Bryan Danielson, one of the most acclaimed wrestlers of his generation, has provided a candid update on his physical condition and mental state regarding a potential return to the ring, revealing he currently has “no desire” to compete and is prioritizing his long-term health. Danielson has been out of action since losing the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley at AEW WrestleDream on October 12, 2024, ending a run where he knowingly pushed his body despite significant neck issues.
Speaking in recent interviews with Metro and Jamal Niaz (JNMEDIAUK), Danielson painted a picture of someone grappling with the physical toll of a 25-year career but seemingly at peace with the possibility that his in-ring days might be truly over.
“I have no inclination right now, and no desire to wrestle right now,” Danielson stated directly to Metro. He explained that the grueling nature of his final months as a full-time competitor, culminating in the WrestleDream match, paradoxically helped him reach this mindset. “The last six months of my career built up to that I actually, I look at it now as a blessing,” he told Metro. “Because the six months leading into my last match were so hard and my neck was so bad. And, I mean, there’s things that I couldn’t physically do.”
He elaborated on his physical limitations, telling Metro about his match with Kazuchika Okada on October 2, 2024: “What the story should be in that scenario is I’m pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing him, trying to get this fall done in the first 20 minutes… That should have been the story, but my legs just couldn’t do it.”
The severity of the neck injury remains the primary concern. “Yeah, but my neck is wrecked,” Danielson bluntly told Jamal Niaz, a sentiment echoed in other interviews. While he confirmed to Metro he hasn’t undergone surgery yet (“I’m making progress, but that still doesn’t mean I won’t have to get neck surgery. I’m trying to avoid it”), his focus is clear. As he told Fightful in an interview released earlier this year (conducted last December), “My priority is my health… My desire is to not get neck surgery… If I could live comfortably without neck surgery, but it means that I wouldn’t get to wrestle again, I think I’d be okay with that trade-off.” He mentioned trying stem cell therapy and other methods to heal without invasive procedures.
This acceptance marks a stark contrast to his first retirement in WWE in 2016 due to concussion-related issues. “When I was forced to retire the first time… I didn’t want to. I kept fighting, both internally and outwardly, to return,” he recalled to Metro. “Now, I’m at peace with it… When the last match came against Moxley, I was ready. And that’s a good place to be.”
While seemingly content, Danielson hasn’t completely shut the door. When asked about potentially wrestling at major upcoming AEW shows like Forbidden Door in London or All In at Wembley Stadium, he gave specific odds. “I’m like, 95% chance no,” he told Metro. However, he acknowledged a small possibility remains under specific circumstances: “But the reality is that, say you have a big main event and something happens where somebody gets hurt, and Tony [Khan] says, ‘Hey Bryan, we need you for this thing, is there something you could do?’ Yeah, there’s something I could do. I just have to be careful.”
Ultimately, Danielson emphasized a perspective gained from his experiences and family life. “It’s risk versus reward at this point, right? So I want to be able to live comfortably with my wife and kids,” he explained to Jamal Niaz. “One of the things our society has a real problem with is realizing when enough is enough, and I’m very satisfied with my career, and I think enough is enough.” He added in his Daily Star interview, “I did 25 years of wrestling, and I loved it, and I’m satisfied, and it feels like enough right now.”
Though not currently wrestling, Danielson remains involved with AEW, confirming to the Daily Star he acts as a “consultant,” clarifying, “People may think it’s creative, some of it is, but it’s very little of it.” He is also known to be part of AEW’s disciplinary committee. For now, his focus remains on recovery, family, and potentially pursuing other passions like jiu-jitsu recreationally once his body allows, accepting that his legendary in-ring career may have reached its conclusion.
