“I’m Sorry We Have To Do This” – Former WWE Champion Recalls Being Fired By Vince McMahon
Throughout his four decades as the CEO and Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Vince McMahon consistently would give his closest associates the duty of releasing superstars from the roster — rarely did McMahon fire talent himself.
However, back in 2010, Vince McMahon decided to personally inform someone that they were going to be released from the company, and it ended up being Daniel Bryan.
Back then, WWE was facing backlash following Bryan’s use of Justin Roberts’ tie to choke out the ring announcer, taking place during the RAW invasion segment from The Nexus.
Back in 2014, the now-Bryan Danielson would appear on the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast for a conversation with Chris Jericho, where he would speak about the phone call that he had with McMahon in 2010.
“I was talking to Miz and he was like, ‘Don’t worry about it; it’ll all blow over.’ Friday I get a call from Vince McMahon himself, telling me they had to let me go. It’s funny – one of my responses was that I just wasn’t that bothered.
He says, ‘I’m sorry we have to do this,’ and I say not to feel bad for me, because I’m going to make more money than I’ve ever had before just based on the independents. I knew that took him aback a little bit.”
Bryan ended up being brought back for SummerSlam 2010, so he was only gone from WWE for about two months. After that, Bryan spent more than a decade in WWE.