During a recent WWE NXT event, Wren Sinclair competed in a Speed Tournament match where she paid a subtle homage to Bryan Danielson. Sinclair, a member of NXT for several years and former sole female participant of the No Quarter Catch Crew, showcased her technical skill by using a submission move inspired by Danielson. This moment highlighted Sinclair’s respect for Danielson’s wrestling legacy while keeping her own journey in the spotlight.
A Closer Look at Wren Sinclair’s Career and Current Pursuits
Wren Sinclair has been steadily building her presence on the NXT roster and recently created her own faction called WrenQCC. Despite this progress, she is still in pursuit of her inaugural championship title. Sinclair’s match against Nikkita Lyons was marked by intense competition, culminating in Sinclair locking in her adaptation of the “cattle mutilation” submission—a move closely associated with Bryan Danielson in AEW. The tactic successfully forced Lyons to submit, eliciting a strong reaction from the crowd and further establishing Sinclair’s technical prowess.
Controversy Surrounding Bryan Danielson’s Drawing Power
Bryan Danielson is widely regarded as an outstanding technician in professional wrestling, known for his perseverance despite not having a typical wrestler’s physique. However, WWE writer and commentator Vince Russo recently questioned Danielson’s ability to attract mainstream viewers when he briefly held the WWE Championship. Speaking on his podcast, Russo stated that Danielson’s title reign did not generate the anticipated ratings and that his fan base was primarily composed of niche, dedicated wrestling fans rather than the broader casual audience.
“He basically said the people, the marks, the niche audience got behind Daniel Bryan ok. Here is the reality of the situation guys and you can go back and look, when they put the belt on Daniel Bryan, bro they were not drawing ratings. So they listen to more crowd, they listen to their niche audience, Bryan Daniel did not draw, great freakin wrestler, great human being, I love the guy, the reality of the situation, he did not draw as a champion. Why? because the casuals didn’t buy it.” -[28:57-29:38]
Implications for WWE’s Future and Wren Sinclair’s Rising Role
Despite the mixed views on Danielson’s commercial appeal, Wren Sinclair’s tribute reflects the ongoing influence Danielson has on newer talents within WWE. Sinclair’s use of the cattle mutilation submission brings a nod to Danielson’s style while advancing her own career narrative. As WWE’s landscape evolves, attention is turning to whether Sinclair will capture the Women’s Speed Championship and how these emerging wrestlers might shape future headline events, potentially influencing WWE’s main event direction heading into WrestleMania and beyond.
WREN SINCLAIR WINS!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/tHURnl25yc
— Eslam (@EslamRollins) March 4, 2026
