Daniel Bryan Floats Wrestling with Other Companies After WWE Contract Expires

[THE 101]

WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan is considering his potential options with the end of his contract looming ahead, including potentially working for other companies.

“My contract is up soon," Bryan said at a meet-and-greet session prior to WrestleMania 37 (h/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful). "We need to figure out what a good balance between home life and wrestling. I never want to stop wrestling, I love it, it’s just figuring that out.”

He also added: “It’d be interesting if I could wrestle in different companies and WWE. That’s actually something I’m trying to weasel my way into right now.”

Per Lambert, Bryan's contract is reportedly up in September.


The 39-year-old Bryan has been a professional wrestler since 1999. He is best known for his stints as an active WWE wrestler from 2010-2015 and 2018 to the present date. The fan favorite is a four-time WWE champion and one-time World Heavyweight title winner.

Bryan retired from active wrestling in 2015 after undergoing multiple neck surgeries and suffering concussions and seizures. He was medically cleared to return in 2018 and has wrestled in WWE ever since. Bryan notably took part in the WrestleMania 37 main event for the WWE Universal Championship between he, match winner Roman Reigns and Edge.

The former champion appears ready to at least consider winding down from a full-time wrestling career, though, if his interview with BT Sport is any indication:

Bryan said that his main event match experience was "bizarre" and that he felt "detached." He also said this in part, per Lambert.

"I haven't watched it back. I don't know if watching it back would help figure out why I'm so detached. Maybe it was a sign that it's time to let go of being a full-time wrestler. The odd detachment, I was like, 'Woah.' Like I said, I'm either gonna die [laughs] or maybe it's a sign that this isn't it and it isn't the same type of fulfillment that it was before. I've been trying to meditate on it and talk to my friends that I'm close with like 'what is that?'"

For now, Bryan is still under WWE contract for five more months.

Daniel Bryan Floats Wrestling with Other Companies After WWE Contract Expires

We need that Danielson G1 run

 

[invincible1914]

Would he be able to keep the Yes thing?

 

[CBoz]

Btw he stated he'd like to "wrestle in different companies AND WWE."

 

[DanielAlfredsson]

He has said before wrestling in Arena Mexico (so for CMLL) was on his bucket list so I suspect that's one of the things he's referring to.

 

[Breh the HitMang]

The wrestling world needs Okada vs Danielson

 

[The Rainmaker]

Can't wait for him to show up in CZW Tournament of Death

 

[NoMorePie]

I think he'll be able to do whatever he wants. He'll get that part time contract while competing everywhere except aew and tna

 

[Novembruh]

Bryan being who he is, I could see him wanting to do a last kind of run as a tour of technical wrestlers. Could even manage it if he started it at the end of his E run with like, a Kushida NXT match and a WALTER NXT UK match. Then, post-release, like... pop over to do a one-off program with Sabre Jr., then swing through ROH to maybe work with Gresham or something. It'd be kinda cool as a goodbye to wrestling in a way. And considering, as I said, it's Bryan... I kinda think he might have already considered it. Dude's mind for wrestling is underrated.

 

[Reality Check]

He'll get that part time contract while competing everywhere except aew and tna

Good luck with Vince and Triple H signing off on that.

 

[Huda2daf]

So we gon be seeing him at evolve and wxw I guess.

these negotiation tactics

 

[krackdagawd]

Bryan Vs Ibushi on deck

 

[jackswstd]

He ain’t leaving. Trying to get more money and a lighter schedule, which I don’t blame him for.

 

[Hey_zeus]

Put the NWA belt on him and let him tour and book SD.

 

[stro]

I think he'll be able to do whatever he wants. He'll get that part time contract while competing everywhere except aew and tna

I could see them letting him work a random CMLL show, but definitely not NJPW. They're not going to open up the door to letting guys take outside dates with companies they aren't affiliated with like Progress/WXW/Evolve in the past 2-3 years. The one big one was letting KENTA work Marafuji's anniversary show but they also saw no value in him and let him go completely not long after.

 

[El Cocodrilo]

would be cool if he left WWE and was involved in the eventual AEW x New Japan crossover