The final countdown for Bryan Danielson moving at rapid speed
“It’s interesting to see all the differences and similarities between winning the belt now in AEW to winning the belt 10 years ago at WrestleMania 30.”
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Bryan Danielson on Swerve Strickland: “You watch him and ask, ‘Who would ever let go of this guy?’”
Bryan Danielson/AEW
When it comes to Bryan Danielson, history is watching.
As Danielson prepares to effectively wrap up his career, this time on his terms, it becomes necessary to take a closer look at the night he was crowned AEW champion.
Danielson won the belt in August during the main event of All In at London’s famed Wembley Stadium, defeating Swerve Strickland in an instant classic. It marks his first title reign in AEW, as well as his first run as world champ in over five years. Yet a feat like this comes with a recognizable feel for Danielson–who has made a career out of producing unforgettable moments in the ring.
“I’m so lucky to be able to do this,” said Danielson. “The moment was so perfect. Memory is a strange thing, but my whole life, I hope I never forget it.”
Bryan Danielson/AEW
The bout at All In immediately stands as Danielson’s most prominent victory since winning the WWE championship at WrestleMania 30 in April of 2014. That took place at the Superdome in New Orleans, and many surely noticed a familiar feeling in the London air, with the euphoria surrounding this victory echoing 2014 all over again.
“It’s interesting to see all the differences and similarities between winning the belt now in AEW to winning the belt 10 years ago at WrestleMania 30,” said Danielson. “The oddest similarity, at least to me, is the neck problem.”
Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30/WWE
A decade ago, Danielson’s career was staring at a great unknown. Here he stands, in a seemingly similar spot, but this time it is Danielson making the decisions.
When Danielson–then starring as Daniel Bryan–defeated Randy Orton, Batista, and Triple H at WrestleMania 30, he did so with a badly damaged neck–an injury that required surgery and altered the trajectory of his career. History repeated itself at AEW’s All In, where Danielson–battling intensifying neck pain–put on a spellbinding showing despite inevitable surgery looming over him.
“I was told around December of 2013, only a few months before WrestleMania 30, that I’d definitely need neck surgery; it was just a matter of when,” said Danielson. “I was able to get through WrestleMania. I’d been getting this horrible, shooting nerve pain down my right arm. But as long as I still had strength in my right arm, that meant I didn’t need surgery yet. So I won the title, and the day before my first title defense, which was like a falls-count-anywhere match, I got into my car to make the drive. When I went to unlock my car door, I didn’t have the strength to turn the key and unlock the door. That was a bad sign. The very next day, I did a diving headbutt off a forklift, which was me being an idiot.
“So the neck issues are very similar. Sooner rather than later, I’ll need neck surgery. I’m not losing strength, so I don’t need it just yet.”
Thankfully, the neck injury was not the only parallel between the two career-altering moments. Just like at WrestleMania 30, Danielson celebrated his victory beside his family in the ring. This time, however, it was his wife Brie Garcia and children who were present.
“The moments were both super cool,” said Danielson. “My sister and my nieces got to come in the ring with me at WrestleMania. Brie was in Gorilla, and she was told not to come out. That was a little odd to me. This one at Wembley, I was overflowing with joy and gratitude. My son loves when I powerbomb him at the house. If I won, he said he wanted me to powerbomb him in the ring. I was going to, but he was too busy chasing the confetti. It was magic all the way around.”
Unlike All In, Bryan Danielson’s celebration at All Out was short-lived/AEW
Danielson soaked up the victory alongside longtime friends PAC and Claudio Castagnoli–in true pro wrestling form, both turned on him mere weeks later–and Wheeler Yuta.
“When I watched it back, one part that really meant a lot to me was seeing PAC smile,” said Danielson. “It’s hard to make PAC break. He’s so stoic. But he couldn’t help himself from smiling. It was cool to see Ben break.
“To be there with Claudio, who I’ve known for over 20 years, and Yuta, who I’ve become close with, it is hard to describe how much all that meant to me.”
Bryan Danielson/AEW
This time, it was not the mellifluous Michael Cole calling the match with Vince McMahon shouting into his headset. Instead, it was a four-man booth of Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone, and a returning Jim Ross.
