Bryan Danielson Says WWE And Vince McMahon Called Him Days Before AEW All Out 2021 Wondering If They Could Bring Him Back

AEW made history at AEW All Out 2021 with a double debut, first bringing in Adam Cole and following up with Bryan Danielson. Both men had previously been with WWE, but opted to join AEW once their contracts expired.

Speaking to Nick Stav, Bryan reflected on the double debut and whether or not it was always the plan.

“I hadn’t actually signed my contract until two or three days before that. ‘Always the plan,’ was Tony (Khan) thinking it? Did he have it in the back of his mind? I want to say Adam Cole didn’t sign until that day. Maybe he agreed to come, but you never know what’s going to happen. When WWE found out I hadn’t signed yet, they said, ‘Is there anything we can do?’ I called Vince (McMahon) in early August because I was going back and forth. I called Vince in early August and let him know, ‘I made my decision. I’m going to do this.’ He called me one time in the meantime and said, ‘What if we offered you this instead.’ I hadn’t signed my contract yet, it was maybe five days before the pay-per-view, and he called me. I told him, ‘Sir, I already agreed to this thing. If I were to go back on this, I feel you have a decent amount of respect for me. One of the things you respect me for is that I honor my word.’ It was a great conversation. He said, ‘Damnit, you’re right,'” recalled Bryan.

Bryan would honor his word, officially joining AEW.

Bryan Danielson is set to join the AEW Dynamite commentary team on a full-time basis beginning on Wednesday.

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