Tony Khan Provides Devastating Update On Bryan Danielson Amid AEW Absence

Amid Bryan Danielson’s absence from AEW TV, Tony Khan provided a concerning update on his status.

After his last proper match against Jon Moxley at WrestleDream 2024, Bryan Danielson announced his retirement from full-time wrestling. While he was out of in-ring action, The American Dragon joined the commentary team on Dynamite last year on a regular basis and was a color commentator on some pay-per-views as well.

The last time Bryan Danielson was on the commentary desk was on an episode of Dynamite in April. Meanwhile, Tony Khan addressed Bryan’s absence from the commentary for a few months now.

Tony Khan provided an update on Bryan Danielson’s AEW absence

Speaking with Jeremy Lambert on Fightful Overbooked, Tony Khan revealed that Bryan Danielson is beat up and needs time to rest and recover:

I think Bryan’s incredible at everything he does. Bryan’s beat up and I’ve been giving him time to rest and recover. I would love to have Bryan (Danielson) out there all the time, but he’s been home and with his family and he’s doing very well. But, it’s a lot for Bryan being on the road and a lot of the utility of Bryan stepping away from the ring and resting is him being home with his family and recovering, and trying to be off the road.”

Tony also admitted that he is trying to take some pressure off Danielson until he is pain-free:

So, I’ve been trying to take the pressure of the road off Bryan but when he’s able to travel more and be pain-free, I think it’ll be great. I also think it’s even just sitting in the chair, and moving his head around in the monitor and stuff, it’s hard. It’s harder than people understand with the injuries he’s had. People don’t realize the toll that this business and this sport has taken on this man.”

Tony Khan also weighed in on the importance of having The American Dragon in AEW:

He’s done so much for all of us, so, it means the world to have him in AEW and be part of this family but also, that means now he’s done everything he can in the ring for AEW at this point and I don’t need to drag him out and beat him up every week even more when he’s hurting.”  [H/T Fightful]

It remains to be seen when Bryan Danielson will be back on the AEW commentary team.