By Jason Powell
The following is live notes of the WWE Raw pre-show that is being broadcast on the WWE Network. Refresh the page for the latest updates. 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.
-Footage aired of Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella arriving at the building in Seattle as Scott Stanford recapped Bryan announcing via Twitter that he is retiring.
-Stanford, David Otunga, Corey Graves, and Booker T hosted the show from WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. They continued to speak about Daniel Bryan. Booker said Bryan is the ultimate underdog. He took credit for naming him D-Bryan. Booker said Bryan underwent multiple surgeries and coming back from
-Graves said he knows how bad it sucks to retire due to injury. He did not mention the nature of either injury. He said he followed Bryan closely and he had a tremendous influence on the entire wrestling industry. Graves said he knows he uses that term dangerously, but wrestling is what Bryan lived for.
-Otunga spoke about hearing about Bryan and being anxious to see him wrestle. He said he couldn’t believe Bryan was the guy everyone was talking about when they saw him backstage, but then he saw him wrestle.
-Graves spoke about how Bryan made the fans feel. He said he doesn’t think Bryan realizes what an impact Bryan had on the roster today. Graves said guys like Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn may not be in WWE today if it wasn’t for Bryan.
-Graves said it still hurts that he can’t wrestle and so he knows Bryan’s heart is broken. “But if that’s what his body is telling him then it’s the right thing to do.”
-Booker said a lot of people don’t know that he was at a crossroads with a neck injury following a match with Cody Rhodes. He said he needed surgery or he would need to retire. Booker said money will be tight for Bryan now that he’s stepping away from the business. He wonders what will happen to Bryan’s quality of life if he wants to continue to do this after his retirement.
-A Bryan tribute video aired.
-Graves said his son knows Bryan as the ultimate underdog and there will be an entire generation of fans who do as well. He said a lot of people at the sports stadiums may not even realize where the “Yes!” chant came from because it’s become so big.
-Graves said that Bryan was not expecting to retire at age 34. He said believes if anyone can adapt it’s Bryan. “We hope,” Booker said.
-Stanford asked whether Bryan is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Otunga and Graves said yes. “I don’t know about that,” Booker said.
-A video package focussed on the Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose issues from last week’s Raw.
-The contract signing for the Fastlane main event between Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose will be held on Raw.
Powell’s POV: I can’t believe WWE continues to put Booker on live television. He’s usually safe hidden away on the Raw Pre Show, but you know they can’t be thrilled with him talking about Bryan’s financial situation, questioned whether he can make the transition, or whether he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer. Don’t get me wrong, it makes for interesting television, but I’ll bet he gets an earful after the show. My network feed froze a couple times, so I didn’t catch the last minute of the show before it was time for Raw to begin.
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