“I asked for Jim to be part of the match,” said Danielson. “He signed me to my first wrestling contract in 2000. I wanted him to be part of the call. Jim is still fantastic. I know he’s had a lot of health issues and I’m sure getting to London was no picnic, but it meant a lot to have him there. I have also developed a really strong friendship with Tony Schiavone, so it meant the world to me that both of them could call the match.”
Longtime rival Nigel McGuinness was not part of the broadcast crew. For the first time since 2011, McGuinness had stepped into the ring at All In, wrestling in the Casino Gauntlet match. Hard as it would have been to imagine a decade ago, Danielson and McGuinness–former Ring of Honor mainstays two decades ago–both wrestled on the same card in 2024.
“Nigel looked good–he looked real good,” said Danielson, who has a date with McGuinness for the title next week on the “Grand Slam” edition of Dynamite. “I wanted to see his entrance and how the crowd responded to him, and I loved the stuff between him and Okada. As I was preparing, I missed the interplay between Nigel and Zack Sabre Jr., so I was really looking forward to going back and watching that. It’s incredible he’s back.”
While over a decade has passed since WrestleMania 30 and injuries continue to mount, Danielson’s work in the ring remains as precise and engaging as ever. Ageless and timeless, Danielson embodies the fighting spirit of professional wrestling better than any of his peers. Throughout the industry, there is absolutely no one better at evoking emotion as the underdog. That was on full display at Wembley, where a packed house did their absolute best to will Danielson to victory.
“I want it to live in my mind forever,” said Danielson. “There’s never a guarantee you’re going to make it, and it didn’t always look that way in WWE. Fans from the UK helped turn it around for me in WWE, and that’s something I never forgot. So to have that match against Swerve in London, it was extra special.”
Bryan Danielson/AEW
Danielson, 43, is plagued by neck injuries, making this title reign more about the destination than the journey. Along with a vow to fulfill as a stay-at-home father, Danielson’s body simply cannot withstand the pace at which he wrestles. While it would be wonderfully compelling for this title reign to extend into January, the end feels especially near. Danielson is putting a bow on his full-time career as a pro wrestler. That is music to the ears of his loved ones, but a difficult proposition to those who relish watching Danielson perform.
Yet, for a man who long defined himself as a professional wrestler, the decision surrounding his future is an easy one.
“I know what’s most important to me,” said Danielson. “It’s no longer wrestling. I know where I need to focus my energy. Right now, I’ve got this championship run in AEW. When someone beats me, I’ll be home and fully present for my family.”
If ever someone deserved a moment like the one at Wembley, it was Danielson. Overlooked repeatedly throughout his 25-year career, Danielson was frequently viewed as an integral piece of the roster… yet not quite the man who could carry the company to the promised land.
Even after that seminal moment at WrestleMania 30 in WWE, the plan was for him to eventually be bludgeoned in a title loss to Brock Lesnar. That never materialized due to the severity of Danielson’s neck injury, which required a lengthy stint on the injured list–followed by a premature retirement. Yet, years later, one of Danielson’s most captivating matches took place against Lesnar in 2018. Even though he entered the match as a villain, Danielson won over the crowd, who were collectively wincing as Lesnar repeatedly suplexed him onto his neck.
Bryan Danielson/WWE
By the time he arrived in AEW in the fall of 2021, Danielson was far more eager to spend his time wrestling the way he wanted–as well as allowing others to have the shine. Look no further than his Iron Man bout a year-and-a-half ago against MJF; Danielson had every right to politick his way into the win, but instead acted in a way that would make many an old-timer shudder: he willingly put over the new guy.
In a distinct manner, Danielson took a similar approach at All In. He helped establish the obvious by ensuring Strickland was presented as a bona fide star. Released in a short-sighted decision by WWE in 2021, Strickland continues to climb new heights as a main-event talent in AEW. Despite losing, Strickland left the ring in even higher regard than when he entered.
“Swerve was perfect at All In,” said Danielson. “I mean, he’s incredible. He just signed a new contract with AEW–and that is one of the benefits of having two mainstream wrestling companies in the United States. WWE didn’t see value in him, and they let him go. When Swerve came here, he said he was going to become AEW champion–and he did.
