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Daniel Bryan could be heading to AEW soon, where he will reunite with some of his real-life friends.
Bryan's WWE contract expired following his Universal title match with Roman Reigns on SmackDown last April. Since then, several reports have suggested he could be on his way to join All Elite Wrestling. According to the latest ones, the former WWE Champion will make his AEW debut at All Out.
During his latest appearance on Dynamite, AEW's newest signing CM Punk dropped a major hint at Daniel Bryan signing with Tony Khan's company. When the crowd broke into loud 'YES' chants, CM Punk said:
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"That's someone else's schtick and you might need to be a bit more patient for that," said Punk.
Daniel Bryan has several real-life friends in the AEW locker room. While his friendship with some of them started in WWE, his relationship with others goes back to earlier times. A few of Bryan's friends in AEW have already expressed their desire to see him join them in the company.
Here are five real-life friends Daniel Bryan has in AEW.
#5. AEW Star Paul Wight
AEW Star Paul Wight (F.K.A. The Big Show) has shared the ring with Daniel Bryan many times in WWE. The two wrestlers faced each other in nearly all types of matches. They have also battled for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship multiple times.
Having spent many years working together in WWE, Bryan and Wight developed a friendship. Now, Wight has already jumped ship to join AEW, and Bryan might soon follow in his footsteps.
Paul Wight would like to see his friend Daniel Bryan join him in the AEW locker room, as he told The Ring Report. The interview took place before CM Punk made his AEW debut.
"I’m excited about it. I don’t really know. I’ve heard, of course, some backstage scuttlebutt. I’m friends with Daniel Bryan and CM Punk both. I think if either one of those guys made a serious commitment to come to AEW, they would blow the roof off the industry. I think both of those guys are incredible talents and they have a lot to offer any company that they join," Wight said.
Wight is currently a color commentator in AEW. Although the 49-year-old's AEW contract states that he is also an in-ring performer, he is yet to compete in any match.
#4. AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes
Daniel Bryan also developed a friendship with AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes while they worked in WWE. The two wrestlers shared the WWE locker room for nearly six years and battled many times during that period.
Rhodes left WWE in 2016. A year later, he became World Champion in another promotion. In 2018, Bryan issued what seemed like a challenge for the 36-year-old son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes via Twitter.
"I don’t think it was a challenge, just fun. Daniel Bryan remains one of my friends (...) I have always looked up to Dan. It would be major, major box office for all involved," Rhodes responded to Bryan's tweet in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
In 2019, Cody Rhodes announced the launch of All Elite Wrestling. In addition to being an in-ring competitor, Rhodes also became one of AEW's Executive Vice Presidents.
Rhodes recently refused to discuss the possibility of AEW signing Daniel Bryan. The former AEW TNT Champion is currently on hiatus from AEW television after losing to Malakai Black at AEW Dynamite: Homecoming earlier this month.
#3. AEW Star Colt Cabana
Daniel Bryan's friendship with AEW Star Colt Cabana goes back to the time they were wrestling on the independent circuit. The two wrestlers shared the ring multiple times between 2004 and 2009.
Cabana had a very short stint in WWE between 2007 and 2009, in which he did not win any titles. However, Bryan went on to join Vince McMahon's company in 2009 before leaving for a few months and returning in 2010. He later became one of the biggest stars in WWE.
Daniel Bryan and Colt Cabana's friendship is documented in a DVD called The Wrestling Road Diaries. It follows the two friends, alongside Sal Rinauro, as they went on a road trip to fight at different independent circuit events a few days before The Leader of the 'Yes' Movement signed his first WWE contract.
In 2013, Cabana spoke in an interview with WrestleTalk about the success of his friend Daniel Bryan in WWE. He admitted that he was not jealous of Bryan but proud of what he has become.
Colt Cabana joined AEW in 2019. He recently teamed up with his Dark Order teammates Alan "5" Angels and Evil Uno to take on Death Triangle's trio PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Rey Fenix at AEW Dark: Elevation. Cabana's team lost the match.
In addition to his role as an in-ring competitor in AEW, Cabana is also a coach and producer.
#2. AEW Star Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels is another real-life friend that Daniel Bryan has in the AEW locker room. Bryan and Daniels worked together for several years on the independent circuit and fought each other multiple times.
In an interview with DirecTV eight years ago, Daniels was asked if he was still friends with Daniel Bryan.
"Absolutely. First of all, Daniel Bryan is probably top of my list as far as being one of the nicest guys and one of the guys that’s worked the hardest," Daniels answered. "You build a relationship with these guys traveling around the world, keeping your nose to the grindstone to become better and I think working with such talented guys like that has helped me become as good as I am now," Daniels said.
Daniels had a short stint in WWE in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He later wrestled in several promotions, including Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and won many championships.
Although his stint was not successful, Daniels felt proud of Daniel Bryan's success in WWE.
"I'm so proud for him for all the hard work that he did and the struggles he had to get through to get where he is today," Daniels told 6 ABC Action News.
Christopher Daniels joined AEW in 2019. Besides being an in-ring competitor, he is also the Head of Talent Relations.
The 51-year-old has not wrestled since last May. In his last match, Daniels teamed up with Frank Kazarian to take on the AEW Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks, in a title match on Dynamite. Nonetheless, Daniels and Kazarian came up short.
#1. AEW Ring Announcer Justin Roberts
AEW Ring announcer Justin Roberts is also a good friend of Daniel Bryan. The 41-year-old worked in WWE for nearly 12 years, where he developed a friendship with Daniel Bryan and his wife, Brie Bella.
Roberts and Bryan shared a very famous incident that resulted in the latter getting fired from WWE in 2010. The incident happened during the debut of The Nexus on Monday Night RAW. Bryan, who was a member of the group, attacked Roberts and choked him with his tie.
The 40-year-old wrestler was fired because his actions were deemed too violent.
A few years later, the AEW Ring Announcer revealed the details of the incident in his book, Best Seat in the House. The then-NXT Superstars invaded Monday Night RAW and attacked John Cena in the ring. They also attacked Roberts at ringside.
"As I laid on the ground with my suit pants and just a pink tie, Daniel Bryan did what he thought he was supposed to do: make an impact. He saw an opportunity to get one last shot in on 'the last victim.' He sat behind me, pulled on my tie, and strangled me," Roberts said in his book.
According to Roberts' book, Vince McMahon was very pleased with the segment. However, The Chairman fired Bryan a few days later.
"I immediately got Bryan’s number and gave him a call. I asked him what was going on, and he explained that Vince had called to tell him that he had to let him go. Something about choking not being allowed, and it was out of his hands."
WWE rehired The Leader of the 'Yes!' Movement a few months later. He went on to become one of the best superstars in WWE history.
Justin Roberts left WWE in 2014. After working for a few years on the independent circuit, he joined AEW in 2019. Roberts and Bryan might now reunite again in a few days in AEW.
