Danielson is reaching the swan song of his career, and is facing some physical hurdles.
Danielson noted on AEW programming recently how AEW doctors did not want him to wrestle until All In. Fightful Select reported shortly after that wasn’t a work, and was closer to the truth than many realized.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp has learned some specifics about Danielson’s path to AEW All In, which we’re told had been planned since at least the Spring. While Danielson was approved to wrestle at All In and against Jeff Jarrett, he actually wasn’t cleared by AEW medical to participate in AEW Blood and Guts. The last few months had made AEW aware that Danielson’s run, and even possible matches after All In could be fewer than expected. As a result, Danielson worked only worked one match in the month and a half between the Owen Hart Foundation tournament and AEW All In.
Universally adored, Bryan Danielson has legitimately been working without a contract for three weeks, and has continued his disciplinary committee duties, in addition to contributing creatively. From what we understand, Danielson has done this just under the terms of his AEW talent deal.
AEW sources tell us they expect renewed efforts for some sort of working agreement whenever his current run concludes. Those that we've heard from over the last three years often spoke about the trust Tony Khan has in Danielson and the latter's transparent nature about situations.
Danielson's selfless nature contrasts from his first AEW scrum where he joked that he didn't want to help anyone and just wanted to beat everyone. Danielson repeatedly and sincerely lobbied against becoming a champion in All Elite Wrestling, much like Sting had. With Danielson it extended to lobbying to lose the vast majority of his matches, and some saying that Danielson even seemed like he would often regret some that he won.
We haven't been told that Danielson has been saying his goodbyes, but he's also expected to remain around All Elite Wrestling following the conclusion of his run as an in-ring wrestler. He's been very transparent in saying that he wants to continue contributing to All Elite Wrestling after his neck is taken care of, and said that he could only seen himself back in WWE in the event that the wrestling industry needs him to be there. WWE sources claim they've not reached out, but claim he's widely loved within their company as well, and respect his contributions to wrestling
Bryan Danielson is AEW World Champion, something he wasn’t keen on happening for a long time.
Fightful had confirmed the word that Danielson had often and actively pushed against winning championships in AEW. However, ultimately, he gave in, and we’re told that AEW founder Tony Khan was adamant that Danielson become AEW Champion at some point. Specifically, we’re told Khan wanted the closing moment of AEW All In with Danielson celebrating as champion.
Those that we spoke with immediately after the show claimed that the decision for Danielson vs. Swerve to main event All In and for Danielson to main event was made “at least by April.” Swerve vs. Ospreay as many had theorized, hadn’t been planned, with one source noting that “Ospreay will have chances to main event Wembley for years to come.”
There were jokes backstage of a “reverse Montreal screwjob” to ensure that Danielson actually won the match. As we’d reported last night, Danielson’s in-ring mortality so to speak came into focus way more over the last couple of months, as he worked very banged up on the road to AEW All In.
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