Bryan Danielson Set to Undergo MRI to Determine Necessity of Neck Surgery

Bryan Danielson had mentioned that his next loss would signify the end of his full-time wrestling career. That moment took place at AEW WrestleDream and now he is scheduled for an MRI to find out if he requires surgery for his neck.

AEW WrestleDream 2024 ended in the worst way imaginable for Bryan Danielson as he ended up losing the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley. Afterwards, the Blackpool Combat Club viciously beat down The American Dragon and he left the arena on the stretcher, with his future uncertain.

Before WrestleDream, Bryan Danielson revealed in an interview that he started losing strength in his legs during his match with Kazuchika Okada during the fifth anniversary of AEW Dynamite on October 2nd, 2024. After all, Danielson had already made it clear he would need neck surgery to fix his issues.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided an update on Bryan Danielson’s health, focusing on his ongoing neck issues. He reported that Danielson is set to undergo an MRI to assess the damage to his neck, which had previously shown significant issues.

The outcome of this MRI will determine the next steps for Danielson, as doctors will evaluate whether his condition has improved or worsened. Meltzer noted that the future course of action will depend on the MRI results, specifically if the damage level is stable or has increased. There is hope that Danielson can avoid surgery and heal through stem cell therapy. However, if the damage is too extensive, surgery will become necessary.

”Bryan Danielson is going to have an MRI done to see the damage on his neck. He had an MRI done not too long ago and it showed damage all the way down his neck. What happens next depends on if the level of damage is the same as it was or if it has worsened. The hope is that he won’t need surgery and can heal up strong enough with stem cell treatment therapy. But if not, he’ll have to undergo surgery.”

Fightful Select previously reported that there are no definite plans for Danielson to return to wrestling, but the door isn’t closed, as his focus is on his family and addressing his neck issues. Nonetheless, we’ll have to see if Danielson will end up undergoing neck surgery, as that could put him on the shelf for a significant amount of time, which fans want to avoid.