Bryan Danielson, AEW's top lead analyst, has accepted the harsh reality that his full-time wrestling career is indeed over. The 48-year-old, famously known as "The American Dragon," had been hopeful of making occasional returns to the ring despite a lingering neck injury that ended his reign as AEW World Champion at WrestleDream 2024.
In an honest and candid interview with Chris Van Vliet on "Insight with Chris Van Vliet", Danielson admitted that his earlier aspirations to make sporadic comebacks were nothing more than "delusions". The harsh truth hit him once he resumed a regular travel schedule for his commentary role, which has taken its physical toll. The reality check set in, and the former wrestler has now acknowledged that his best days in the ring are behind him.
Danielson expressed relief at having put to rest the idea of returning to active competition, stating that traveling for work had become unbearable. "This traveling is like, 'Okay, yeah, that would not be a good idea'," he said. The pain and discomfort had likely eroded any progress he could have made during his time off.
Although Danielson wouldn't confirm his retirement outright, he did acknowledge that if he were to return, it would be impossible for him to regain his former level of performance. "Never be the same performer" is a poignant phrase that seems to encapsulate his newfound acceptance of this reality. The era of Bryan Danielson as the dynamic force in professional wrestling has come to an end.
In an honest and candid interview with Chris Van Vliet on "Insight with Chris Van Vliet", Danielson admitted that his earlier aspirations to make sporadic comebacks were nothing more than "delusions". The harsh truth hit him once he resumed a regular travel schedule for his commentary role, which has taken its physical toll. The reality check set in, and the former wrestler has now acknowledged that his best days in the ring are behind him.
Danielson expressed relief at having put to rest the idea of returning to active competition, stating that traveling for work had become unbearable. "This traveling is like, 'Okay, yeah, that would not be a good idea'," he said. The pain and discomfort had likely eroded any progress he could have made during his time off.
Although Danielson wouldn't confirm his retirement outright, he did acknowledge that if he were to return, it would be impossible for him to regain his former level of performance. "Never be the same performer" is a poignant phrase that seems to encapsulate his newfound acceptance of this reality. The era of Bryan Danielson as the dynamic force in professional wrestling has come to an end.
. it's crazy how our bodies just don't recover like they used to 
. I remember watching him wrestle at WrestleMania and thinking he was invincible 
. now he's got to accept that his time in the ring is over, which is hard for any athlete to do... I hope he finds a way to stay involved in wrestling without putting himself through all that stress and pain 
.
He was such a dominant force in the ring, especially during his reign as AEW World Champion 
. It's hard to imagine anyone else holding that title with such ease 
, it's time for him to focus on his commentary role and share his expertise with the world 
. His honesty is a testament to his character, and I appreciate how he's taken responsibility for not being able to regain his former level of performance 
. The wrestling world will miss him, but we'll always cherish the memories of "The American Dragon" in action 
#RIPBryanDanielson #TheAmericanDragon #AEW #WrestlingLegends
. But if I'm being real, BD knows what's best for his body, and if he can't be at 100%, it's better to just hang up the boots.
. He's been one of my favorite wrestlers for ages and to see him struggling with his neck injury made me really concerned about his well-being 
. It's great that Bryan Danielson is prioritizing his health over his career aspirations, though. He's definitely had an amazing run and I'm grateful for all the epic matches he was a part of 
.
. You'd think it would be less physically demanding than in-ring performances, but I guess not 
. Either way, Bryan Danielson is still an iconic figure in the wrestling world and his expertise as a commentator won't disappear anytime soon 
.
. Who knows? Maybe we'll see more of him behind the commentary desk or even in other creative roles 
. I get why traveling for commentary work is taking a toll on him - it's no joke, all those hours on the road can't be easy 
. He's right, if he were to come back to wrestling, he'd never be able to match his old form 
. It makes sense that traveling for work took its toll on him, though - I've been on some grueling road trips myself (bad jokes aside) 
. Anyway, it's cool that he's being real about his limitations and can just focus on enjoying the rest of his career as a commentator... plus who knows, maybe he'll still pop up for an AEW special every now and then 
!
i remember when he won the AEW world title at WrestleDream 2024, what a moment 
what do u think is gonna happen to his commentary work tho? will he still be able to provide those epic insights for us 
travel schedule for commentary work is no joke, gotta respect him for recognizing that it's taking its toll. still sad to see the american dragon fly away, but i guess we got some awesome memories of his time in the ring 
. He's one of the smartest guys in the game, it's about time he prioritized his health over his wrestling dreams. That commentary gig isn't gonna take care of itself, and I'm sure he's happy to be getting paid to talk wrestling instead of taking a beating 
. The American Dragon may have retired, but his legacy lives on 
!
. On the flip side, it's sad to see The American Dragon hang up his boots for good 
... I mean, if he knew even now that he wouldn't be able to perform at the same level? 
i mean, have you ever had a KitKat with green tea infused into it? game changer! anyway, back to bryan danielson... 48 is still pretty young for retiring from wrestling, but i guess his body has other plans 
. i remember watching him wrestle at nxt and he was just so good, it's sad that he can't do what he loves anymore 
all day. Tho its not like he's gonna be stuck there forever, right? He can always keep his input and share his expertise without actually having to endure the pain and fatigue of being in the ring 