Beloved wrestler Bryan Danielson has revealed his heartbreaking injury struggles, with fans urging him to retire for his own future health.
The former WWE Champion, who now holds the AEW World Heavyweight Title in All Elite Wrestling, was forced to step away from the ring in 2016 for medical reasons including concussions and neck issues.
Danielson (AKA Daniel Bryan) returned as an active WWE superstar in 2018, before leaving and joining AEW three years later, where he has continued to perform at a high level.
However, reflecting on his recent October 2 match with Kazuchika Okada, he told Yahoo Sports’ Uncrowned: ‘Midway through the match, I started losing strength in my legs. There’s a point later in the match where I’m trying to kick him and I can’t turn over my kicks.
‘That’s something that I have the body mechanics to do because I have been doing it for so long, but here I am and I can’t turn my hip over for this kick.
‘When I got to the back, I went to the trainer right away and they worked on me for like 30 minutes. They said it was stemming from the neck stuff.
‘It’s getting to a point where, physically, we’re seeing the signs. I haven’t been sleeping well because I have been having this shooting pain down my arm.’
He admitted knowing he is struggling makes the fact his retirement is looming easier, because he knows it’s becoming difficult.
‘It would have been really hard to be done wrestling if I felt great, right? I love it so much, I still love it so much. I get out there and it’s a rush, when I’m out there I don’t feel pain,’ he added.
‘Wednesday, I just noticed it and there was this awareness that I didn’t have the strength in my legs that I normally have. That’s the point where it’s getting kind of hard.’
Although he was heartbroken stepping away from the ring in 2016, this time he feels ‘mentally ready’.
He continued: ‘Part of it is because of my physical struggles. Then, Brie [Garcia, Danielson’s wife] and I were married but didn’t have kids yet so we didn’t have this life that we have now, where I love coming home and being with my kids.’
The American Dragon will defend his world title tomorrow night at AEW WrestleDream against former Blackpool Combat Club teammate Jon Moxley in what is likely one of his last matches.
In August, Danielson admitted his neck has ‘been progressively getting worse’, confirming he will need neck surgery sooner rather than later.
He exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘My neck’s been bothering me for years, but it is from the [recent] Will Ospreay match. It’s been progressively getting worse, and I’ll probably have to have neck surgery before the end of the year.’
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