Swerve Strickland/AEW
“You watch him and ask, ‘Who would ever let go of this guy?’ He just wasn’t given the opportunity to be his best self. And that goes both ways–I don’t want it to sound like, ‘Oh, evil WWE, they don’t let their talent be their best selves.’ Some people will thrive there. Some people will thrive here. There are people who will thrive in both places, there are people who will be underutilized. That’s the benefit of having two major companies in the United States. If someone doesn’t see value in you, you can try somewhere else.
“And Swerve, he is the most professional of the professionals. Him, Claudio, [Samoa] Joe–anything you need them to do, they do it without hesitation. The way he’s been able to show everyone how skilled he is of a professional wrestler, I’m so impressed. I can’t say enough about him as a professional wrestler or a human being.”
The final countdown has now commenced on Danielson’s last run with the belt. The hourglass is nearly empty, his time in the ring reaching its end. But as AEW’s reigning, defending champion, Danielson now faces an altogether new challenge: what, exactly, is he supposed to do with the title?
Danielson with the belt around his waist/AEW
“Maybe I’m just not as strong as I was the last time I was champion, but the AEW world championship, the belt itself, is the heaviest belt I’ve ever had,” said a smiling Danielson. “Do I wear it around my waist? Then that’s funny getting into the ring. Put it over my shoulder? Maybe. And don’t even get me started about packing with it. I’m still figuring it out–it’s been a while since I was in this spot. But I remind myself if that’s your biggest problem, you’re living a blessed life.”
Danielson and his family after winning the belt at Wembley Stadium/AEW
This final run is a lot like life. Nearly everyone wants more time, and that would be ideal for Danielson. More time as a healthy professional wrestler would allow him to headline AEW’s upcoming WrestleDream pay-per-view next month in his home state of Washington, which he is bound to do, and then carry on all the way to January when AEW visits Tokyo for Wrestle Dynasty on January 5. If that were the case, another possibility could be a title vs. title match against the IWGP world heavyweight champion at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom on January 4 at the Tokyo Dome.
Yet, even with the magic in the air, it feels like Danielson is operating on borrowed time.
Danielson has recaptured his magic/AEW
The intrigue and anticipation surrounding Danielson’s future helps define pro wrestling. For one last time, he is back guiding the direction of an entire company. That is a joyous development, as Danielson is to wrestling what The Wizard of Oz was to the motion picture industry. That movie brought films from black-and-white to technicolor, which Danielson repeated decades later for wrestling.
“My career is full of these strange moments that I don’t know how they happened,” said Danielson. “Somehow, this is my life. Brie is my wife. I love my kids, who got to celebrate with me in the ring at Wembley. I never would have believed this would have happened.”
At All In, Danielson did more than win the belt. He attained immortality.
“My philosophy is that, in 30 years, no one is going to remember,” said Danielson, immediately disagreeing with the notion before putting more thought into it. “That may or may not be true. I just read and loved Owls of the Eastern Ice–I didn’t realize these owls existed. And how don’t more people know about this? My point is that the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know anything.”
“So I don’t need this to last forever. That’s for someone else to decide. I’ve been lucky enough to live it.”
This past week…
… Vince McMahon is coming Netflix, and anticipation continues to build. How will the former end-all, be-all of WWE be portrayed?
… In another reminder that McMahon is no longer in charge, WWE announced that beginning next month, Raw is moving to two hours. Will that continue to be the case when the show moves to Netflix in 2025?
… Highlights from Raw on Monday included CM Punk’s promo–one of his best since returning to the company–and the exchange between Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor where Balor revealed he masterminded Dom Mysterio’s turn against Ripley.
… With all due respect to The Rock, John Cena, and even Randy Orton, it was clear as day this past Friday night on SmackDown that Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns should headline WrestleMania 41.
… If Jon Moxley defeats Darby Allin, he will get the upcoming title shot against Bryan Danielson. Even without a crystal ball, I think we all know how that match is ending.
