Tony Khan has given an update on Bryan Danielson’s AEW schedule and explained why fans no longer see him on TV every week.
Speaking to wrestling media ahead of AEW Double or Nothing, Khan talked about Danielson’s current role in the company. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer asked about Danielson’s recent commentary appearances, which led Khan to explain how AEW handles his schedule.
Tony Khan says travel and injuries have been tough on Bryan Danielson
Khan praised Danielson for his commentary work and said AEW’s announce team works well together whenever someone steps in. “I think Bryan does an excellent job,” Khan said. “We have a great commentary team, and they step up for each other.”
He then explained that both Danielson and Taz still deal with pain and injuries from their long wrestling careers. Because of that, AEW tries to make travel easier on them whenever possible.
“In the case of Bryan Danielson and Taz, they both had very hard-hitting wrestling careers and injuries that beat them up a lot. And I think having these great commentators, I like when they work together on pay-per-view shows or on Dynamite. It’s always great. It is interesting because Bryan lives on the West Coast and Taz lives on the East Coast, and the long flights really beat them up. So, on some of the more East Coast tours, Taz, it’s a lot easier for him to make the shows. And on the West Coast tours, it’s a lot easier for Bryan to make the shows. So, I try to make the travel as easy on the two of them as possible. So, that involves sometimes them rotating a little bit,” Khan said.
The AEW President later added that he is hopeful to see both Danielson and Taz together in the future.
“I also think that hopefully there is more opportunities to see them together at times. But I think you’re right when you asked about Bryan; he does an excellent job. I think Taz also does an excellent job, and I love having both of them. And I know that it’s hard for both of them to do the long flights with all the injuries they had in wrestling,” Khan added.
Danielson’s lighter schedule is not surprising, considering the amount of punishment his body has taken throughout his career. He has suffered many concussions, which forced him to retire from WWE in 2016 after dealing with post-concussion seizures and a brain lesion. He later returned in 2018 after extensive medical testing and recovery. The former AEW World Champion has also battled serious neck and spine issues for years.
Even during his AEW run, Danielson broke his arm during his match against Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door 2023 and later suffered a broken orbital bone that same year.
