WWE/NJPW News: Daniel Bryan gives Bullet Club permission to use his 'YES!' chant
What's the story?
In a recent Q&A session held on Twitter, SmackDown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan gave Bullet Club members The Young Bucks permission to use his iconic 'YES!' taunt going forward.
In case you didn't know...
Despite his forced retirement in February 2016, Daniel Bryan's 'YES!' chant is still heard around professional wrestling areas all over the world. The chant initially started out as a heel move, a sign of over-exuberant celebration by the then-heel World Heavyweight Champion Bryan, who attempted to quash the crowd's adoption of it by chanting 'NO!' instead.
Bryan soon became the most popular star of an entire generation, and the 'YES!' chant has become one of the most loved chants in all of wrestling. Bryan is rumoured to be itching for a return to the ring when his WWE contract ends, and there is a chance we will see the originator use it again in 2018.
The Young Bucks have fallen foul of WWE's legal team in recent months, for their frequent use of famous WWE-trademarked mannerisms such as the 'Too Sweet' and crotch chop, not to mention a Twitter feud with The Revival.
The heart of the matter
During the Twitter Q&A, Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks asked Bryan whether Bullet Club could use the chant, making it clear that they would edit it slightly in order to avoid further legal complications with WWE.
Bryan responded in the affirmative, although he made it clear that he wouldn't be able to do the chant as they were intending, due to his supposed lack of co-ordination.
Rumours of Daniel Bryan eventually making the move to New Japan Pro Wrestling have long made the rounds in the wrestling world, and the latest interaction between Bryan and the Bucks will surely get tongues wagging even more.
What's next?
The next major NJPW event takes place this coming Saturday, in the shape of Destruction in Hiroshima, headlined by Hiroshi Tanahashi's IWGP Intercontinental Championship defence against Zack Sabre Jr.
The Young Bucks aren't booked for the Destruction shows, however, as they will be preparing ahead of the forthcoming ROH Death Before Dishonor XV show.
The Bucks will team up with the currently missing Hangman Page on the show, to defend the ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship against the winner of an earlier match between The Kingdom and the team of Bully Ray and The Briscoes.
Author's take
Like many other fans in the wrestling world, I'm torn over the prospect of Daniel Bryan turning up in New Japan. Whilst I would love to see him in the ring again, there will always be a prevailing health issue. Bryan is the ultimate professional though, and would obviously work to his limitations.
Maybe he'll have to learn how to mix the two taunts sooner rather than later.