Bryan Danielson Takes Shot at WWE in Now-Deleted Tweet About the “YES!” Chant
Bryan Danielson has never been afraid to speak his mind, and this week “The American Dragon” seemingly fired a not-so-subtle shot at WWE before quickly deleting it.
As we previously reported here at Wrestling.news, Danielson had been warned by WWE officials not to use his iconic “YES!” chant—despite the gesture being one of the defining elements of his career. Fans have long debated its true origin, and Danielson himself has voiced frustration over being told to abandon something so closely tied to his identity.
When a fan resurfaced an old 2001 clip of Danielson shouting “YES!” after a win over Chance Beckett—years before UFC’s Diego Sanchez popularized the chant in MMA—Danielson cheekily responded on X (formerly Twitter):
“So, what you’re saying is…” - Bryan Danielson on X, post now deleted.
— John Doe (@Metalingus12) September 1, 2025
The post was quickly deleted, but the implication was clear: Danielson considers himself the rightful originator of the chant and believes he should be free to use it. Whether the deletion came at the request of AEW legal advisors or simply Danielson’s instinct to avoid reigniting a fight with WWE, the brief jab still lit up the wrestling world.
Danielson’s Return To AEW TV
The controversy comes just as Danielson has been reappearing on AEW programming. After being dethroned by Jon Moxley at WrestleDream 2024, Danielson resurfaced at All In: Texas, helping Darby Allin fend off The Death Riders. He’s also lent his voice to commentary duties at AEW Dynamite in Glasgow and during Forbidden Door, where he cheekily encouraged the crowd to chant “YES!” despite the looming WWE restrictions.
Whether Danielson wrestles again or not, his presence—and his willingness to push back against WWE’s claims over the chant—ensures that the debate isn’t going away any time soon.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
This feels like classic Danielson: cheeky, defiant, and unwilling to let WWE rewrite history. By deleting the tweet, he may have dodged a legal headache, but he also sent a loud message to fans—that he’s not letting the “YES!” movement die. The real intrigue? WWE may be forced to respond if crowds keep chanting it during AEW events, especially with Danielson stirring the pot.
