2/8 Powell’s WWE Raw Live TV Review: Daniel Bryan retirement, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose build to Fastlane

By Jason Powell

If you are reading this on the Prowrestling.net app, our mobile website will refresh more frequently than the latest updates than the app will. CLICK HERE to see the very latest updates to this article throughout the show.

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live from Seattle, Washington at Key Arena

[Q1] Raw opened with a Daniel Bryan video package that included his Twitter announcement of his retirement due to medical issues… The opening montage aired… Michael Cole, JBL, and Byron Saxton were on commentary…

Stephanie McMahon stood in the ring and welcomed viewers to Raw. She said they were just minutes away from the contract signing for the Fastlane main event. The crowd interrupted her with loud chants of Daniel Bryan. Stephanie stopped and let the fans chant. “You guys are always confused in Seattle,” she said. “The winner of the Fastlane main event will not be going on to face Daniel Bryan.” She said the winner will face her husband Triple H at WrestleMania.

Stephanie said Hollywood may have Captain America vs. Ironman and Batman vs. Superman, but only WWE has Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose. Stephanie was interrupted by Dean Ambrose’s entrance music, and he came out carrying his Intercontinental Championship. Ambrose said he has some unfinished business with “that overgrown ape” and called for Lesnar to come out.

Stephanie said Ambrose doesn’t tell her what to do, she tells him what to do. She said there will be no physicality during the contract signing. Roman Reigns’ music interrupted Stephanie and he entered through the crowd. Once in the ring, Reigns said Ambrose wanted to punch Lesnar in the face, so let’s get to it. Stephanie asked Ambrose if he noticed that whenever he has a moment, Reigns always steals the spotlight.

Stephanie introduced Brock Lesnar, who made his entrance along with Paul Heyman. Once in the ring, Heyman was about to introduce himself when Stephanie cut him off and said everyone already knows his name. The crowd booed. Ambrose was first to sign the contract, then Reigns quickly signed it. Lesnar signed it and handed it back to Stephanie, who thanked them and said her business was done and then left the ring.

Heyman suggested that Reigns explain to Ambrose the difference between a beatdown by The Authority and an authoritative beatdown by Lesnar. Ambrose got in Brock’s face and he was quickly thrown over the table used for the contract signing and into Reigns. Lesnar picked up the table and tossed it at Reigns. Lesnar performed an F5 on Ambrose and then left the ring where he admired his handiwork.

Triple H’s music played and he joined Stephanie McMahon on the stage. Hunter stood there with his title belt and surveyed the scene while the broadcast team spoke. They cut to the broadcast team. They hyped Fastlane and then touched on the Daniel Bryan retirement announcement. They aired various Tweets from WWE personalities and hyped that Bryan will address WWE fans later in the show… Footage of Bryan’s first appearance on the once awful NXT television show aired…

Powell’s POV: It was so nice to see Lesnar look like the most dangerous man in the building. Plus, he threw furniture, which is always a plus. Brock was starting to feel like just another guy lately so this was a necessary moment. The Bryan segment is going to be something else. The building will come unglued when he appears and it’s possible there won’t be a dry eye in the house depending on the tone he takes.

[Q2] [C] Lesnar’s destruction of Reigns and Ambrose was recapped… Backstage, an angry Ambrose wore to Reigns that he would get Lesnar by the end of the night…

1. Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler. Owens clotheslined Ziggler right after the bell rang and then controlled the early offense. Ziggler came back with a sleeper, which Owens broke by taking Ziggler through the ropes and to the floor at ringside heading into the break. [C] Owens performing a senton for a two count shortly after the break.

[Q3] Ziggler came back and went for a DDT, but Owens shoved him off and caught him with a superkick for a two count. Owens went for his finisher. Ziggler went for a kick, but Owens caught it, rolled him up while holding the tights for a two count. Ziggler performed a DDT, then performed a Fameasser off the apron. Both men barely beat the referee’s ten count. Owens avoided a splash, then Ziggler ducked a cannonball. Ziggler covered Owens and put his feet on the ropes for leverage and the referee made the three count…

Dolph Ziggler beat Kevin Owens in 11:00.

