After several months away from the ring, former AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson made a notable comeback at last month’s Grand Slam event in Mexico. The week following his return, Danielson participated in his first match in over eight months during the AEW Collision tapings, signaling a potential return to active competition. His comeback has drawn significant attention from wrestling fans and industry insiders alike, especially given his previous injury-related break.
Teddy Long Aligns Danielson with Legendary Comebacks in Wrestling
WWE Hall of Famer and former SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long shared praise for Danielson after witnessing his swift return to action. On The Wrestling Time Machine podcast aired by Sportskeeda WrestleBinge, Long likened Danielson’s comeback to other iconic wrestlers such as Cope—formerly known as Edge—and Kurt Angle, both of whom returned from career-threatening injuries. Danielson’s recent squash match against Max Caster, a former AEW Tag Team Champion, was decisive as Danielson forced Caster to submit in under 10 seconds.
Speaking on the resilience required to return after serious injuries, Long explained the mindset of veteran wrestlers:
“Guys can say they’re injured, they’ll never return, I’m done, You ain’t got to worry about me coming back, and six months down the road, there they are again. Same thing with Edge. You know, he was told not to get back. Look at him, he’s right back in there. Same thing with Kurt Angle, another guy that was told, but he went on and got back in too. So, you know, these guys have got that in their blood. They’re like me, they’ve done this all their life. And it’s just, you know, if you can still continue to be a part of it and help the company, then I think that’s what they want to do,” Long said. —Teddy Long, WWE Hall of Famer
Uncertainty Surrounds Danielson’s Future in AEW and Upcoming Events
Despite the impressive return, it remains unclear if Bryan Danielson’s appearance will lead to a full-time comeback in the AEW roster. The wrestling community is closely monitoring how this development will unfold. Meanwhile, AEW is preparing for a major milestone with its first-ever pay-per-view event in Texas, titled All In: Texas, scheduled for Saturday, July 12, 2025. This event may provide additional clues regarding Danielson’s role moving forward.
