Saturday night in San Jose California, WWE wrester Daniel Bryan broke "kayfabe". And no one in the building cared. For those who do not know what "kayfabe" is, its the age old tradition in professional wrestling that says you never let the audience know what's "really" going on. Stay in character at all times!

Daniel Bryan was given the impossible task of inducting 8-year-old Connor “The Crusher” Michalek into the WWE Hall of Fame . He handled it with grace and poise, often fighting back tears for the sick child who once put him in the “Yes Lock.” Connor Michalek died on April 25th, 2014 after a five-year battle with cancer. A few weeks earlier, he watched his hero Daniel Bryan win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania. Following the match, the two shared an embrace. It was an emotional moment for both fans of wrestling and Daniel Bryan.

In the end, Daniel Bryan" let the world see Brian Danielson Saturday night. And no one in attendance blamed him one little bit. Bryan was the inductor as Connor became the first professional wrestling fan to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Connor’s father Steve was presented with the inaugural Warrior Award on Connor’s behalf. The elder Michalek's acceptance speech was the highlight of the ceremony.

“Though Connor may not physically be with here with us because of cancer, he sure the hell never let it beat him. Connor took on his illness like a true champion. He always got right back up, stared cancer in the eye, smiled a little brighter, and laughed a little longer.”

                                                    - Steve Michalek

In the end, "Daniel Bryan" let the world see Brian Danielson Saturday night. And no one in attendance blamed him one little bit. Bryan was the inductor as Connor became the first professional wrestling fan to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Connor’s father Steve was presented with the inaugural Warrior Award on Connor’s behalf. The elder Michalek's acceptance speech was the highlight of the ceremony.

"everything I've done...is fiction. It's not real."

                                              - WWE Wrestler Daniel Bryan

Connor suffered from pediatric brain cancer, and when he was just seven years old he made a YouTube video requesting to meet Daniel Bryan, his favorite wrestler. "The Crusher" not only met Bryan, he became close friends with him, as he watched from ringside as Bryan won the WWE title at WrestleMania XXX last year.


That aside, the speech was an unbelievably sweet moment for a guy to talk about a little kid he came to know and love who is now gone. For that, the lines were clear.

And very, very real.

Daniel Bryan @ WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony
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photo by Don Feria/AP Images for WWE

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