Top AEW star confirms he was "forced" to retire by WWE - "They wouldn't let me wrestle again"

The AEW roster is now home to many former WWE Superstars. Tony Khan has signed numerous familiar faces from the competition, names like Jon Moxley, Adam Copeland, FTR, Billy Gunn, Saraya, Athena, Mercedes Moné, Marina Shafir, and several others. And one of the biggest names just made a telling statement on a rough period, in their career.

Bryan Danielson retired last month after losing the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley. The door is open for more matches, but the stipulation caused the end of the American Dragon's full-time in-ring career. Brie Bella (aka Brie Garcia) earlier confirmed that her husband still needs to undergo neck surgery, and the couple provided an update on home life.

Bella noted on The Nikki & Brie Show that she wanted to write a "big post" on social media for Danielson after his full-time career came to an end, but the Owen Hart Cup 2024 winner stopped her because pro wrestlers never really retire. Danielson chimed in and mentioned how his WWE retirement was forced.

"To me, at the end of the day, I realized this with my last retirement, which was forced. I didn't want to retire, but they wouldn't let me wrestle again. What I found is people are sad for a bit. Then, everybody just moves on and it doesn't matter. The hardest part for it is probably for the person who does it," Bryan Danielson said. [H/T to Fightful]

Bryan Danielson began his pro wrestling journey while still in high school. After a decade-long international run, which included a World Wrestling Entertainment stint, Danielson's return came in August 2009, and the rest was history. Years of his grueling in-ring style led to neck surgery in May 2014, then retirement from action in February 2016. The ROH Hall of Famer worked hard to get medically cleared and was finally approved for physical action in March 2018. He ended his WWE run in May 2021, and by that September he had joined AEW.

Danielson and his WWE Hall of Famer wife previously revealed how they are adjusting to life at home now that his full-time in-ring career is over. The veteran grappler noted that with everyday life, he still cannot find the excitement and nervousness of pro wrestling. However, Danielson is able to find more peace and contentment in real life.

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AEW Dynamite updated lineup for post-Full Gear

All Elite Wrestling will return to its biggest market this week for the annual Thanksgiving Eve Dynamite tradition. Wednesday's episode will air live from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.

Dynamite will focus on the fallout from Full Gear this week, along with the build for AEW's second annual Worlds End PPV. Below is the current lineup:

• Fallout from Full Gear, build to Worlds End heats up
• ROH World Championship Match: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
• The 2024 AEW Continental Classic will begin
• CMLL stars will be in action

AEW will also tape Saturday's Collision episode on Wednesday in Chicago. The company will then run Fishers Event Center in Indianapolis next Wednesday for Dynamite and Rampage, while the December 7 Collision will air live from GalaxyCon in Columbus, OH.