Bryan Danielson is stepping right into the spotlight in All Elite Wrestling, as he’s set to face Kenny Omega in a dream match of a main event on what promises to be a historic “Grand Slam” edition of AEW Dynamite.
In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Danielson discussed his move to AEW and previewed this bout with Omega. “The American Dragon” stated that the stakes couldn’t be higher in this match, and for the show as a whole. He then made it clear that, in his mind, this run with AEW will be the peak of his career.
“From my perspective, this is the biggest match of my career,” Danielson sadi. “From afar, I’ve watched Kenny become one of the best wrestlers in the world. He’s fantastic. I’ve watched this new company emerge, giving competition to WWE for the first time in 20 years. And we’re doing this at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where there has never been a wrestling show. This moment feels like the biggest match. If we knock this out the park, we can have a lot of new people watching AEW.
“And people will see tonight—I’m approaching this entire run with AEW as not the end of my career but the climax of my career. People are going to get the best Bryan Danielson they’ve ever seen.”
Since he signed with AEW, Danielson has discussed his decision to join the company in various interviews. But while he was speaking with Barrasso, he shined some insight on one particular match that made him stop and truly consider AEW. The fan-favorite pointed to a match between Cody Rhodes and Penta El Zero M as a contest that opened his eyes because it showcased a different side to Rhodes, someone who Danielson had come to know quite well. By seeing this new layer of “The American Nightmarr” Danielson started to wonder whether he could enjoy a similar transformation, and he ultimately decided he was up to the challenge.
“I remember watching a random Dynamite, and Cody [Rhodes] was wrestling Penta,” said Danielson. “Penta was standing on the top rope, and Cody did a springboard up to the side and then a top-rope hurricanrana. It was amazing, and my jaw just stopped. I know Cody, I rode with Cody, Cody and I are friends. At least I thought I knew him until I saw him do that.
“I asked myself, ‘What on Earth is going on over there?’ In my mind, I was thinking, ‘I can’t do that.’ Then I started thinking about it, and I thought, ‘Yes, I can.’ So the idea of pushing myself past comfort zones I’ve been accustomed to, that really excites me.”