… If you love the indies, look no further than this Friday in Worcester, Massachusetts. There is a chance that Sting and Kevin Nash will share the ring with one another at Big Time Wrestling’s show at Polar Park, which has the potential to be a very cool moment.
… I would be remiss not to include a note about Sid Eudy, who passed away on August 26. Sid deserved to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame while he was living, and he captured the aura of pro wrestling in an exceptional manner. Even when people were supposed to boo Sid, they cheered him–the truest indicator in pro wrestling that you’ve reached a very rare level.
Cody Rhodes wrestling all the right opponents
Cody Rhodes has found a formula for success as WWE Champion, and it was executed to perfection in a steel cage against Solo Sikoa this past Friday on SmackDown.
There is no quintessential heel opponent for Cody Rhodes. So instead, he is putting on the best matches possible.
Cody Rhodes/WWE
When Steve Austin won the belt at WrestleMania 14, he was greeted by Vince McMahon and Mick Foley to establish him as champ. Rhodes hasn’t had a true rival to challenge him, so he went a different route: take on the hottest opponent possible.
Some of these have worked better than others. There was no real threat that AJ Styles would dethrone Rhodes so soon after his seminal title win after WrestleMania 40, but Styles helped cement Rhodes’ reign by putting on compelling matches. Solo Sikoa was pushed into the main event too quickly, but their match at SummerSlam made sense: Sikoa was positioned as the top heel in the company and he was a necessary component in Roman Reigns’ return.
Sikoa and Rhodes at SummerSlam/WWE
To Rhodes’ credit, he has kept his momentum even without a true rival. Perhaps that is because his two biggest rivals are Reigns and The Rock.
A proper feud with Kevin Owens is exactly what Rhodes needs to stay hot, though they are currently drifting in opposite directions. Their match at Bash in Berlin was excellent, and the anticipation over whether Owens would turn on Rhodes was an integral element to their story, just like it will be when Rhodes and Randy Orton finally feud over the belt.
There was no heel turn from Owens in Berlin. He was hesitant to attack Rhodes’ injured knee, which was a bit overplayed in the match, but it could lead to a deeper element in the story. If Owens feels like he is growing soft in the ring, then there is no better time to rediscover his killer instinct.
Rhodes/WWE
For Rhodes, the goal is to get back to WrestleMania 41 with the belt. What would be the bigger match: Rhodes-Reigns III or Rhodes-Rock? It will also be interesting to see when WWE starts the Rhodes-Orton feud. If it happens later this year, then Rhodes is on track for Reigns or Rock at Mania. Otherwise, it makes sense that Rhodes-Orton is the tentative plan for Mania, especially considering Orton is so heavily protected–making it that much more impactful if Rhodes scores a clean victory.
Next up for Rhodes is a tag match at Bad Blood, where he will team with Reigns against Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. Five months into his title reign, there is still real excitement over what is coming next.
Indie Spotlight: Teddy Goodz
This Sunday, Teddy Goodz puts the final touches on his 24-year career.
Goodz–whose real name is Ted Bolduc–wrestles his final match at the LIVE Pro Wrestling event in New Bedford, Massachusetts. A workhorse throughout New England, Goodz has wrestled practically everywhere, including WWE and AEW, but his greatest impact has taken place on the indies, which is the heartbeat of the industry.
Courtesy Ted Bolduc
Before his final match, Goodz reflected on his career, offering an in-depth look at the two decades in wrestling that have provided him with a lifetime of memories.
Justin Barrasso: When and why did you decide to become a pro wrestler? At what point did you realize it was a very difficult, demanding industry?
Teddy Goodz: After begging my parents for over a year, my father brought me to my first live event on February 2, 1990. As soon as I entered the arena, I knew that in some way I wanted to be involved in the world of pro wrestling. A few years later I stumbled across independent wrestling, and that’s when I realized there was a chance to actually become a wrestler. Fast forward to my teenage years and that’s when I first began my training. The first time I took a bump (I probably weighed 150 pounds soaking wet) it felt like I landed on a cement floor. As awful as it was, I was in love.
JB: Early on, what were the most difficult moments? Who helped you through them?
