Although Bryan Danielson went on to become a major WWE star, Vince McMahon reportedly had serious reservations about pushing him beyond the mid-card at one point. And according to Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho, McMahon’s doubts weren’t just due to Danielson’s smaller size and indie wrestling background. They also stemmed from the fact that the future star didn’t eat steak, as he had adopted a vegan lifestyle for health reasons. This revelation goes to poove the old-school promoter’s closed-minded approach to things he didn’t understand.
“He didn’t like Bryan because Bryan was a vegan. Classic Vince.” – Chris Jericho
Ultimately, Danielson, performing as Daniel Bryan, went on to have an extraordinary WWE career. Despite the early skepticism, his exceptional in-ring talent and the organic Yes Movement propelled him to global superstardom. The former Ring of Honor wrestler captured multiple world championships and headlined WrestleMania 30 and 37, which are feats few thought possible when he first signed. Toward the end of his WWE tenure, Danielson also worked closely with McMahon in creative, offering fresh ideas that helped transform their professional relationship into one of mutual collaboration and admiration by the time he departed in 2021.
