A new report claims to have information on the circumstances of Daniel Bryan debuting in All Elite Wrestling with rumours swirling that he has signed with the company.
Daniel Bryan hasn’t been seen on WWE television since April 30th, where he was defeated by Universal Champion Roman Reigns on SmackDown. In fact, Daniel Bryan hasn’t been under contract with WWE since his latest deal expired that very night.
The new report from Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net notes that according to a source they have spoken to, Bryan has already signed with AEW. The report goes on to say that Bryan wanted an easier schedule, the ability to work in Japan and creative input over his character.
This was followed up by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, who gave his take on the status of Daniel Bryan – who in his pre-WWE life wrestled under his real name of Bryan Danielson. Meltzer says Bryan’s future looked to be tied up in his desire to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and any company that had a relationship with them looked to be the favourites to sign him.
Meltzer explained:
“I know [AEW]’ve been talking to Bryan Danielson for a while as well. As far as Bryan Danielson goes, there’s a lot of factors that we’re going into whatever decision he would make and it was New Japan, AEW and WWE, I don’t think that he considered anybody else. He has loyalty to WWE. Loyalty to Vince McMahon and has a lot of friends in WWE. At the same time, the company with the relationship with New Japan was going to be the favourite to get him. Nick Khan was trying to make that deal and apparently, he did not. And just watching the show tonight, watching a New Japan championship change hands on an AEW show, and seeing Hikuleo, a New Japan guy, and Yuji Nagata and other guys that are probably going to be coming, AEW has a relationship with New Japan and it does not appear that that is going to change. So that in fact would make AEW the favourites.”
“I know that you [Bryan Alvarez] have said before this ever got out that you had heard that he was gonna debut in New York nd it’s been reported today that he’s gonna debut in New York. So I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s true, but I certainly cannot confirm that. But from day one, the company that has the relationship with New Japan was the favourite. […] “The only thing I know is Danielson in the fall somewhere and as far as where I would certainly say AEW is the favourite because they got the new Japan deal.”
Now Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net has given more information around when Bryan would likely debut for the company. Haynes reports that tentative plans within AEW will see Daniel Bryan debut at AEW Grand Slam to be held in the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on September 22nd. The report also states that the plan was to hold off debuting Bryan in the company until all the dust had settled following the All Out pay-per-view scheduled for September 5th in Chicago.