The Uso Brothers vs. New Day in a tables match, and Chris Jericho on Miz TV was announced for later in the show… Footage of Bryan beating The Miz to win the U.S. Title at Night of Champions 2010 was shown… [C]

Powell’s POV: I really hope they have a plan for Owens to somehow come out of this feud looking stronger. I really thought he could have been the guy to face Undertaker this year. Back to back losses to Ziggler isn’t the end of the world, but it would seem to suggest that they don’t have major plans for Owens at WrestleMania. WWE is so desperate for strong heels, yet it feels like Owens is being wasted.

Backstage, the Dudleys told the Uso Brothers that the tables match is their match and they should be facing New Day. The Uso Brothers said they respect The Dudleys, but it’s their match with New Day. Bubba Ray Dudley suggested they all team up to face New Day in the match. The Usos said it would be cool if they could get it approved…

A brief Ryback video package aired, then Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt was announced for later in the show…

Charlotte and Ric Flair made their entrance. Cole hyped Charlotte vs. Brie Bella for the Divas Championship for Fastlane…. [C]

[Q4] 2. Divas Champion Charlotte (w/Ric Flair) vs. Alicia Fox in a non-title match. Charlotte performed a late spear and then won via submission with the Figure 8…

Charlotte defeated Alicia Fox in a non-title match in 5:00.

A shot aired of Miz check out his teeth in the mirror backstage. Cole said Miz had a couple teeth knocked out by AJ Styles during their match on Smackdown… [C]

Powell’s POV: It seems like Charlotte gets more showcase wins now that she’s a heel than she did as a babyface champion. It’s important to show the champion looking strong on television, so I’m not complaining.

Cole announced The Dudleys and The Uso Brothers vs. New Day and a partner of their choosing in a tables match for later in the show…

The Miz hosted Miz TV. He said the show is usually a place where everyone can and should feel awesome. He said it was none of those things when Styles was on the show. A recap of that segment aired. Miz boasted that he could have done for Styles what he did for Daniel Bryan. The crowd booed.

[Q5] Chris Jericho’s entrance music interrupted Miz’s rant and Cole hyped the Styles vs. Jericho match for Smackdown. Jericho scolded Miz for not introducing him. Miz said he was getting to that. Jericho gave him the “would you kindly shut the hell up” treatment. Jericho said the fans want to see The Highlight Reel. The crew quickly changed the set from Miz TV to The Highlight Reel, then Jericho welcomed viewers to Raw is Jericho.

The Miz said he is not Jericho’s guest. “This is my show,” Miz said. “This is not right. None of this is right.” Jericho said Miz is right, something is missing. Jericho had the production crew bring his potted plant into the ring and wet it up under the Jeritron. Jericho said Miz suffered two crushing losses when he lost to Styles on Smackdown and again when he had his teeth knocked out of his head by Styles.

Jericho aired highlights of Styles literally knocking a tooth out of Miz’s mouth. The fans chanted “you look stupid” at Miz. “I can’t possibly look stupid,” Miz said. “I’m not Sheamus.” He asked the fans if they have any idea how much his head dress wears. Miz said he had two veneers were knocked out of his mouth and it cost him $10,000 each. Miz said he had he had a meeting with Steven Spielberg scheduled and his dental team was able to do emergency bridge work.

Jericho brought up the song “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.” Miz got upset and asked the crowd if they thought it was funny. They chanted “yes” in response. Miz pointed out that he wasn’t the only one upstaged by Styles, then set up footage of Styles beating Jericho in his Raw debut match. Jericho said he will have to remind Styles that he is the best in the world at what he does.

AJ’s entrance music played and he made his entrance. As Styles was posing on the stage, Miz attacked Jericho from behind and then put the boots to him. Styles ran in and attacked Miz, then threw him toward Jericho, who clotheslined him. Jericho and Styles squared off, then had to clear Miz from the ring.

Jericho shoved Styles from behind and then they had a staredown. Styles poked Jericho while jawing at him. Jericho slapped his hand away. Styles punched Jericho and then they traded blows. Miz reached up from ringside and pulled Jericho to the floor. Jericho quickly recovered by kicking Miz and then he tossed him over the broadcast team’s table. Jericho teased getting back inside the ring, but he remained on the floor and jawed a bit with Styles from there…

The broadcast team recapped footage of the opening segment, then showed Ambrose pacing back and forth backstage… Cole set up a clip of Bryan winning the Money in the Bank contract at the MITB 2011 event… [C]

Powell’s POV: It’s so nice to see WWE dedicate some real time to hyping a Smackdown match on Raw. The Styles vs. Jericho match felt big when it was announced on Smackdown last week and this succeeded in making it feel bigger. Is Miz’s involvement foreshadowing his interference in the Smackdown match?

