For a competitor like Bryan Danielson, a move to the commentary desk was seen as a logical step to preserve his long-term health. However, Danielson himself has now revealed an irony: the very job meant to protect his body is creating new physical challenges due to its demanding travel schedule.
While speaking on Wrestle Radio Australia, the AEW star was candid about how the constant flights for his new full-time commentary role on Dynamite are aggravating his neck problems.
“How’s my neck? So, good—except when it’s not,” Danielson explained. “When I’m at home, it’s been a blessing… They told me not to train or exercise for three or four months, just rehab. I started to feel pretty good. But then you take these long flights—like a 15-hour flight from San Francisco to Sydney—and I get off the plane like, ‘Oh no, this is bad.’”
Even without the pressure of performing in-ring, Danielson admitted he still trains with an intensity that often works against his body’s needs. He described doing heavy squats while already in pain, admitting he is “militant” about his workout routine, even when his wife advises him to rest.
“Those long flights make it worse—sleeping with your head against the window for six hours. You wake up and it’s like, ‘Oh no,’” Danielson continued. “I wish a flight attendant could just pop my neck back in place. So yeah, generally my neck feels pretty horrible, but like anything else in life, you just get used to it. You learn to live with it.” (h/t Ringside News)
Danielson’s comments follow recent reports about his condition. A report from Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio detailed that Danielson’s shift to the broadcast booth was a direct result of his neck being in “bad shape” and his decision to opt against surgery. The move saw Tony Schiavone transition to an interviewer role on Dynamite to accommodate Danielson.