Ex-AEW Star Pays Emotional Tribute To Christopher Daniels

Christopher Daniels leaves behind an impressive in-ring legacy.

On the January 22nd episode of AEW Dynamite, Christopher Daniels announced that his in-ring career was over.

The announcement came after Daniels lost to Hangman Adam Page in a bloody Texas Death Match on Collision: Capital Carnage. The veteran said that he’d been told by doctors that as a result of his injury history and the damage he sustained in that match, he should never wrestle again.

Several reports ahead of the show confirmed that Daniels’ retirement was legitimate.

One man who knows Daniels better than most Frankie Kazarian. The star teamed with Daniels in ROH, TNA, and later AEW as the pair found success wherever they went.

In a post on social media, Kazarian heaped praise on his long-time friend.

There’s no way to articulate what @facdaniels means to me. As an opponent, a tag team partner, or most importantly as a best friend and brother. His contributions to our sport will never be realized. I love you CD. Bad Influence, The Addiction or SCU. I loved every single minute.

Christopher Daniels To Stay With AEW

Christopher Daniels started his career back in 1993 and subsequently enjoyed spells with AEW, NJPW, ROH, TNA, WWF, ECW, AAA, NWA, AJPW, NOAH, ZERO1, MLW, CMLL, and more.

However, it was with TNA that he truly shot to fame, feuding with the likes of Sting, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Jarrett. Daniels is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers to ever compete in TNA and never win the company’s World Championship.

Daniels signed with AEW in January 2019 alongside Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian. Although he initially wrestled regularly on Dynamite, the veteran began to scale back his in-ring career in 2024, instead focusing on his role as Head of Talent Relations. Daniels will continue to work backstage following his retirement.