Christopher Daniels may be done taking bumps, but he sounds at peace with how his in-ring career came to an end.
“The Fallen Angel” retired in January 2025 after facing Hangman Adam Page in a Texas Death Match on AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage. Daniels has stayed with AEW since then, continuing his work behind the scenes as Head of Talent Relations while also stepping into a new on-screen role as manager of the SkyFlight stable.
During an appearance for K&S Wrestlefest, Daniels looked back on his final match and made it clear that going out against Hangman Page meant a lot to him. Daniels said he was proud of what he and Page put together for his final match.
“I was proud of that effort and I was proud of being able to work with someone like Adam, [it] was a lot of fun, and it meant a lot to me to have my last match with him.”
Daniels admitted it is hard for him to pick one favorite AEW moment because his run included more losses than wins. Still, his final match stands out because he felt he was able to leave the ring the right way. Daniels said the match gave him the kind of ending he wanted.
“I thought it went well, I did everything I wanted to do and like I said, just being able to have a match like that with someone who I respect as much as Adam, it meant a lot to me. It was nice to end on a high note with someone like him.”
Daniels was then asked whether he wished he could have kept wrestling. While he admitted part of him would have liked to continue, he was honest about the toll the business had taken on his body. Daniels said his mind was still sharp late in his career, but his body was no longer where it needed to be.
“I wish I could but I have to be honest, physically, how my body’s beat up…I watch some of the last matches of my career, like I did a lot of stuff in DEFY in Seattle, Washington, and while the mental part of those matches is really, really good…I wasn’t really in the best of shape.”
That honesty says a lot. Daniels had nothing left to prove after decades in the ring, and he got to close his career with a violent, emotional AEW match against someone he clearly respects. Not every wrestler gets that kind of ending.
Christopher Daniels may not be wrestling anymore, but his place in AEW remains important. Between his backstage role and his new work with SkyFlight, Daniels is still part of the company’s future even after closing the book on his in-ring career.
What do you think about Christopher Daniels ending his career against Hangman Adam Page? Did AEW give him the right final match? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
