Dave Meltzer provided an update on Bryan Danielson’s in-ring future in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Danielson’s full-time career is over after his loss to Jon Moxley at AEW WrestleDream, but many fans hope he’ll return to the ring part-time in the future. In interviews leading up to Wrestle Dream, Danielson said he’s not sure if he’ll wrestle again and will need to reassess after having neck surgery.
According to Meltzer however, Danielson may not need the neck surgery he said he does in the lead-up to WrestleDream. The former AEW World Champion is hoping to rehab with stem cell treatment rather than going under the knife. He will be having an MRI done soon to determine if the damage to his neck has worsened.
Metlzer wrote on Danielson:
The hope is that he won’t need surgery and can heal up strong enough with stem cell treatment therapy. But if not, he’ll have to undergo surgery. If or when he can return to the ring depends on how well all of this goes.
The original plan for Danielson’s run with the AEW World Championship was not for him to lose the belt to Moxley. Initially, the idea was that Danielson would lose the title to Allin at Wrestle Dream since both are from the area. Ultimately, however, the decision was made to put the head on Moxley and the BCC for ending Danielson’s full-time career.
Meltzer wrote of the change in plans:
The Moxley turn on Danielson after his title defense over Jack Perry at All Out in Chicago changed the direction with the idea of putting as much heat as possible on Moxley and the BCC in an attempt to jump-start interest in the promotion.
The storyline appears to be pitting Moxley and the BCC against AEW’s top babyfaces such as Allin, Orange Cassidy, and Daniel Garcia.