[Q6] 3. Bray Wyatt (w/Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman). Ryback has “Big Guy” written on the back of his trunks, so he doesn’t look like a complete Goldberg clone this time. Ryback had Wyatt down early and went to the top rope, but then he walked to ringside and looked at the rest of the family. Wyatt recovered and clotheslined Ryback at ringside heading into the break. [C]

Ryback threw some high knees in the corner and then ran the ropes a couple times and performed a running cross body block. Ryback followed up with a spinebuster for two. Ryback looked to the crowd and then went to the corner. Ryback went for the Meathook Clothesline, but Ryback caught him and performed Sister Abigail for the win.

Bray Wyatt defeated Ryback in 6:50.

After the match, the rest of the Wyatt Family entered the ring and attacked Ryback. Rowan performed a Full Nelson Bomb. Harper clotheslined Ryback. Strowman rolled Ryback to the floor and then ran him into the edge of the ring and then the ring steps. Wyatt performed Sister Abigail on the floor and then yelled about how there’s nothing left for you to do other than to pray for mercy that you will not receive… A video package on Team Hell No aired… [C]

Powell’s POV: Bray also said the apocalypse has just begun…again. I want to be excited about Bray Wyatt, but I’ve been burned too many times. WWE builds him up for a showdown match that he inevitably loses. At this point, I can’t really get excited about his character and all the apocalypse talk until he actually wins a truly meaningful match that doesn’t feel like it’s just a setup for a bigger loss. Meanwhile, Ryback looked more like Ryberg on Smackdown, but his look here was better.

The broadcast team acknowledged tweets regarding Daniel Bryan’s retirement that were from the accounts of Vince McMahon, Paige, Kalisto, Dana Warrior, and others…

Backstage, New Day were working on a table and Big E was singing about it. Renee Young showed up and asked them about their tables match being an eight-man tag match. Big E said they haven’t found a tag partner yet, but they will. Kofi Kingston said they are like the Broncos in that they are champions and everyone loves them…

Backstage, Roman Reigns approached Dean Ambrose, who was worked up and said he doesn’t care if he takes another F5 or gets put through a table, he’s going after Lesnar. Reigns said he’s not talking him out of anything and said they should go get Lesnar. Ambrose said he doesn’t need his help because Lesnar is his. Reigns told him to give Lesnar hell… Titus O’Neil made his entrance for a match… [C] The Social Outcasts made their entrance and spoke as they walked to the ring…

[Q8] 4. Titus O’Neil vs. Adam Rose (w/Heath Slater, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas). Rose said his name is the Radical Mongoose. Axel said that’s horrible. Rose delivered a soft slap to Titus that the broadcast team overreacted to. Titus responded with slaps to the chest. Late in the match, the Outcasts pulled Rose to the floor to get him away from Titus, who went to the floor and shoulder blocked them. Back in the ring, Titus had to clear Slater from the ring apron, which led to Rose rolling up O’Neil and pinning him…

Adam Rose beat Titus O’Neil in 3:20.

Footage aired of Daniel Bryan beating John Cena to win the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2013… [C]

Powell’s POV: The Slater bump off the clothesline at the end of the match was comically bad. Titus threw his arm for a clothesline and Slater was already turned to his side and looking at ringside before Titus even touched him. It’s worth watching again if you need a laugh. It’s the funniest thing about the Outcasts at this point. I’m really not sure what creative is going for with this oddball bunch.

A brief Black History Month segment aired with photos of Ernie Ladd, Art Thomas, Bobo Brazil, Bearcat Wright, Rocky Johnson, Tony Atlas, Sweet Daddy Siki, Junkyard Dog, Sonny King, and Ron Simmons…

Dean Ambrose made his entrance and headed to the ring. Ambrose asked what Lesnar what he calls his finisher. He said it must have been an F2 or an F3 because he thought the F5 was supposed to hurt and keep him down. Ambrose said Lesnar can’t get the job done. Ambrose challenged to come out and try again and this time to put some stank on it. JBL said he’s never heard anyone talk to Lesnar like this.

