Bryan Danielson: 'Why I Can't Wrestle AEW's Main Event Style Anymore'
A depressing admission from Bryan Danielson, but health 100% comes first.
Bryan Danielson has openly admitted that wrestling the rugged style required for AEW pay-per-view main events is "not something [his] body can really do anymore". The BCC member has also ruled himself out of ever being at the top of the card as AEW World Champion - he doesn't think that's his "place" in 2024.
Danielson told Sports Illustrated that his career clock is winding down. Retirement feels imminent, because he has to listen to his body first and foremost. Bryan hasn't always done that throughout his runs in ROH, WWE and AEW, but things are different now.
Further, Danielson remarked that he doesn't want to be in charge of his own creative. Truthfully, he felt the same over in WWE too. It's hard for someone to be objective and fair when they're in complete control of everything their character does on-screen, basically.
A WWE writer once asked Bryan what he wanted to do. His answer? "I remember saying I didn’t want to talk about what I wanted to do. I don’t think you can be objective about that stuff".
Nothing has changed for him in that respect since joining AEW. One thing that has changed? His physical ability to regularly work epic main event matches to the required standard.