Why did Daniel Bryan leave WWE?
DANIEL BRYAN is widely considered as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
Since leaving WWE, however, the 42-year-old has been performing under his real name – Bryan Danielson.
Why did Daniel Bryan leave WWE?
Bryan left WWE in May 2021 following the expiration of his contract.
It was soon confirmed that WWE were pushing hard for him to sign a new deal, yet things never materialised.
It came just days after his final match in WWE on April 30, 2021, when he lost to Roman Reigns in an episode of SmackDown.
As a result of his defeat, the American Dragon became “banished” from the brand.
Just a few months later, Bryan was introduced as one of All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) blockbuster signing’s and made his match debut on September 22, 2021.
During an interview with Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan said he told WWE chairman Vince McMahon that one of the reasons he left is because he wanted the freedom to “bleed” in matches.
“I would be able to spend more time at home with my family and that I would also be able to bleed,” he said.
“It’s not like I want to do it all the time. There’s something, I don’t know, incredibly life-affirming about it, as strange as that sounds.”
What is Daniel Bryan’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bryan’s net worth stands at $12million.
The majority of his net worth has been made from his successful wrestling career, which began with his debut on October 4, 1999.
A long list of titles and accomplishments have helped to sky rocket his value, including four WWE Championship’s and one World Heavyweight Championship.
It is also stated that Bryan earns an annual salary of $2million, which is boosted when featuring in big pay-per-view events.
He has also earned money from featuring in ten WWE video games, providing the voice for his game character, and appeared on the cover of WWE 2K14.
Outside of WWE, Bryan has appeared in popular reality TV show Total Divas and its spin-off Total Bellas, as well as the sixth season of Tough Enough – where he was a judge.
Bryan previously lived in a luxurious villa with his family in Phoenix, Arizona, which had four bedrooms and 3,000 square feet of living space.
Alongside his wife, Brie Garcia, the couple listed the house in 2020 for a value of $1,695,000, before moving to Napa Valley, California.
Bryan’s net worth is also boosted by his impressive car collection.
The former WWE star’s garage includes a $225,500 Lamborghini Urus, a $207,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S and an $88,000 Cadillac Escalade.
But the most impressive of the lot is his $500,000 Lamborghini Aventador, which can reach a top speed of 217mph.
Bryan has also been a part of multiple charity works over the years, including Make A-Wish and Superstars for Kids.
Who is Daniel Bryan’s wife Brie Garcia?
Bryan is married to American television personality and retired professional wrestler, Brie Garcia.
She is best known for her 16-year career in WWE between 2007 and 2023, in which she performed under the ring name Brie Bella.
Alongside her twin sister, Nikki, the pair were known as The Bella Twins and were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.
The 40-year-old signed with WWE in 2007 and made her debut the following year.
Garcia’s most notable achievement was winning the WWE Divas Champion in 2011.
After her contract with WWE expired in 2023, Brie and Nikki retired the “Bella” surname and returned to their legal maiden name of “Garcia” professionally – reintroducing themselves as The Garcia Twins.
Garcia has a net worth of $12million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which is primarily thanks to her WWE career.
However, Garcia has also been active outside professional wrestling and has featured in various television shows and music videos.
The Garcia Twins have launched their own YouTube channel, wine label, lifestyle brand, body and beauty line, and podcast.
Where is Daniel Bryan now?
Since leaving WWE in 2021, Bryan has been signed to AEW and performing under his real name – Bryan Danielson.
He is also a member of the Blackpool Combat Club, which he formed alongside fellow AEW star Jon Moxley in 2022.
In 2023, Bryan made his return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) for the first time since 2004.
In a pre-taped vignette, he challenged challenging Kazuchika Okada to a match at Forbidden Door – a pay-per-view event and supershow produced by AEW and NJPW.
On June 25, Bryan defeated Okada via submission – despite suffering a legitimate broken arm from Okada’s flying elbow.