Bryan Danielson Primed to Have Epic AEW Sendoff For Biggest Moment Since WWE Career

On the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Bryan Danielson vowed to enter the 2024 men's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and earn his final shot at championship gold.

It has been three years since the 43-year-old joined All Elite Wrestling at the end of All Out in September 2021. His surprise debut capped off one of the best shows in company history, and his proclamation in the post-show media scrum left fans excited for what's to come.

The indie wrestling legend didn't lament his time with WWE. Instead, he reveled in a chance to push himself in a new environment and gushed over the excitement around AEW.

Lastly, Danielson expressed his goal to produce excellent pro wrestling.

He said: "One thing I truly believe, you show excellent professional wrestling to anybody and they'll enjoy it because excellent professional wrestling is f--king awesome."

In that vein, The American Dragon has succeeded because many will consider him one of the best performers to compete for the company. His initial string of television matches was unrivaled, and his stretch of high-profile bouts in 2023 was somehow even better.

However, a signature win like his triumph over The Authority at WrestleMania 30 has continued to elude him. Last June, we even argued that he didn't need a world title reign to be integral to AEW's success.

Still, his latest promo raised our hopes again as the perennial underdog looks to secure a spot in the main event of All In London at Wembley Stadium on August 25.

The Right Time And Place

Danielson's drive to win the men's Owen Hart Cup is symbolic because many believe he embodies the spirit of the beloved Canadian star. So much so, it's a shame he didn't compete in the first two iterations of the tournament.

Nevertheless, a victory would be the perfect highlight for his last year as a full-time wrestler. The opportunity to appear at All In London would also be significant because he missed last year's celebratory event.

It's even more special because the former WWE Superstar almost didn't re-sign in 2018 and opted to return to Ring of Honor. In fact, his contract reportedly expired on Sept. 1, the same day the inaugural All In took place in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

That's right. The American Dragon was that close to becoming a free agent when independent wrestling was hotter than ever and potentially signing as an AEW original.

With that in mind, it seems like the stars have aligned for his quest to reenter the world title picture in search of a crowning moment at Wembley. It could be the ideal time for him to raise the world title over his head as the sun sets on his illustrious career.

The Journey Back

In April 2018, Danielson made his miraculous return to in-ring competition after a long road to medical clearance. It's still hard to describe the swell of emotion as he stood beneath the WrestleMania sign on the March 20 episode of SmackDown and told us how his wife convinced him to fight for his dreams.

That's what the leader of the Yes! Movement did four years prior when he picked up the biggest win of his career at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The lauded indie darling rose to the pinnacle of the industry and did the impossible.

Ten years later, the jump to AEW and his struggle to continue to compete at a high level with fresh opponents has humbled The American Dragon. On arrival, he sought to prove he was still the best in the world against Kenny Omega.

The two delivered an instant classic at Grand Slam in 2021, but he didn't come away with a definitive win. He raised the bar in two of the best AEW World Championship matches ever with Adam Page at Winter is Coming and MJF at Revolution in 2023.

The Seattle native has been incredible, but this crop of younger talent has been better. His long-awaited trek to Japan came with a loss to Kazuchika Okada and Zack Sabre Jr. Eddie Kingston even finally earned his respect when he beat him for the second time.

His last major loss to Will Ospreay seemingly signaled the end for a man trying to overcome his physical limitations. Throughout their first encounter, the Englishman, 31, matched his intensity at every turn and countered him with ease.

At times, Okada and ZSJ narrowly fought out of his array of holds, but Ospreay was faster and stronger than him. His confidence and athleticism made the difference, and the Tiger Driver 91 reminded us that Danielson has been living on borrowed time.

It was easy to forget because he came into AEW with such bravado and a well-earned reputation. Now, he's the underdog again, and his last journey back to the top will be one for the ages.

A Storybook Ending

It's hard to imagine Danielson will ever head back to WWE for good. He has settled into his role with AEW and become one of Tony Khan's trusted advisors.

It's also difficult to believe he will completely stop wrestling, but time is undefeated. As the popular star transitions into a part-time role, this is the opportunity to give him a proper sendoff.

Sting's retirement match was a testament to Khan's commitment to giving performers flowers while they can smell them. To that end, a world title win in front of the company's largest crowd of the year would easily be the highlight of Danielson's post-WWE career.

It would be a full-circle moment for pro wrestling's favorite Cinderella story, and the chance to make fans believe again.