MRI Scan Set To Decide Bryan Danielson’s Future

Bryan Danielson’s wrestling future hinges on the extent of long-standing neck issues.

After spending several months teasing the end of his full-time career, the conclusion finally came at WrestleDream. Heading into the match, Danielson promised to retire if he lost the AEW World Title to Jon Moxley, and that’s the stunningly violent story that played out.

At the conclusion of the hard-hitting bout, Wheeler Yuta turned on Danielson and choked him out with a plastic bag. The show went off the air with the American Dragon being taken away on a stretcher as the hometown crowd chanted his name.

Although the star had repeatedly stated he hopes to wrestle again in the future, it was reported after WrestleDream that there are no firm plans for Bryan Danielson to return to the ring. That report noted that the extent of Danielson’s physical issues really became apparent as he got closer to the match with Moxley.

Bryan Danielson To Undergo MRI Scan

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that whatever comes next for Danielson will be decided by an upcoming MRI scan. An earlier scan appeared to show extensive damage to his neck, but there remains a hope he’ll avoid surgery.

As far as what happens with Danielson involves the state of his neck. He is going to have an MRI done to see the damage. He had an MRI done not too long ago and it showed damage all the way down his neck. What happens next depends on if the level of damage is the same as it was or if it has worsened, and if not, by how much.

The hope is that he won’t need surgery and can heal up strong enough with stem cell treatment therapy. But if not, he’ll have to undergo surgery. If or when he can return to the ring depends on how well all of this goes.

Back in August, Danielson claimed he needed neck surgery, and more recently shared that he lost strength in his legs during his match with Kazuchika Okada. It was reported after WrestleDream that Danielson’s comments about his health were genuine and not for a storyline.