Bryan Danielson Says He’s Training to Be a Firefighter

Bryan Danielson is already planning his next chapter—and it’s got nothing to do with wrestling rings or title belts.

During his appearance at Starrcast Texas 2025, the former AEW and WWE superstar revealed that he’s shifting his focus to giving back to his local community… starting with firefighting and wilderness aid. Near the end of the conversation, Danielson was asked what life looks like post-wrestling. He made it clear that he’s stepping into a completely new kind of service.

“So, I just got my Wilderness First Aid certification.”

The crowd applauded, and Danielson couldn’t help but joke about his new direction.

“I define success by getting a Wilderness First Aid certification. Success!”

But he wasn’t just talking about accolades. He broke down what that training really means.

“It means that I’m certified—I’ve learned a lot of things about how to help people when they’re in the wilderness, mostly in the backcountry. I do a lot of hiking, so… backcountry hiking where you go out and spend a couple days camping. Sometimes people need help, and when you’re there, you can help.”

Then came the reveal—Danielson’s next mission is becoming a firefighter.

“One of the things in our area that needs help is the forest fires. And so, one of my things to provide service to my community is training to be a volunteer firefighter.”

He acknowledged that his unique wrestling resume doesn’t exactly translate into the corporate world.

“Pro wrestling is a very odd skill set. It’s not like, ‘Hey, I was a pretty good professional wrestler. Can I go work at IBM?’ Does IBM still exist?” (He joked.)

But Danielson made it clear that this new path is about purpose, not paychecks.

“So when I’m looking at how I can be of service to my community, and where I can feel like I’m really doing something with my life that’s productive and has meaning… those are the kinds of things that I’m looking for.”

From top-of-the-card wrestling matches to forest fire rescues, Bryan Danielson is proving that life after wrestling doesn’t mean stepping out of the spotlight—it means stepping up for others.