Bryan Danielson has opened up about his recent injury struggles.
The American Dragon is widely regarded as one of the finest professional wrestlers on the planet, and one of the very best to lace up a pair of boots. However, that reputation has come at a price.
Aside from well-documented concussion problems during his WWE career, Danielson’s body has started to betray him with increasing regularity in recent times. The star suffered another concussion in 2022, while he was also so banged up after his match with MJF at Revolution back in March, he didn’t wrestle again for almost three months.
Although he got through his next match unscathed, Danielson suffered a broken arm a month later during a match with Kazuchika Okada. And despite wrestling at All Out against Ricky Starks, he later admitted he effectively did so with one arm.
During the September 9th episode of Collision, Danielson admitted time is running out on his career, sparking speculation he could retire within the next 12 months. With rumours running wild, the former World Champion has attempted to clear the air in a new interview with Sports Illustrated.
In the conversation with Justin Barrasso, Danielson admitted his injury troubles are playing on his mind.
“There is the realization that over the past year, I’m getting hurt after every big match I have,” said Danielson. “That’s a sign. I love wrestling, but I do not want to wrestle at the expense of my long-term health. I did the Iron Man match with Max, and then I didn’t wrestle again until Anarchy in the Arena, and even that was a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Then I wrestle Okada and I break my arm. The injuries are starting to pile up. At what point is that worth the risk? Especially when my kids want and need me at home.”
However, Danielson also stated that he’ll likely never fully retire, instead wrestling a hugely reduced schedule on his own terms like the late, great, Terry Funk.
“I don’t think I’ll ever reach a point where I declare I’m absolutely done,” said Danielson.
“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 the same interview, Danielson also opened up about CM Punk’s exit from AEW.
Bryan Danielson To Compete In Dream Match At WrestleDream
Despite his mounting injury problems, the veteran isn’t done quite yet. On the same episode of Collision, Bryan Danielson laid down a challenge to Zack Sabre Jr. — a man he considers the best wrestler in the world.
Later in the night, Tony Khan made the match official for WrestleDream on October 1st in Seattle, Washington.
Danielson and Sabre Jr. were originally set to meet at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door in 2022 before the AEW star suffered a concussion.
Unfortunately, Bryan Danielson suffered another injury scare at a recent AEW taping.