Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan is no up-and-comer. Trained by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, Bryan competed on the indy wrestling circuit for more than 10 years. Honing his craft on multiple continents, Bryan became well-known for his hybrid of Japanese and American offensive styles that made good use of vicious elbow strikes, precise kicks, spine-jarring suplexes and various torturous submission maneuvers like the “No!” Lock, formerly named after martial arts specialist Gene LeBell.

First coming to WWE as part of the inaugural season of WWE NXT, Bryan soon made it clear he was destined for great things.

After shaking the drama of The Nexus — which formed out of WWE NXT season one contestants — Bryan refocused his efforts on a solo career, exciting the WWE Universe with his unique in-ring style and bone-snapping artillery.

Eventually, the determined Superstar’s efforts came full circle, when he enjoyed his first (vegan) taste of title gold in WWE from then–United States Champion The Miz, his former WWE Pro. In summer 2011, Bryan proved he had more tricks up his sleeve when he won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, which propelled the skilled grappler to his greatest achievement: the World Heavyweight Championship. After Bryan cashed in at WWE TLC 2011, the weightier prize around his waist wasn’t the only difference in the typically humble competitor. Bryan's in-ring performance only got better while holding the World Title, but his newfound attitude distanced him from the WWE Universe that once pulled for the underdog.

After losing the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania XXVIII in record-breaking time, the former champ broke up with longtime girlfriend AJ Lee. His former gal began her tenure as Raw General Manager by having Bryan taken away by men in white coats for a psychiatric evaluation. Although he was diagnosed with no official mental ailments, Bryan’s behavior became increasingly erratic. The self-affirming Superstar defeated Kane at The 25th Anniversary of SummerSlam, and the two entered anger management therapy together. One week after attempting to “hug it out,” their anger management counselor Dr. Shelby arranged for the duo to team up in a match, and the odd couple shockingly became No. 1 contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championship. An even bigger shocker? Kane & Daniel Bryan actually won the titles at Night of Champions 2012!

Dubbed Team Hell No by the WWE Universe in a RAWactive vote, the pair slowly got on the same page. Further unity was forced upon them when Kane & Bryan incurred the wrath of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns — a trio known as The Shield. Team Hell No joined forces with Ryback to face the so-called enforcers of “justice” in a massive Six-Man Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match at WWE TLC 2012, which was won by the NXT invaders.

The year 2013 began a bit more positively, as Kane and Bryan officially graduated Shelby’s program, initiating a mass hug between the Superstars, Shelby, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Dr. Sampson, Justin Roberts and the entire WWE Universe.

Keeping the good feelings going, Team Hell No successfully defended their titles against Team Rhodes Scholars at the Royal Rumble, but weren’t on the same page later that night in the Royal Rumble Match. After Bryan eliminated his own partner, the smaller of the champions found himself knocked out of the ring and into Kane’s arms. The Big Red Monster, left with the decision of dropping his pal or placing him back in the bout, decided on the former. The fickle friends butted heads again during the Elimination Chamber Match in February to determine the No. 1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, though they had seemingly mended fences by March.

Team Hell No remained on the same page throughout March and April, defeating Dolph Ziggler & Big E Langston at WrestleMania 29 to retain their WWE Tag Team Titles. On Raw the night after The Show of Shows, Team Hell No came to the aid of Kane's brother, The Undertaker, to help The Phenom fend off a 3-on-1 attack by The Shield. A constant thorn in Team Hell No’s side, The Shield ended the team’s eight-month title reign at Extreme Rules. 

As Bryan’s short fuse persists, attempts to calm him down have been met with belligerent cries of “No!” With or without the support of WWE fans, Daniel Bryan strives to force the arms of every opposing Superstar to tap out so that only his may be raised with a triumphant and self-aggrandizing “YES!”