With Daniel Bryan’s signing with the AEW, Cincinnati attorney and wrestling podcaster Eric Robinson calls this a game changer for the industry.

On Wednesday, former WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), according to a report from Bodyslam.net. Now known as Bryan Danielson, there had been lots of speculation as to what the future would hold for the former WWE Champion. 

This news excitingly comes as rumors spread about CM Punk possibly being in talks with the promotion. If both Punk and Bryan are signed, this could be a huge game changer for AEW, as Brock Lesnar is expected to return to WWE and Dave Bautista being retired and in the film industry.

And according to Eric Robinson, a Cincinnati attorney and wrestling podcaster, this is in fact a complete game changer. 

“This is a game changer indeed, but I don’t have my hopes up about Punk,” Robinson brutally confessed to PopWrapped. “CM Punk coming out of retirement has been a trending topic off and on since his controversial departure in 2014. Simply put, unless he walks into an arena and calls someone out directly, I consider the man retired.”

According to Bodyslam.net, Bryan is “locked in” and has 100% signed the contract with AEW, expecting to debut on the 7/21/21 show at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City. Bryan’s last match with WWE took place back on April 30th on SmackDown when he lost to Roman Reigns in a “Championship vs. Career” match. 

It was then reported that Bryan’s WWE contract had expired on May 4th – just days following the match, an event that Robinson described as “bittersweet.”

“I was in the U.S. Bank arena back in 2015, when he gave up the Intercontinental Championship. At the time, that seemed like it was the end for him. I shed a few tears when he was cleared to return ahead of Wrestlemania in 2018. He always deserved a better send off than forced retirement due to injury.”

Speaking to Bryan’s character, Robinson added that “[he] has never been a wrestler about the money:”

“…he’s done very well for himself, but he places value on good storytelling and the ability to captivate a crowd on his terms. I thought that his transition to working with WWE creative on SmackDown would create a second act, but he’s still got way too much to offer other promotions.”

More Creative Power for Bryan

But why is everyone making such a big deal following Bryan’s signing with AEW? It’s a big deal, the Cincinnati attorney said. 

“Bryan transitioning to AEW shows that there is still an emphasis on pure technical ability, more than storytelling. Bryan has been considered the hottest free agent in wrestling for most of 2021. While most wrestlers in WWE have some input in their character, storyline, etc. – the buck stops with Vince McMahon. Whatever McMahon wants to see on TV is what gets produced.”

However, Robinson says the creative freedom isn’t as restrictive in AEW. “There is more creative freedom here,” he explained. “Tony Khan is certainly the Executive Producer and President of AEW, dictating where he wants a story to ultimately go – but he lets AEW talent have the creative freedom to really navigate to that end destination.”

Lesnar to Return to WWE?

Lesnar’s hopeful return to WWE, however, is a bittersweet moment for many.While we don’t know for certain yet that he will return, we expect to hear something by SummerSlam in August. 

“This is certainly a tough one,” Robinson shared. “Bobby Lashley has been campaigning for a match with Lesnar for at least 10 years, but the timing has been off. Both men gave MMA a try and achieved some success – Lesnar in UFC, Lashley in Bellator.”

But since Lashley’s return in 2018 to WWE, Robinson said that it never really felt like the marquee match it deserved, based on how they were each booked.

“Lesnar was at the top of the card competing for the WWE Championship, and Lashley foundered in the mid-card. It wasn’t until his pairing with MVP and creating the Hurt Business faction that it really felt like Lashley was capable of breaking the mid-card glass ceiling, and excelling in the main event.”

2021 a Career Milestone?

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 arguably served as a career milestone for Lashley. 

“Lesnar has been content to stay home during the pandemic, and I think that has been smart,” Robinson says. “Despite being a protected character on screen, his presentation is formulaic and could be considered stale to some fans. Now that live audiences have returned, the absence of Lesnar makes hearts grow fonder.”

Lesnar hasn’t confirmed a comeback just yet, but if John Cena can return, anything is possible.

Bautista’s Retirement

As far as Bautista goes, the former WWE star and “Army of the Dead” actor and producer, he had a hell of a career, Robinson told PopWrapped. “He wanted to end his career with one final match against Triple H. He got that match at Wrestlemania 35 and tore the hose down. All that’s left is to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.”

AEW is also headed to Cincinnati, Ohio for the first time later this summer, emanating from the Fifth Third Arena on September 8. Sharing his excitement, the Cincinnati wrestling podcaster emphasized AEW’s first time coming to the city. 

“AEW routinely travels to smaller venues, so this show will feel more intimate at Fifth Third Arena. Having seen AEW in Chicago, Robinson described his excitement as “tangible” in a way that makes home everything and more to him.

“I’m most excited to see Jon Moxley. He’s a Cincinnati native, so it’s very easy to imagine the “Welcome Home” chants he will receive. I’ve seen WWE in Cincinnati countless times, and he’s always gotten that massive reaction. I’m getting chills just picturing Moxley making his way to the ring on September 8th.”

Robinson also hosts and manages The Eric Squared Circle Show, a podcast which he describes as “a pure labor of love.” “It’s a show by fans, for fans. It’ll make you laugh; it’ll make you think – might even make you cry, just kidding. I love to talk about wrestling, and I’d like to think I’m creating a platform to help people talk about it too!”

You can listen to Robinson’s podcast on Spotify as well as all other major podcasting platforms. 

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