Daniel Bryan Talks Wrestlers Losing Money With Brand Split Right Now, Stars He Was Excited To Draft
As previously reported, WWE SmackDown Live's General Manager, Daniel Bryan was a guest on The Bear Hug It Out Wrestling Podcast recently. Among other things, Bryan discussed the differences between WWE Monday Night RAW and WWE SmackDown Live. Also, the former WWE World Champion talked about why some WWE performers do not like the brand extension. Finally, Bryan named two WWE Superstars he was especially happy about drafting to the blue brand.
On the subject of differentiating SmackDown Live and RAW, Bryan said that watching a two-hour show is much more fun and much easier than watching a three-hour show. Additionally, Bryan claimed the focus of SmackDown will be on the performers.
"To me, the best part about it is it's only a two hour show. It's a lot funner to watch. It's a lot easier to watch. But there's also, we're trying to really put the wrestlers first, the Superstars first, so that's one of the things we're really doing for the show. We're trying to make a more exciting show than RAW." Bryan added, "but Shane [McMahon] and I are working really hard each and every week to make SmackDown must-see viewing."
According to Bryan, some WWE performers do not like the brand split because it hits them in the pocketbook.
"It's interesting because some of them don't like it because everyday that you're on the road and not working, you don't get paid, so you're spending money and not getting paid. So it just becomes like a, 'okay, so now I'm making less money, but spending the same amount of being on the road and that sort of thing'. But pretty soon, we're going to start doing SmackDown live events on Monday nights, the same night as RAW, so then that's going to even out a bit. And I think that extra day on the road at home makes a huge difference. I mean, there's a huge difference between leaving on Friday and coming home on Wednesday and leaving on Saturday and coming home on Wednesday or leaving on Friday and coming home on Tuesday. So I think it's going to be better for the health of everybody."
Bryan named current WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose and 'The Phenomenal' AJ Styles as two Superstars he was particularly pleased about having on SmackDown.
"I was really excited to [draft] two people. I'm really excited to get Dean Ambrose and I'm really excited to get AJ Styles. So, I've known AJ Styles for a long, long time. We wrestled each other for the first time, I think, in 2003, so yeah, 13 years ago, so it's neat to see him on this stage."
Click here to check out the interview. If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit The Bear Hug It Out Wrestling Podcast with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.