AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone and WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray recently shared their thoughts on Bryan Danielson’s retirement from wrestling as a full-timer following his recent world title loss. Danielson’s match at AEW WrestleDream on Saturday marks the end of an era. He will no longer be an active performer in the ring.
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This change in Bryan Danielson’s status on the roster is not surprising. Danielson has been talking about stepping back from being a full-time performer for about a year. He made it clear he wants to continue to be involved in the AEW backstage and have occasional special matches, maybe a few times a year.
Bryan Danielson’s final match at WrestleDream against Jon Moxley for Danielson’s AEW World Championship was a good sendoff for Danielson. In the match, Danielson lost the match and was attacked by his former faction, the Blackpool Combat Club.
BULLY RAY AND TONY SCHIAVONE CHIME IN ON BRYAN DANIELSON ‘RETIRING’ AS A FULL-TIMER
The beloved wrestler’s final match as a full-time performer has caused people to reflect on his prolific career. One of those people is former WCW commentator and current AEW commentator, Tony Schiavone. On his podcast, What Happened When, Schiavone shared his feelings on Danielson’s retirement and called him the best of all time. He stated the following:
“First of all, I feel very lucky about being a part of Ric Flair’s career, and being able to hold the microphone for him, but then again, we flash forward to what is the modern day wrestling, and I feel very fortunate to have been there for Bryan Danielson’s, probably his last match. He’s got to get healthy and I just, to me, am I wrong to say he’s the best of all time? Is a man like me who watched Ric Flair, who has seen Shawn Michaels wrong to say that Bryan Danielson’s the best of all time?”
- H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription
Podcast co-host, Conrad Thompson, asked Schiavone to clarify his statement. He asked if he would put Danielson above Flair, Michaels, Bret Hart, and others who are routinely labeled as the greatest of all time. Without hesitation, Schiavone said “yes” to placing Danielson on top of that list.
The loss of his championship in Danielson’s retirement match has made some fans upset. They feel like he should have gone out on top and received the beatdown after his win. Wrestling fans are so demanding and crybabies sometimes. Danielson being written off TV, for the moment at least, means he can take time off to have surgery and get healthy. It will also allow him to spend more time with his family which is why he decided to move away from being a full-time performer.
Fans are also concerned that Danielson’s loss will be his final match ever. That the allure of not wrestling hurt and spending time with his family will be too much to resist. In wrestling nothing is certain and plans change at the last minute all the time.
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However, Bully Ray commented that Danielson’s final appearance as not realistic. On a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray shared that he is certain that Danielson will be back in the ring to confront the BCC once he is healthy. He commented:
“Guys this is not Bryan Danielson’s, Daniel Bryan’s final farewell. You think that’s the last time you’re going to see him in a wrestling ring? You think that’s the way the wrestling business, whether that’s Tony Khan or Triple H or any company on the planet. You think that’s the way they’re going to end Danielson’s in-ring career? … You’re going to get his final farewell when he is healed up and he can come back.”
Bully Ray further explained that he was there for Danielson’s final night in WWE and Danielson was in the ring saying goodbye. He explained that Danielson’s last farewell may not be in a match. It could be him just in the ring with a mic, but fans will get a chance to say goodbye and he will get a chance to leave his boots in the middle of the ring one day.
What did you think of Bryan Danielson’s match with Jon Moxley? Do you think it was worthy of being his final match ever? Do you think he will come back and be a part-time performer like he intended? Would Moxley be who you would choose as his final match? Is Danielson the G.O.A.T. like Tony Schiavone believes? Let us know on social media what you would like to see from Danielson and who you would like to see him face when he returns.
SOURCE: What Happened When?, Wrestling Inc., Busted Open
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