Bryan Danielson provides an unfortunate update on a potential world title run in AEW

Bryan Danielson has provided an unfortunate update regarding a prospective World Title run in AEW. The 43-year-old star has been with the Jacksonville-based promotion since 2021.

Despite being universally regarded as one of the all-time greats of professional wrestling, The American Dragon has yet to taste championship gold since his arrival in AEW. Danielson has challenged for the AEW and ROH World Championships, the TNT Championship, and most recently, the Continental Crown Championship, held at the time by Eddie Kingston, at Revolution 2024. Unfortunately, he came up short in all of these matches.

Danielson revealed some time ago that 2024 would be his last year as a full-time professional wrestler. Earlier this month, the Washington native announced that he was entering the 2024 Men's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, the winner of which is set to receive a World Title shot at All In 2024. Despite declaring his goal to main event Wembley Stadium, Danielson is evidently not eager to have the spot of a World Champion.

During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Bryan Danielson shared his view that the position of a World Title-holder was not meant for him anymore, claiming that his body is no longer as comfortable with wrestling at the level required of a World Champion. He also alluded to his fans' desire to see him become a World Champion one more time, albeit clarifying that he prefers to leave such booking decisions to others and stating his unwillingness to be involved in his own creative to maintain objectivity regarding his booking.

“I don’t want to be in that [world champion] position–I don’t feel like that’s my position anymore,” said Danielson. “The quality of wrestling in AEW is so high, it’s really hard to main-event pay-per-views. That’s not something my body can really do anymore. I know there are a percentage of fans who would like that, but I don’t think it’s my place. And here’s the truth: I don’t want anything to do creatively with my own stuff. I also don’t know where people get the notion that I do. It’s very hard in wrestling to be objective about yourself, so I leave that in the hands of other people." (H/T Sports Illustrated)

Bryan Danielson reveals he is suffering neck issues ahead of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Bryan Danielson will face off against New Japan's Shingo Takagi in a quarterfinal bout for the 2024 Men's Owen Hart Tournament at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024. The two men had squared off previously in a singles match at Dragon Gate USA in 2010.

Ahead of the hotly anticipated re-match, Danielson addressed his health heading into the pay-per-view during the same interview with Sports Illustrated. The former WWE Champion revealed that he was experiencing issues with his neck, albeit expressing his excitement over the massive cross-over pay-per-view.

It remains to be seen whether Bryan Danielson will advance one step closer to Wembley Stadium by beating Takagi this Sunday.