AEW’s Bryan Danielson clarifies plans for in-ring future
Bryan Danielson has clarified some of the comments he made on AEW Collision about his in-ring future.
Danielson cut a promo on Saturday’s show and said he promised his six-year-old daughter he would start finishing up his career when she turns seven next May. He recently told Sports Illustrated this means potentially “closing up shop” next summer.
“In my mind, it’s around August of next year,” Danielson said. “My daughter will say, ‘Daddy, are you going to be done wrestling when I turn seven?’ And I’ll respond, ‘Well, not exactly when you turn seven, but I’ll be on the home stretch.’”
However, Danielson does not believe he’ll ever truly retire for good. He expanded on what his in-ring future could look like, including the possibility of him going years between matches.
“I don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I declare I’m absolutely done,” Danielson continued. “I want the ability to show up when I want to show up. Terry Funk is someone I always admired. He retired a million times, but he loved it so much he couldn’t help but keep doing it. And he did it when he wanted. For me, it might be a couple times a year, or it might be years between matches.”
“I didn’t get a chance to do All In this year. I would like that chance next year. We have a show, WrestleDream, this October 1 in Seattle where I’m wrestling Zack Sabre Jr. If we have another next year in Seattle? Maybe it will be then. My daughter turns seven in May, so it’s a good time to close down the shop.”
Danielson also noted that his AEW contract expires shortly after his daughter’s birthday.
There is still much Danielson wants to accomplish with his in-ring career. He mentioned missing All In at Wembley Stadium recently and wanting to work the event next year. Danielson also noted that he always wanted to wrestle for DEFY in his hometown as well.
“I always thought I’d wrestle until the day I die,” he continued. “But it’s not going to be this regular, weekly wrestling. I don’t even know if it’s going to be wrestling at big shows. I’ve always wanted to wrestle for DEFY in Seattle. How easy would it be for me to call the promoter and pop in some weekend? They wouldn’t even need to promote me. I could come in, surprise people, and do my thing.”
Another factor playing into Danielson’s decision is the rate of injuries he has suffered of late.
“There is the realization that over the past year, I’m getting hurt after every big match I have,” said Danielson. “That’s a sign. I love wrestling, but I do not want to wrestle at the expense of my long-term health. I did the Iron Man match with Max, and then I didn’t wrestle again until Anarchy in the Arena, and even that was a lot of smoke and mirrors. Then I wrestle Okada and I break my arm. The injuries are starting to pile up. At what point is that worth the risk? Especially when my kids want and need me at home.”
Danielson’s next big match is scheduled for October 1 in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena at AEW WrestleDream. He will wrestle Zack Sabre Jr. on the show.