When Lesnar didn’t come out, Ambrose said Hunter was right, Lesnar has gone soft. Ambrose said it sounds like a personal problem. He asked if Brock couldn’t get it up for the big fight. Ambrose assumed Heyman didn’t give Lesnar permission. Ambrose said he knew Heyman was Lesnar’s advocate, but he didn’t know he held his balls too. Lesnar and Heyman walked out. Lesnar smiled as he walked toward the ring. Ambrose met Lesnar at ringside, but Lesnar quickly put him down. Lesnar ran Ambrose into the edge of the ring, threw knees at him, and then whipped him into the barricade.

[Q9] Lesnar rolled Ambrose inside the ring. Brock clotheslined Ambrose. Dean stood up, but Lesnar was there to knock him down with another clothesline. Once Ambrose got to his feet, Lesnar put him down with another F5. Lesnar’s music played and he left the ring with Heyman. In the ring, Ambrose rolled to his side and looked at Lesnar, who turned and looked back to find Ambrose motioning Lesnar to return.

Lesnar went back to the ring and was about to pick up Ambrose when Reigns’ music stopped him in his tracks. Reigns made a rare entrance via the stage. As Reigns headed to the ring, Ambrose sat up and gave Lesnar a low blow. Reigns smiled at ringside. Ambrose stumbled to sell the beating as he left the ring. Ambrose walked by Reigns and appeared to tell him that he told him he didn’t need his help. Ambrose fell onto the ramp. Reigns smiled while standing over Ambrose…

The broadcast team hyped the tables match… [C]

Powell’s POV: Thank you, sir, may I have another? Ambrose has a little Tommy Dreamer thing going on. It suits his character well and I like the way Lesnar went from ultra cocky to showing a little surprise and frustration when Ambrose was calling him back for more. It’s amazing how much the Triple Threat has been built around Lesnar and Ambrose thus far, while Reigns feels like the third wheel. Of course, there’s still time to change that.

5. Kaliso and Sin Cara vs. Rusev and Alberto Del Rio (w/King Barrett). Cole acknowledged that this was Sin Cara’s return to Raw following a shoulder injury.

[Q10] In the end, a brief Barrett distraction led to Del Rio performing his double stomp finisher on Kalisto and then pinning him…

Alberto Del Rio and Rusev defeated The Lucha Dragons in 5:30.

R-Truth was going to the Jimi Hendrix exhibit when he encountered Goldust, who was dressed like Hendrix (sorta) and singing Hendrix songs. Goldust said he’s trying to show him what he’s capable of as a tag partner. He smashed the guitar. Security dragged him away. Truth said Goldust must have Purple Haze on his mind…

Sasha Banks made her entrance. Cole said she would be on commentary… A video package recapped Daniel Bryan’s Occupy Raw segment… [C]

Powell’s POV: The trading of wins between Kalisto and Del Rio doesn’t make me feel like they have a hot rivalry. It makes me feel like their wins and losses don’t really matter. I get the heel going over in the tag match, but we’ve just seen them trade too many wins. Meanwhile, the Goldust and R-Truth segment wasn’t even a little bit funny.

Footage aired of last week’s Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch match with the Naomi and Tamina interference…. Sasha and Becky vs. Naomi and Tamina was announced for Fastlane…

6. Becky Lynch vs. Tamina (w/Naomi). Sasha said Naomi and Tamina turned on her because she’s the Beyonce of the group. She said it’s not her fault that everyone likes her. There was an NXT chant while Tamina worked over Lynch. Tamina jawed at Sasha, who stood up and jawed back at her.

[Q11] Naomi walked over and punched Sasha, then threw punches at her and ran her into the ring steps. Becky left the ring and fought off Naomi and left her on the floor following a suplex. Becky returned to the ring and ran into a big boot from Tamina, who then pinned her…

Tamina defeated Becky Lynch in 3:50.

