The wrestling world was rocked when Bryan Danielson, the “American Dragon” himself, not only lost the AEW World Championship but also stepped away from his full-time wrestling career at AEW WrestleDream. A figure whose legacy spans over two decades, Danielson has officially hung up his boots (at least full-time), and the tributes are flowing in faster than a Dragon Screw Leg Whip.
Fellow wrestlers, past opponents, and colleagues have taken to social media to show their respect, gratitude, and in some cases, a bit of snark. Let’s take a look at some of the reactions lighting up the internet faster than Danielson’s Busaiku Knee.
Anthony Bowens, former AEW Tag Team Champion, was quick to express his gratitude, calling Danielson a “conveyor of confidence.” Bowens recalled a pivotal November 2021 match on AEW Rampage, where Danielson personally requested the bout. “Bryan requesting this match from Tony [Khan] because he saw something in me was the boost of confidence I sorely needed at the time. Thank you for believing in me Dragon, thank you for everything,” Bowens shared alongside a photo of himself, probably tapping out to Danielson’s LeBell Lock, because of course.
Rocky Romero—a man who’s locked horns with Danielson in promotions across the globe—kept it simple, calling Danielson “the best wrestler to ever step into a professional wrestling ring.” When you’ve tangled in the squared circle across AEW, Ring of Honor, Pro-Wrestling NOAH, and Full Impact Pro, you’ve got to appreciate the grind. “It was an honor to share the ring with you,” Romero said, probably wishing he had a third arm to shake Danielson’s hand.
Ian Riccaboni, a key voice in Ring of Honor, credited Danielson for being a pillar in establishing ROH as a force in the early 2000s. Fast forward to the 2020s, and Riccaboni had the honor of calling many of Danielson’s AEW matches and his final ROH bout at Final Battle 2023. “Congratulations on an incredible career, Bryan. Thank you for what you did for AEW and ROH. You’re the GOAT,” Riccaboni declared, raising the GOAT bar so high that even Chris Jericho might be sweating.
Social media is ablaze with the hashtag #ThankYouBryan, as wrestlers and promotions alike pour out tributes to the man, the myth, the legend. Lio Rush, Serpentico, and Dustin Rhodes all chimed in, with Rhodes’ contribution as eloquent as ever: “Thank you @bryandanielson. The absolute MAN!” We’d expect nothing less from the man once known as Goldust.
Serpentico, no stranger to flying headbutts and locker room wisdom, wrote, “Sharing a locker room was always an honor and a privilege. Gracias American Dragon!” I’m not saying Danielson inspired a generation, but well, Serpentico’s got receipts.
But not everyone was sending Danielson out with tear-stained emojis. Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), always one to stir the pot, took the opportunity to throw a little shade after Danielson’s brutal post-match assault at the hands of the Blackpool Combat Club (Moxley, Castagnoli, Yuta), PAC, and Marina Shafir. “Warned y’all about Dictator Jon,” MJF said smugly, taking a dig at Jon Moxley for orchestrating the brutal betrayal. “No one listens to Maxwell.” I mean, can you really call it a tribute if it’s dripping in MJF’s signature sarcasm?
Then there’s Nyla Rose, who used humor to cope with Danielson’s brutal farewell. Rose shared, “Had a 40-minute conversation about slang with Bryan Danielson. A big part of it was the term ‘Deadass.’ I guess he REALLY understands it now #ThankYouDragon.” Ah yes, nothing like a little millennial slang to ease the pain of post-match suffocation.
While Danielson’s full-time in-ring career has come to a close, don’t think for a second that this is the last we’ll see of the American Dragon. AEW officials are hopeful Danielson will return for occasional matches once he recovers from what will likely be a neck surgery. After all, it’s going to take more than a little wear-and-tear to keep the Dragon down for good.
With a career that began at the Texas Wrestling Academy in 1999 and culminated in 2024 under the bright lights of AEW, Bryan Danielson leaves a legacy that few can match. The American Dragon may have stepped away, but his fire will burn in the wrestling world for years to come.