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WWE made last-ditch effort to keep Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

WWE made last-ditch effort to keep Bryan Danielson

Bryan Danielson left WWE in 2021, having signed a deal to join Tony Khan's AEW despite the company being in its infancy. During his time with WWE, Danielson was a fan-favorite, and he was in his second stint there, having been forced to medically retire in 2016, only to be cleared in 2018.

Upon joining AEW, Danielson became a star name for the company, proving to be a major draw and one of the most talented wrestlers on a stacked roster. 

In a recent sit-down with Nick Stav via his eponymous YouTube channel, Danielson revealed that Vince McMahon made a last-ditch effort to keep him with the WWE before he debuted at AEW All Out in September 2021. 

"I called Vince in early August because I was going back and forth. I wasn't sure," Danielson said. "I had called Vince because he and I had a really good relationship. I called him in early August and let him know OK, I made my decision and I'm gonna do this. He had called me like one time kind of in the meantime and said like, 'Hey, what if we offered you this instead?' ... If I was somebody to go back on this, I feel like you have a decent amount of respect for me, I feel like you have a decent amount of respect for me, would you still respect me? Like, one of the things you respect about me is I honor my word."

Danielson went on to be crowned as the AEW world champion at AEW All In in 2024, marking the final stages of his wrestling career. He's since retired from in-ring work due to a string of injuries. 

Bryan Danielson will join AEW's commentary team

Since retiring, Danielson has made some spot guest appearances as a member of AEW's commentary team. His latest appearance was at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view in London, England. 

On Sept. 6, Khan revealed that Danielson will be joining the Dymanite commentary team on a full-time basis. 

Danielson's experience in the ring and encyclopedic knowledge of wrestling will make him an ideal addition to AEW's commentary team. It could also be the start of a new career arc for the former technical wrestler, especially if he chooses to pursue it long-term.

Bryan Danielson recently discussed his retirement 

In a recent interview with SENQ 693, Danielson explained why he has no regrets over how his career played out. He admitted that he's proud of the work he put in, and wouldn't change anything.

"I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have some incredible moments and all that kind of stuff," Danielson said. "...There’s not a single thing. I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have some incredible moments and all that kind of stuff."

Looking back, Danielson's decision to join AEW was a wise one. He landed with a company that produced the sort of wrestling he loved, and it gave him a place to shine as a leading example of talent and commitment. The fact that McMahon tried to keep him around speaks volumes to the level of skill Danielson possesses.

Now, AEW fans can look forward to him calling the action every Wednesday and will likely thank McMahon for falling with his last-ditch attempt to keep him in WWE.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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