Daniel Bryan Says Some WWE Stars Fear the Brand Split Will Affect Their Pay, Talks the Longterm Benefits of Two Separate Rosters and More

August 5, 2016

As we noted last week, WWE Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan appeared on the Bear Hug It Out Wrestling Podcast to discuss WWE, the Brand Split, Smackdown Live and more.

On the subject of the WWE Brand Split, and specifically how some of the WWE superstars reacted to it, Bryan had the following to say:

“Some of [the WWE stars] don’t like [the brand split] 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, ‘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.”

Thanks to WZ reader Jules Allen for contributing the above transcription.

“#Smackdown has the only REAL world championship!” – @WWEDanielBryan from today’s podcast. pic.twitter.com/sJJY5chjR0

— Bear Hug It Out (@BearHugItOut) August 2, 2016

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.