Google News
In a shocking development revealed during this Saturday's episode of "AEW Collision," veteran wrestling commentator Tony Schiavone announced that Bryan Danielson has suffered a broken orbital bone and will be sidelined for the remainder of the year.
The injury occurred during a high-stakes tag team match on the October 25th episode of "AEW Dynamite," where Danielson faced off against AEW TNT Champion Orange Cassidy and NJPW luminary Kazuchika Okada. The match took a grim turn when Danielson was struck by both Cassidy's Orange Punch and Okada's Rainmaker.
Surgery is now imminent for the wrestling star. Further amplifying the drama, Danielson's Blackpool Combat Club stablemate, Claudio Castagnoli, took to the ring on "Collision" to call out both Okada and Cassidy. Castagnoli delivered a stern warning, vowing to avenge his injured partner using the very signature moves that put Danielson on the medical list: the Orange Punch and the Rainmaker.
Later in the same episode, Castagnoli demonstrated his commitment by utilizing the Rainmaker to squash opponent Tracy Williams. Fans can expect this grudge to intensify when Castagnoli challenges Cassidy for the AEW International Title on the November 1 episode of "Dynamite."
Danielson's Injury Woes
The setback marks a series of unfortunate events for Bryan Danielson, who only recently made his return to AEW on the September 2 episode of "Collision." He had previously fractured his forearm during a June bout against Okada at the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event.
This cycle of injuries has been disruptive for Danielson; in 2022, he missed the Forbidden Door pay-per-view due to an undisclosed injury, prompting Castagnoli to step in and face NJPW's Zack Sabre Jr. in his stead. Danielson finally clashed with Sabre Jr.
in a one-on-one match at AEW WrestleDream earlier this month, securing a much-needed victory. As we await further updates on Bryan Danielson's condition, his absence undoubtedly leaves a significant void in AEW's talent pool, and fans are left wondering how this will reshape the landscape of professional wrestling for the rest of the year.