is no doubt that Bryan Danielson is one of the most established names in the world of professional wrestling right now. He spent several years in promotions all around the world, including NOAH, ROH and numerous independent companies. He was a massive star in WWE, but it was not without its fair share of hardships. In fact, Danielson was once fired in 2010 after WWE was pressured by sponsors.

During the June 7th, 2010 episode of Monday Night RAW, The Nexus made their main roster debut and destroyed everyone in their path. This included John Cena, who was in the ring at the time. Justin Roberts was also not spared, as he was attacked and choked with his own tie by Bryan Danielson.

In his memoir YES!: My Improbable Journey To The Main Event Of WrestleMania, Bryan revealed that both Vince McMahon and Michael Hayes requested a gang-style brawl, which would establish the faction as a legitimate threat.

This led to Bryan Danielson choking Justin Roberts with his tie and then spitting on John Cena. Bryan revealed his desire to make the spot with Roberts look authentic, noting that non-wrestlers don’t sell moves convincingly. He also mentioned that some roughness is acceptable, as long as the recipient isn’t seriously injured.

Afterward, the group encircled John Cena and delivered a beating to the 16-time champion, with Bryan among them. Bryan seized his moment to shine by yelling, “You are not better than me!” at Cena before spitting in his face.

Following the incident, McMahon expressed satisfaction with how the spot played out. However, some individuals held a different view. Bryan was informed that his actions of choking and spitting did not align with the PG guidelines, prompting the former WWE Superstar to apologize to both Cena and Roberts. Bryan was slated to participate in a couple more matches, but he received a call from McMahon on June 11th.

During the call, Vince McMahon regretfully informed Bryan Danielson that he was being released due to his conduct. The decision was based on the need to appease certain sponsors, and it was subsequently incorporated into the Nexus storyline, with the announcement that Daniel Bryan was no longer a member of the faction due to his display of remorse.

After being away for a couple of months, Danielson was brought back during SummerSlam 2010, as WWE simply let the situation with their sponsors blow over. Danielson ended up having a solid performance during the SummerSlam match, eventually setting him up for greatness.

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