10 Precise Moments Wrestlers Wanted To Jump Ship

3. Bryan Danielson

Dean Ambrose Gas Mask
AEW

Status In WWE:

A top star without being the top star, Bryan Danielson - which is incredible, given the treatment to which he was subjected in 2010 - had by 2021 evolved into a trusted henchman and saviour figure. Remember what Roman Reigns whispered into Edge's ear? WWE don't. That dry storyline morphed into a Triple Threat. At the very least, Bryan, who enjoyed an ultra-rare degree of creativity, was well thought of enough that Nick Khan pretended to pick up the phone to New Japan Pro Wrestling.

They wouldn't have pretended to do that for just anybody.

Why And When They Wanted To Leave:

Bryan Danielson infamously felt nothing when he starred in the best WWE main roster match of the year on the grandest stage. Ahead of his match against both Edge and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37, Danielson felt empty. This is a man who was on record saying he wanted to wrestle until he was in his 70s. He spent two years in a hyperbaric chamber just to arrive at that moment.

It took Danielson a while to rationalise what this actually meant: he wanted to be a professional wrestler again and assist in unsettling the monopoly for the benefit of the wider industry.

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!