Backstage, New Day handed a unicorn horn to Mark Henry, who put it on his head and then played Xavier Woods’ trombone poorly. Big E told him the music is all good, but it isn’t anything without the moves. Woods cringed while he played the trombone that Henry just played, and Henry danced along with the other New Day members… [C]

Powell’s POV: Man, Naomi’s attack on Sasha was great. It looked vicious and the crowd gasped at the initial punch she threw. I have no problem with Lynch losing because she did the right thing by trying to help her Fastlane partner, but how many distraction finishes can they do in one night? For that matter, how many people can be thrown into the ring steps in one night? Isn’t being thrown into the steps a Roman Reigns’ specialty? Meanwhile, babyface Henry joins the comedy heels for a table match. That’s heat, brother.

Cole spoke as tweets from Nikki Bella, Kevin Owens, Natalya, and John Cena were shown… Cole shifted the focus to the tables match… Saxton hyped the Jericho vs. Styles match for Smackdown…

New Day made their entrance for the tables match. They introduced Henry as the World’s Strongest Unicorn. Henry skipped and clapped as he joined them on the stage. He had the unicorn horn, but sadly he did not have a pink and blue outfit. The Uso Brothers made their entrance, then the Dudleys came out…

7. The Uso Brothers and The Dudley Boyz vs. New Day and Mark Henry in a tables match. New Day were quickly cleared from the ring, so the babyfaces took turns beating on, well, the fellow babyface. The Uso Brothers performed dives onto the three New Day members on the floor. The fans chanted “tables” as the show went to break.

[Q12] [C] Henry got upset with New Day and told them that no one tells him what to do. Henry walked out on them. The babyfaces did the Whassup spot, which is almost relevant thanks to the James Corden skit on “The Late Late Show” last night. Hey, the fans dig it. In the end, The Dudleys put Big E through a table with 3D to win the match.

The Dudleys and The Uso Brothers beat New Day and Mark Henry in a tables match in 7:35.

After the match, one of the Uso Brothers was holding his knee. The babyface teams celebrated until Bubba clotheslined one Uso and Devon clotheslined the other. They put Jimmy Uso through a table. Jey Uso continued to clutch his knee. He threw a punch at Bubba, but he was quickly beaten down. There was an ECW chant as Bubba performed a Bubba Bomb off the second rope and through another table. Afterward, Bubba asked one of the Uso Brothers if he knows who they are. “We’re the Dudley Boyz and we’re the baddest tag team on the planet.” JBL said he thinks not winning tag team of the year upset the Dudley Boyz…

A Daniel Bryan video package aired. Cole said Bryan is up next live. JBL said it’s going to be emotional. Cole said Bryan returned to his home state to make his announcement in front of family and friends… [C]

Powell’s POV: I really like the Dudley Boyz turning heel. It feels overdue. I hope this means they will be treated like more than a nostalgia act. Either way, an Uso Brothers vs. Dudley Boyz feud could be really good. Here’s hoping they take the time to actually establish the Uso Brothers as characters along the way. Bryan is up next. Have the tissues nearby.

[Overrun] Daniel Bryan made his entrance to a standing ovation and “Yes!” chants. The broadcast team also stood and applauded him. Bryan played the Yes! chants by pumping his arms as he headed to the ring. Once in the ring, he smiled and then closed his eyes. The fans cheered. He smiled again. Bryan closed his eyes again. The crowd cheered and then chanted his name. Bryan’s eyes were red as he smiled again and wiped his mouth as the chant continued.

“So, just now I was able to close my eyes and feel that,” Bryan said. He said they always have to have their eyes open. He said he will never forget that feeling. He said he had to address the giant elephant in the room. The fans chanted no. He cracked that he didn’t want to cut his beard either. He said he cut his hair for a charitable group called Wigs For Kids. Awesome. “Now for some less fun stuff,” he said.

The fans chanted no again. “Trust me, I don’t want me to do this anymore than you guys don’t want me to be doing this.” Bryan said he has been wrestling since he was 18. He said in the first three months of his career, he suffered three concussions. He said he suffered others here and there and when you wrestle 16 years that adds up to a lot of concussions. He said it gets to a point where they tell you that you can’t wrestle anymore.

Bryan said he fought that for a long time because he had numerous evaluations that said he is fine. He said he trained to return and he was ready at a moment’s notice to come back and wrestle. “Because I have loved this in a way that I have never loved anything else,” he said. The crowd responded with a loud “Thank you, Daniel” chant.

