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WWE releases touching YouTube tribute to Connor 'The Crusher' Michalek

Emotional YouTube video released as tribute to Daniel Bryan's biggest fan

Martin Hines
Thursday 08 May 2014 09:14 BST
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Young Connor (right) performs the Yes! Lock on his hero, the WWE Superstar, Daniel Bryan
Young Connor (right) performs the Yes! Lock on his hero, the WWE Superstar, Daniel Bryan (YOUTUBE)

Connor Michalek was a little boy with big dreams in 2012, when he met his hero, the WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan before an episode of Monday Night Raw. Connor gave himself a wrestling moniker of ‘The Crusher’, and his charisma and warmth was clearly evident during his interactions with WWE talent.

Michalek suffered from brain cancer, and the meeting was set up as a result of WWE’s relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with Connor the first ever Make-A-Wish request for Bryan.

Scroll down to watch the video

The two became friends, and reunited two years later, firstly at another episode of Raw, and then over the weekend of WrestleMania 30 - a pivotal period in time for both. Bryan was experiencing the biggest moment of his professional career at the event, becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, while Connor was defying the medical world, as he had not been given much time to live the month before WrestleMania.

The youngster sat front row at the event, and watched as Bryan competed twice that evening.

Moments after the Superstar claimed the second of his wins, he headed straight towards Conor, and he celebrated with the boy who had witnessed his hero achieve his dreams, as he experienced his own.

Later that month, the desperately sad news was announced that Michalek had died on April 25th, at just 8 years old. His death was mourned all over the world, and his tenacity, personality, and cheekiness are perfectly displayed in the touching video which saw his interactions with many WWE Superstars and Divas during his his trip to Monday Night Raw in Washington, D.C. and his experience at WrestleMania 30.

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