Long-time AEW competitor Bryan Danielson is not expected to resume in-ring competition after his retirement match, according to comments from his longtime rival Nigel McGuinness. Danielson ended his full-time wrestling career at AEW WrestleDream in October 2024 but has remained involved with AEW backstage and as part of the Dynamite commentary team. This has raised questions about whether a Bryan Danielson AEW return might be on the horizon, though McGuinness expressed doubt during an interview on The Magic of Wrestling.
Nigel McGuinness Reflects on Danielson’s Retirement and Possible Return
Nigel McGuinness, who recently returned to wrestling after a lengthy break and now serves as an announcer for AEW Collision, weighed in on Danielson’s future in the ring. While McGuinness acknowledged that Danielson could potentially return, he suggested it is unlikely and linked any motivation for a comeback to jealousy of McGuinness’s own return. He said,
“I think the only reason he might do that is because he sees me do it, and once again, jealousy becomes a factor and he realises ‘I was never as good a wrestler as Nigel when I was full-time, now I could come back…’ so I don’t think so.”
Nigel indicated that Danielson seems focused on his personal life, particularly spending time with his children, and implied family considerations are important in his decision to stay retired.
Family Life and New Roles Keep Danielson Away from Wrestling
McGuinness further commented that Danielson is likely committed to his family life and has probably promised his spouse he would avoid returning to strenuous wrestling schedules. He humorously noted,
“He doesn’t want to get on the wrong side of her as well, she clearly wears the pants in the relationship.”
Additionally, McGuinness expressed that Danielson appears dedicated to transitioning into a full-time commentary role without returning to active competition:
“I don’t see it happening. I think he’s trying to really transition and steal one more thing from me when it comes to commentary, so I don’t see it happening.”
The History and Ongoing Rivalry Between McGuinness and Danielson
The rivalry between Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness has been a defining storyline spanning many years. Their most recent encounter, held at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam in September 2023, ended with Danielson securing a victory that mirrored their previous match nearly fifteen years ago in Ring of Honor. Since then, McGuinness has been more active in the AEW ring, with his latest bout being a loss to IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. at the Forbidden Door event. Despite wrestling, McGuinness continues to blend his dual roles in AEW, holding a single contract covering both commentary and in-ring duties.
Implications for the Future of Bryan Danielson and AEW
Given these insights from McGuinness, it appears that Bryan Danielson’s focus has firmly shifted away from wrestling toward family life and commentary work. His retirement at WrestleDream marked a significant turning point, and his choice to remain active behind the scenes and on commentary suggests AEW will continue to benefit from his experience without seeing him return to the ring. Fans eager for a Bryan Danielson AEW return may need to adjust expectations, as personal priorities and new professional roles seem to take precedence. Meanwhile, McGuinness’s ongoing presence both as a wrestler and commentator keeps the dynamic between the two figures relevant in AEW programming.
