AEW's Bryan Danielson Clarifies His Retirement Plans

Bryan Danielson doesn't view retirement the same way other wrestlers do...

By Connor Casey

Bryan Danielson announced on the latest episode of AEW Collision that he's planning to end his tenure as a full-time wrestler next year. However, Danielson made it clear in a new interview with Sports Illustrated this week that the change won't mean he'll stop wrestling. In fact, the former world champion doesn't see himself ever fully retiring. After returning from his injury at All Out in an outstanding Strap Match with Ricky Starks, Danielson's next advertised match is against Zack Sabre Jr. at the WrestleDream pay-per-view on Oct. 1. 

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"I don't think I'll ever reach a point where I declare I'm absolutely done," Danielson said. "I want the ability to show up when I want to show up. Terry Funk is someone I always admired. He retired a million times, but he loved it so much he couldn't help but keep doing it. And he did it when he wanted. For me, it might be a couple times a year, or it might be years between matches."

"In my mind, it's around August of next year," he continued. "My daughter will say, 'Daddy, are you going to be done wrestling when I turn seven?' And I'll respond, 'Well, not exactly when you turn seven, but I'll be on the home stretch.' I didn't get a chance to do All In this year. I would like that chance next year. We have a show, WrestleDream, this October 1 in Seattle where I'm wrestling Zack Sabre Jr. If we have another next year in Seattle? Maybe it will be then. My daughter turns seven in May, so it's a good time to close down the shop."

AEW Dynamite Card (Sept. 13, 2023)

  • AEW International Championship: Jon Moxley vs. Big Bill
  • AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament Final: Samoa Joe vs. Roderick Strong
  • AEW Women's World Championship No. 1 Contender's Match: Dr. Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Toni Storm vs. Hikaru Shida
  • Hangman Page vs. Brian Cage
  • Promos from Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara and Don Callis

AEW Grand Slam 2023 Card

  • AEW World Championship: MJF vs. Samoa Joe/Roderick Strong
  • AEW Women's World Championship: Saraya vs. TBD
  • ROH World Championship & NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston
  • Chris Jericho vs. Sammy Guevara

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