Goodz: I broke in during the late ‘90s and early 2000 so the mentality was a lot different back then. The business was still “protected.” People would stretch you. People would test you and unfortunately some would bully you. It’s just kind of how things were back then. You had to eat crow when you were new. I don’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. I feel like it made me who I am today, but I wish things back then were more like they are now. To be honest, no one really helped me push through. It was just the passion and love that made me stick around.
Goodz has made the most of his 24 years as a pro wrestler/Courtesy Ted Bolduc
JB: What do you consider the defining moments of your career?
Goodz: I feel like my confidence really broke out when I was teaming with Buff Busick. Have to say maybe a defining moment would be a match we had against Matt Taven and Mike Bennett in Fall River, Massachusetts in 2015 when they were working for Ring of Honor as The Kingdom. It’s a tie between that and my match at Beyond Wrestling against Matt Cardona in 2021. Both matches are very special, and both greatly built my confidence as a wrestler. That’s something I never had early in my career.
JB: Why is now the time to retire?
Goodz: I’m 42 years old. I told myself I’d stay in it until I was 40. However, right around the time I turned 40, I found myself wrestling Gunther on SmackDown and doing several episodes of AEW Dark. Then I had a great run against top talents at Beyond Wrestling. It kind of reignited the spark.
I also knew I was on borrowed time. I have endured a career of nagging injuries and knew I’d have to walk away sooner than later if I wanted to do it with some type of credibility, rather than be forced out. My wife and I are also expecting our first child. To me, it just felt like the universe was telling me it was the right time to wrap up my in-ring career. I’m glad I can do it on my terms.
JB: You are goal oriented. What goal do you want to achieve by the time you retire?
Goodz: My goal was to be able to have final matches with some of my favorite opponents and I have been able to do that. Guys like Anthony Greene, Danny Miles, Richard Holliday, Brett Ryan Gosselin, and, of course, my greatest rival of the last five years, “World Class” Channing Thomas.
Originally, my goal was to just touch a ring. Then it was to one day wrestle in one. I’ve exceeded all of my expectations times ten. Everything else has been icing on the cake. I was able to travel around the country, meet my childhood heroes, and entertain thousands of strangers. I literally lived my dream. I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Goodz and Matt Cardona/Courtesy Ted Bolduc
JB: How would you like to be remembered?
Goodz: I would like to be remembered as someone who made people feel good–someone who was considered to be honest, fair, and helped others.
JB: Will you stay involved in wrestling?
TG: I will continue to run my promotion LIVE Pro Wrestling.
JB: You embedded passion into pro wrestling, which is also on display at Cojo’s Toy World, your collectibles store in New Bedford, Massachusetts. How does wrestling still bring you joy?
Goodz: Getting a reaction brings me joy. Making children happy brings me joy. Kids are awesome, and their imaginations run wild. Anything I can do to add to helping them make a memory like I made as a child is what brings me the ultimate joy. Knowing I can make someone forget about everything going on in their lives to just sit back, react, and be entertained. I think that’s what a true pro tries to do. They make memories.
Goodz in AEW/Courtesy Ted Bolduc
JB: What can people expect to see during your final match?
Goodz: On September 22, people will not only see the final in-ring match of Teddy Goodz. They will also see an assembly of talent unlike any other that has ever been promoted in my area. It’s a combination of old friends, my favorite wrestlers, the future stars of tomorrow. Basically, it’s an assembly of favorite people. This lineup will legit never happen again.
I’m truly honored and humbled. Oh, and I’m not announcing any matches. We live in a world of spoilers, so we thought an event full of surprises would be a treat. Without giving away surprises, I’ve already announced: The Godfather, Alisha and Eddie Edwards, Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, Little Mean Kathleen, Vincent, Waves & Curls, Anthony Greene, Mark Sterling, Dirty Dango, Channing Thomas, Danny Miles, Richard Holliday, Ichiban, and so many more!
With a stacked card like this, I could never justify ever stepping in again. There’s just no way I could ever get this crew together again. We will be making a small dent in New England wrestling history on September 22. It’s sure to be a Goodz Time!
Tweet of the Week
There is truth behind the Roman Reigns-Paul Heyman story, which makes their on-screen work together hit even harder.
Tomorrow!
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