WWE Smackdown general manager Daniel Bryan recently spoke with Scott Fishman of Channel Guide Magazine, coming off the heels of a heated exchange with Intercontinental Champion The Miz, which garnered a ton of media coverage over the last week. Bryan commented on his role with WWE, learning different parts of the business he was never exposed to before retiring from in-ring competition, and how difficult it has been for him to transition away from wrestling and still be around the product full-time.
Below are a few highlights from the interview, which you can check out in full at the handy link above.
On his new role behind the scenes in WWE:
“It’s fun because it’s learning a different part of the business. I love wrestling. So now I get to do things like sit in on production meetings and do all this other stuff. It’s a chance to learn something new about what I’ve loved for so long.”
On still wanting to lace up his boots and get back to wrestling:
I still feel like I can wrestle. Then being out there and watching other people wrestle, it hurts my soul a little bit. But it’s also crazy because doing stuff like the Cruiserweight Classic for example you get to see guys go out there and have these incredible experiences. You get to be in the crowd. When we are doing the commentary you feel it in the crowd where we are broadcasting on this platform. I love the feeling and that energy. So even though I miss being in the ring, when I am ringside, I love feeling that energy of being there. To me, there is nothing in this world like being at a live wrestling show. It’s just really cool.”
On working with WWE Smackdown announcer preparing for the Cruiserweight Classic:
Mauro is just so good. He has worked with so many different people. He knows how to bring people up to his level. So Mauro and I practiced calling a couple of matches together. Then we went out to dinner and talked about our views on wrestling and what we think commentary should be. He is just a very smart guy and someone who is excited about wrestling. So it’s been really easy working with him.”
Bryan also commented on his role as WWE Smackdown general manager, trying to take the focus off the authority figures and put it back on the wrestlers, Heath Slater and his recent angles, and more. Check it out at ChannelGuideMag.com.
