Bryan Danielson Urged to Stay Retired from Pro Wrestling

Bryan Danielson’s days as a full-time wrestler may be over, but the possibility of a part-time return is still hanging in the balance.

According to Danielson, the odds of stepping back into the ring again are “probably 50/50,” but AEW commentator Tony Schiavone thinks the former AEW World Champion should call it quits for good.

“The body has had enough man,” Schiavone said on the What Happened When podcast. “After every match, I would go to him and say, ‘Are you okay?’ He’d go, ‘Yeah,’ but I know that he’s hurting. I know that he’s hurting and every time he wrestles, I just think, ‘God, I hope it’s not the last time.'”

Danielson’s last match was at AEW WrestleDream in October 2024, where he lost the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley, marking Moxley’s fourth reign as champion. The loss was more than just a title change for Danielson — it was a wake-up call.

“My priority is my health,” Danielson said in a recent interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp. “I think the odds of me wrestling again, ever, are probably 50/50 at this point. My desire is to not get neck surgery, and so if I could live comfortably without neck surgery, but it means that I wouldn’t get to wrestle again, I think I’d be okay with that trade-off.”

The neck issues stem from a surgery Danielson underwent years ago that “messed up [his] spine,” altering his upper back permanently. While he previously considered stem cell treatment to avoid another operation, there’s been no confirmation on whether he’s moved forward with that plan.

Schiavone believes Danielson has already put his body through enough and should prioritize his family. “He wants to see his kids grow up, so why take the chance?” Schiavone said. “What if that one more time something goes wrong and then he can’t live out his final years the way he wants to with his family?”

Danielson’s future remains uncertain as he weighs the risks of returning to the ring against the desire to stay healthy for his family. With his neck issues lingering and Schiavone urging him to call it quits, the American Dragon may be at a crossroads that could define the rest of his life.

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