10 Times You Thought Wrestlers Were Finished (& Were DEAD WRONG!)

3. Bryan Danielson

CM Punk WWE Not Done
WWE

Bryan Danielson's days as a hard-nosed full-timer look to be over following AEW's WrestleDream 2024 pay-per-view. If so, then bless him for bravely fighting back from "career-ending" injuries in 2018, then for having the guts to go have his freedom and fun in AEW from 2021 onwards.

You've got to admire that kind of passion.

Everyone was thrilled to see the then-Daniel Bryan trade playing SmackDown GM for active wrestling. His comeback at WrestleMania 34 was sweet, and a later WWE Title reign was as unpredictable as it was creatively fulfilling. To go from that to backing himself by kissing a cushy gig goodbye shows the mettle of the man.

Bryan wanted to wrestle on his terms, and that's really cool. He hasn't bashed WWE, but instead focused on trying to make AEW a better place both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. Even those who normally despise being wrong must've been delighted to admit they were when he thundered back into view crying, "YES! YES! YES!".

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.