Bryan Danielson wrestled his last match for WWE on April 30, losing to Roman Reigns on SmackDown. Per the stipulation, Bryan was banished from SmackDown.
Danielson contract expired following the bout, making him a free agent. He would officially join AEW at All Out.
While many believe that the choice was between WWE and AEW, Danielson revealed that there were other thoughts going through his mind during the decision-making process.
"A lot of people look at as there being two options; either WWE or AEW. I'm like, 'or I could just do an Independent schedule where I don't sign with anybody. I did (think about it). I also thought about not coming back to wrestling at all, in the sense of at least the next couple of years. I wanted to take the summer off because my daughter started preschool. Just being at home with her every day, she's four, I've left every week or almost every week. I loved it and she loved it, me being home every night. I FaceTime her every night and she's like, 'Daddy, I miss you, I miss your cuddles. Momma doesn't cuddle me like you do.' The idea of stepping away until my son starts preschool so I could be there every day for him and my daughter. Then, I'm missing maybe the four years of my productive athletic career and I might not be the same at 45 as I am at 40," Danielson said on WFAN.
Danielson said that through wrestling, he's become a better person.
When commenting on his future, Danielson said, "I see these next three years as my last three years as a full-time wrestler. I don't want to see it as, 'Okay, he's tapering off.' This is the climax of my career. This is the climax of my career, these next three years. It all starts tomorrow."
Danielson is set to make his AEW in-ring debut on Wednesday at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam when he faces Kenny Omega.
Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Dynamite Grand Slam beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
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