5 reasons why Bryan Danielson should be the next AEW World Champion - Dream match with 6-time WWE world champion, More mainstream appeal?

Bryan Danielson is the best wrestler of the modern era, and his presence in AEW is no accident. While CM Punk may have the legions of fans who awaited his return, it could be argued that Danielson occupies a similar spot, if not greater.

His arrival in the company was a surprise to some. The idea that someone who recently main-evented WrestleMania would leave WWE is puzzling. Looking deeper, there is a method to the madness.

Bryan Danielson was a 'yes' man in Vince McMahon's promotion. Now, that's not a shot but rather a true statement that he was the ultimate babyface. But like all good things, they tend to become 'stale' after a while. All his matches in AEW have an edge to it. He's almost a different entity.

Some who witnessed Danielson before his WWE career say that All Elite Wrestling is seeing the return of The American Dragon. A no-nonsense wrestler who brings in the best out of others and gives more than a 100% in the ring.

Tony Khan is not ignorant of history and realizes that this version of Bryan Danielson is someone few will take their eyes off. That's why he has been booked in the World Title Eliminator tournament finals, facing off against Miro, which he will most likely win.

The question is whether he can win the World Title and beat either Hangman Page or Kenny Omega. Here are five reasons why Bryan Danielson should be AEW World Champion.

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#5 AEW will benefit from Bryan Danielson's mainstream appeal

There's no question about it. Bryan Danielson made the 'Yes' chant a household thing. It was so simple in its execution that it caught on like wildfire across sports stadiums in the United States of America. Of course, he did admit that Diego Sanchez inspired him, but that's not the point. The chant is synonymous with Danielson and will continue to do so.

All Elite Wrestling stands to benefit from having a wrestler who is quite well known in the mainstream. What better way to do it than by making him the AEW World Champion.

At this point, Danielson is essentially an aggressive face who brings the fight to his opponents irrespective of who they are. In a sense, that's what a fighting champion is, and having a known entity holding the title will elevate the company in the long run.

#4 Bryan Danielson elevates the AEW World Title

AEW is lucky to have Bryan Danielson on their roster. He has wrestled all across the world and a variety of opponents that few would realize. He brings that pure aggressive wrestling style that few will witness in Japan or 'Strong Style' as some would call it.

While it's true that the company has a plethora of wrestlers that wrestle aggressively, and Kenny Omega is the embodiment of that, Danielson occupies a higher plane.

Omega has been heavily criticized for embracing the 'silliness' of wrestling, bringing it down a peg with his 'flips.' Certainly, wrestling veteran Jim Cornette is no fan. But that's where Danielson comes in.

He's the bridge between the old and the new. He combines a traditional style that Cornette loves with the new-age high voltage that The Cleaner provides day in and day out. While Bryan Danielson's WWE career may have something to do that, some fans would disagree.

If WWE is the clean-cut 'high brow' theatre, AEW is the broken-down 10 dollar show that the masses love. Of course, that is a little biased and hyperbole at best, but it speaks to what fans say about Danielson.

It was on his shoulders and CM Punk's that some promotions created a new generation of wrestlers, and it's only fitting that the AEW World Championship should lie around his waist.

#3 AEW could get the ultimate dream match with Bryan Danielson

AEW fans know what this is about. Sure, they have met many times, whether it was on the independent circuit or in WWE. As per the earlier slide, All Elite Wrestling was built thanks to the groundwork done by Bryan Danielson and CM Punk.

This would come with the caveat that Danielson would be World Champion if and when this happens. Imagine one of the big pay-per-views with CM Punk vs. Bryan Danielson in the main event for the world title after several years. The end of the rivalry that never got enough steam in WWE but came to fruition in All Elite Wrestling.

Still don't believe this author? Think about this for a second. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels are the names that come to mind. The two had some of the best matches in WWE history, with WrestleMania 12 being a standout.

Their story ended in Montreal and didn't necessarily have proper closure due to Hart's eventual retirement. Punk and Bryan have time on their side and can do what Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels couldn't.

Now, this is just a fantasy booking, and it's highly doubtful that Tony Khan would ever book this so soon, but plans do change. Sure, some fans would criticize that two former WWE Champions shouldn't be main-eventing a new promotion like AEW. The flip side would be a dream match for the ages and possibly the end of an era.

If that happens, why not do it for the biggest prize in the company?

#2 Bryan Danielson as AEW World Champion would make others bigger stars

Bryan Danielson has been a 'beast' in AEW since he debuted for the company a short time ago. He strides to the ring with purpose and intrigue. He's not there for the cheers of the crowd, at least, not overtly. His character is a subtle variant of his persona and oozes charisma, anger, and power all rolled into one.

Given Danielson's pedigree and the history that he embodies for wrestling fans, he can bring a 'tough guy' attitude to the world title. This is not to take away from the world of Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, or even Kenny Omega. They have all been great champions, especially Jericho, who has made his mission to help make new stars for All Elite Wrestling.

While Hangman Page may become the next World Champion, he would probably benefit more from a program with Bryan Danielson. Call it history, call it fantasy or call it a hunch. While the story with Page and Omega is fascinating, this would be an accurate study of past vs. present.

Stars like Hangman Page looked up to Bryan Danielson all those years ago, and others like him will benefit more if he becomes AEW World Champion.

#1 Bryan Danielson could be AEW's Bret Hart

Has Bryan Danielson had a bad match in AEW so far? The answer is no! In his short time, he has brought a level of intensity typical of his character and harkens back to Bret Hart.

The Hitman is still considered one of the greatest technical wrestlers to ever step foot in a WWE ring or any wrestling ring. He brought a sense of reality and psychology that embodied what authentic wrestling storytelling was all about, and it's hard to find a bad match that Hart had during his time in Vince McMahon's promotion.

Bret Hart, as WWE Champion, brought the 'realism' that the belt needed desperately. He was the bridge between the old and the new, as is Danielson in All Elite Wrestling.

The way the latter is approaching his matches just brings a hard-boiled approach that is gritty and dirty. Hart was the excellence of execution, and that spirit is shining in The American Dragon.

It's more reason why Tony Khan should make Danielson AEW World Champion. For the most part, Bret Hart was a face, but to this day, he is considered one of the best WWE World Champions for the simple reason that fans believed he was.

Is it blasphemous to suggest that Danielson is AEW's Bret Hart? If The Hitman could put Bryan Danielson on his Mount Rushmore, then he certainly can be.