Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling

By ALEX MARVEZ
Scripps Howard News Service
Thursday, September 27, 2007

Today, it would be a dream bout between pro wrestling's most popular star and its top independent performer.

But in 2003, John Cena vs. Bryan Danielson was filler on a secondary WWE television program ("Velocity'') that no longer exists. Danielson was being booked on a per-match basis to make WWE mainstays look good in a losing effort, while Cena had just started to find his niche.

"We didn't even know we were going to have the match," Danielson said last week during a telephone interview. "It kept getting canceled. About 10 or 15 minutes before that ("Velocity'') show was supposed to go on the air, someone said, 'Hey, can you guys wrestle?' I don't really remember the match but I do remember the payday was cool."

So is the fact that fans can still watch the confrontation on internet sites like youtube.com.

"It's funny because I'll be on an independent show and people will tell me, 'I watched that match. That was awesome!'" Danielson said. "What's really cool is that John Cena is the nicest guy. I'm glad he's having the success he's having."

Not that Danielson's accomplishments are anything to sneeze at.

Danielson is the top star for Ring of Honor, a Philadelphia-based promotion renowned for having the top in-ring product on the independent circuit. ROH secured pay-per-view clearance this summer, giving Danielson the chance to showcase his skills for mainstream grappling fans.

Danielson vs. Nigel McGuiness is drawing rave reviews as the headline bout on ROH's "Driven'' show, which debuts Friday on InDemand and is already airing through other pay-per-view providers.

"Everybody in Ring of Honor is excited because it's a chance to reach a new audience," Danielson said. "We're all hopeful we have a lot of chance for growth."

The 5-8, 185-pound Danielson has trained under such renowned technicians as Shawn Michaels, William Regal and Bobby Eaton. Danielson also incorporated moves from his mixed martial arts background to develop a hard-hitting style that has helped him stage standout matches with a variety of different opponents.

"I've kind of developed my own thing," said Danielson, who also has served as an ROH trainer. "A lot of stuff I do actually came from when I was training in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu."

What also separates Danielson from other grapplers is a healthy perspective on the wrestling industry. Danielson isn't hell-bent on landing with WWE or a larger promotion like Total Nonstop Action Wrestling because of his professional success in ROH and Japan.

"A lot of WWE guys on TV who aren't on all the pay-per-views and working the undercards (of live shows), I make more money than them," Danielson said. "Plus, I'm not really in wrestling to make tons of money. I do it because it's fun with the added benefit of getting good money.

"It's not like I'll never consider going to WWE but I really enjoy what I'm doing. There's no reason for me to change."

For more information on "Driven'', visit www.rohwrestling.com.

-- PAIN AND PASSION: The History of Stampede Wrestling is being reissued by ECW Press. Heath McCoy's book chronicles the history of the promotion owned by the legendary Hart family that also launched the careers of such legendary performers as Jericho, The British Bulldogs and the late Chris Benoit. Information, visit www.ecwpress.com.

(More of the Bryan Danielson interview can be found at www.wrestlingobserver.com. Questions can be sent to Alex Marvez at alex@wrestlingobserver.com. Please include your full name and city of residence. Because of volume, no phone calls will be accepted.)