As many of you know Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) is reportedly headed to AEW after over a decade in WWE.
- This news is shocking as most expected Bryan to end his career under the WWE banner. However, if you have followed Bryan especially since his neck injuries and concussions, this news is not surprising at all.
Bryan was actually going to leave the company in 2018 when his deal was up. This was going to be due to several doctors clearing him, yet WWE refusing to do so. It wasn’t so much Bryan vs. Vince McMahon, but rather Bryan vs. Dr. Maroon. It was always confirmed that Vince would go along with whatever Dr. Maroon said as far as Bryan’s status would go.
It even appeared on TV that the stage was being set for Bryan’s eventual departure.
However shortly before WrestleMania 34, Bryan was cleared and a new deal was signed. Now while AEW was not announced yet, All In was and there was buzz that Bryan could be at that show and that was why WWE cleared him. The 2018 deal was a deal that wasn’t about each other’s love for the other, but rather a deal that both sides had to make. WWE made the deal to keep Bryan under control, and Bryan signed the deal as a thank you for clearing him.
Bryan Danielson was never a WWE guy. Sure they pushed him, gave him runs but he was never the guy the company would get behind.
Did they know his value? Sure, but it was what they wanted it to be? No, not anywhere near it.
Bryan has a wrestling bucket list at this point in his life and career. He is a father now and his body is nowhere near what it was even 5 years ago. His time left in ring is going to be limited. WWE tried to get a deal with New Japan to keep Bryan but how hard did they actually push for it? Would Bryan have truly stayed if the deal got made?
Possibly but who knows.
The bottom line is Bryan’s departure from the company was 3 years in the making so no one should be surprised.
Enjoy what he does next for as long as we can.