Bryan Danielson remains open to returning to the wrestling ring but feels far more assured in his retirement now compared to when he first stepped away in 2016. After announcing his retirement on WWE Raw in February 2016, Danielson was medically cleared to compete again a little over two years later. His active wrestling career concluded in October 2024 when he lost the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley. Recently, during an interview with Australia’s Nine Network, he shared insights on how his current retirement mindset differs from before.
Contentment in Choosing His Own Path
Danielson expressed a deep sense of peace with his decision to retire, emphasizing the difference between retiring on his own terms and being forced to stop wrestling due to injury or external factors.
“I feel infinitely more content, honestly,”
he said. He stressed that making this choice independently has allowed him to experience a different type of fulfillment.
“My life has changed and it’s different when it’s your own decision as opposed to when you’re not allowed to do this thing that you love anymore.”
Managing Physical Challenges While Staying Positive
Despite still experiencing neck discomfort, particularly during travel, Danielson maintains a positive outlook. He acknowledged the physical toll wrestling has taken but shared,
“I would mostly frame it that even though I’m in physical discomfort, I’m pretty happy.”
This acceptance reflects his adjustment to life beyond full-time competition.
Future Wrestling Plans Focus on Family and Health
Danielson made it clear that if he returns to wrestling, the intensity and frequency will be significantly reduced.
“My body physically can’t do some of those things anymore. If I’m going to do it, it can’t be at the scale that I did it before.”
His priority now is his family, especially spending time with his children.
“If I tried to do some of the things I did in my last year with AEW right now, I don’t think I’d be able to go back and hold my kids. Anything that I would do moving forward has to be with that in mind, because that is now my number one priority.”
He added,
“Stay healthy, be at home and play with my kids and coach my son’s tee-ball team.”
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Matches and Retirement Thoughts
Danielson also touched on thoughts about retirement following his upcoming match against Swerve Strickland at Wembley Stadium and AEW’s scheduled events in Australia. The interview provided a full glimpse into his evolving perspective on wrestling and life after the ring, highlighting the balance he seeks between his career and personal priorities.
