Not every WWE storyline reaches the audience, as Bryan Danielson recently revealed when discussing an unused Roman Reigns WWE unseen storyline. This took place during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when WWE events were held inside the ThunderDome, a setup across three Florida arenas without live crowds, substituting real audiences with virtual screens and manipulated crowd reactions controlled from backstage by Vince McMahon.
At this time, Bryan Danielson was actively involved in WWE’s SmackDown creative team, helping craft new storylines. Danielson shared on the podcast Downunder the Ring that he had strongly advocated to introduce Damian Priest in a segment alongside Roman Reigns. Although the idea was set during Vince McMahon’s management of crowd noise and presentation, it ultimately never materialized.
“I had pitched this really hard… We were doing the ThunderDome in Tampa. He was living in Orlando. I thought, like, let’s debut Damian Priest right now. Let’s have him come in. Because he’s tall, he looks like a star, all this kind of stuff.Let’s debut him against Roman, not in a match, but in [a segment], and then let’s hit — because I saw, I saw Vince do this. It was really weird. He was like, ‘I want the crowd noise louder for a certain wrestler, I want it louder.’ Then, other guys were out there, and he goes, ‘That’s too loud. Quieter.’ I was like, ‘Why would you ever make it quieter? ‘So let’s have Damian Priest go out there and let’s hit that noise button. Bring him out, bring him right up, because he looks like a star. He’s taller than Roman. Roman, at that time, was super dominant. It was just a fascinating time period in wrestling. I could geek out about it for a long time.” —Bryan Danielson, Former WWE Star and Creative Team Member
Danielson emphasized the uniqueness of that moment in wrestling history, noting Roman Reigns’ dominance and Damian Priest’s star-worthy presence. Despite the enthusiasm for this storyline, it was shelved amid the unusual production methods in WWE’s pandemic era.
Confusion Over WWE’s Strategy Against AEW
Bryan Danielson also expressed perplexity over WWE’s continued attempts to counterprogram its rival All Elite Wrestling (AEW). WWE has previously scheduled events, like Wrestlepalooza, to overlap directly with AEW’s All Out pay-per-view, prompting AEW to adjust its programming. Danielson finds this approach difficult to understand, especially given AEW’s current status.
“It’s interesting because we’re, we’re not at the point of being a threat. It’s one of the things that people who really crave power and a lot of money play these weird games that I don’t understand.” —Bryan Danielson
With Danielson’s move to AEW and his new commentary role, his observations highlight the fierce competition and strategic maneuvering happening behind the scenes between the two wrestling companies.
The Impact of WWE’s ThunderDome and Crowd Manipulation
The WWE ThunderDome concept had a significant effect on how storylines were presented during the pandemic. Without live audiences, the company relied heavily on virtual fan interactions and real-time control of crowd noise to influence viewer perception. Danielson recalled Vince McMahon’s hands-on management of sound levels to enhance or reduce audience reactions for specific wrestlers, which shaped how characters like Roman and potential debuts such as Damian Priest were introduced.
These controlled conditions created unusual challenges for storytelling in WWE, sometimes affecting the momentum of wrestlers and sidelining innovative ideas that might have resonated more naturally with live crowds.
Bryan Danielson’s Transition and AEW Developments
Following his time in WWE creative, Bryan Danielson has embraced a new role in AEW, postponing neck surgery to focus on commentary duties during AEW Dynamite. His transition marks a significant shift in his wrestling career path and influence within the industry.
Meanwhile, AEW stars like The Young Bucks have enjoyed remarkable success, further heightening the competition between the promotions. AEW’s growing popularity and creative initiatives contrast with the challenges WWE faced during the pandemic with its ThunderDome setup and storyline restrictions.
Why Danielson’s Insights Matter for Wrestling Fans
Danielson’s revelations about the scrapped Roman Reigns WWE unseen storyline offer rare insight into WWE’s pandemic-era production and creative decisions. His firsthand experience sheds light on how the wrestling world adapted to unprecedented restrictions and how influential figures like Vince McMahon devised strategies to maintain viewer engagement.
The decision to omit Damian Priest’s debut feud with Reigns may have denied fans a compelling narrative at a time when live energy was absent. This behind-the-scenes glimpse also emphasizes the intense rivalry between WWE and AEW, with WWE still feeling compelled to undercut AEW even when it seems unnecessary from Danielson’s perspective.
As Danielson continues his AEW career in commentary and other new roles, his inside stories contribute to a broader understanding of wrestling’s evolving landscape and the creative decisions shaping fan experiences.
