Bryan Danielson expected to remain with AEW after his soft retirement

Bryan Danielson is stepping away from full-time wrestling at the end of 2024. He is expected to compete in sporadic matches in the future. However, he won't be involved in consistent storylines or grace the ring every week.

Nevertheless, Tony Khan expects Danielson to remain with AEW in some capacity beyond his retirement date.

“Absolutely, 100%. I hope Bryan will stay here for the rest of his life, and I know he’s planning to stay with us for a long time going forward as part of the company," Khan said during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" ( h/t to Fightful for the transcription). "I would want Bryan to stay with us as long as humanly possible."

Danielson is one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. In his prime, he was a major draw for WWE and was seen as a coup for AEW when he jumped between promotions. He's thrived as a member of the Blackpool Combat Club and has been a flag bearer for AEW in recent years.

Before hanging up his full-time wrestling boots, Danielson is scheduled for some big matches. He will face Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship, which is set for All In at Wembley Stadium. Khan will likely book some other headline matches on flagship shows and pay-per-views throughout the remainder of the year.

If AEW can keep Danielson around and have him move into a creative role behind the scenes, it will be another step forward for the company. He is a wrestling lifer and has experience with the biggest promotions in the industry. His presence in the creative department could lead to another jump in production and growth. Whatever happens, AEW is in a strong spot if it can keep Danielson around after his retirement.