“But a week and a half ago, I took a test that said maybe my brain isn’t as okay as I thought it was,” he said. “And I have a family to think about and my wife and I want to start having kids soon.” The crowd cheered and Bryan smiled. They followed up with a “Yes!” chant. “That’s what Brie says all the time,” Bryan cracked with a laugh. The fans chanted holy shit and then “That’s what she said.”

Bryan said that it’s with a heavy heart and with the utmost sadness that he officially announces his retirement. He said he’s been angry, sad, and frustrated, but when he woke up today he felt nothing but gratitude. Bryan said he’s gotten to do what he loves for near 16 years.

Bryan said he wanted to mention a few things that he loves and started with the Seattle Seahawks. He said he gets a weird smirk on his face when his music starts and there’s a weird little sound before it kicks in. He said he loves hitting the ropes and diving through the ropes. “It has made me feel like Superman, and your guys’s reaction to that has made me feel like Superman,” he said.

Bryan said he loves that he has wrestled in the parking lots of gas stations and in the parking lots of New Orleans. He said he loves that he has met the most interesting people on the planet. He praised Kane and William Regal. He said he’s met children who are stronger than he could ever be like Connor Michalek. The fans chanted “Conor.”

Bryan said he is grateful. He said nobody including WWE owes the wrestlers anything. He said they do this because they love to do it. Bryan said it was strange because he wrestled because he loved to do it. He said they got behind him in a way that he didn’t think was possible. He said they got behind him in a way that made him feel like he was “more than just me.” Bryan said he is grateful because a little over two years ago in the same arena the fans hijacked Raw. The fans chanted Yes!

Bryan said they were trying to do a big championship coronation between Randy Orton and John Cena and had all the former champions. Bryan said their unification match was going to be the most important match in WWE history, but the fans wouldn’t stop chanting Daniel Bryan. Another Daniel Bryan chant broke out.

Bryan said that’s not why he’s grateful. He got choked up when he pointed to a fan and said his dad was standing in the same spot. “My dad got to see that,” he said. “His son getting that kind of reaction from all of you people,” Bryan stopped and the fans cheered. “And that was the last time my dad ever got to see me wrestle. And you guys made it special for him and for me and for my entire family.

“I am grateful. I am grateful because of wrestling I got to meet the most wonderful woman in the world who is beautiful, she is smart, and she completes me in a way that I didn’t even think was possible, and that’s because of wrestling.

“I am grateful. I am grateful because I get to come out here in front of what I feel is my hometown fans. I get to announce my retirement in front of a bunch of people who love me, right? That special moment that I had with my dad, I get to share this moment with my mom with my sister with my family with my friends. I get to share that with them, I get to share that with you with my wife in the back. I get to share it with all these wonderful human beings that I have spent the last 15 years of my life with. I am grateful.

“Now tomorrow morning I start a new life. A life where I am no longer a wrestler, but that is tomorrow and that is not tonight. And by damn, I have one more night to feel this energy and to feel this crowd, so if I could just get one last Yes! chant I would really appreciate it.” The crowd obliged and Bryan pumped his arms along with them as his music played. Brie came out pumping her arms and then kissed him once she entered the ring.

Cole said we all have one word for Bryan and that is grateful. Cole hyped that the celebration would continue on the network. Bryan was shown hugging his mother, sister, and family at ringside, then he led another Yes! chant as the show went off the air…

On WWE Network, Vince McMahon, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon joined the crew of wrestlers on the stage and pumped their arms. Bryan made his way around the ring. He greeted fans. He hugged the broadcast team. Cole told him that he loved him. The wrestlers remained on the stage clapping as Bryan continued his lap. The broadcast team spoke about the way Bryan captured the imagination of the fans and how he won the championship at “YestleMania.”

Bryan made it halfway up the ramp. Brie joined him again and they shared another kiss. They led more Yes! chants. Bryan stopped to and shared a hug with Vince. He shook hands with the Dudley Boyz and then headed backstage with Brie walking behind him to close the show…

Powell’s POV: One of the greatest moments in Raw history and perhaps the greatest retirement speech that I have ever heard from an athlete in any sport. Bryan never seemed more at ease on the mic in terms of being comfortable in front of the live crowd. He got choked up, but he was always relaxed and his message was wonderful. It requires a special person to take what is typically a somber affair to turn it into an emotional celebration. Here’s wishing him the best in the next chapter of his life. I don’t think any of us will forget this one.