AEW World Champion MJF has offered one of the most complimentary assessments of Bryan Danielson’s career that you’re likely to hear from someone who has beaten him — comparing The American Dragon to Tom Brady while describing his current status as “soft retired.” Speaking on Julian Edelman’s Games With Names podcast, Friedman reflected on his legendary Iron Man match with Danielson at AEW Revolution 2023 and where Danielson fits in the all-time conversation.
“That’s like a Tom Brady level. I would say he’s Tom Brady level. He’s definitely GOAT status. He’s like soft retired right now. I don’t know if he’ll ever come out of retirement. He’s a sicko so he probably will, because he can never get enough, much like Brady,” MJF said. “If you talk to wrestling fans and you say, ‘Who’s one of the greatest wrestlers bell-to-bell, all-time, GOAT?’ They’ll say Dragon.”
Bryan Danielson Has Not Wrestled a Full Match Since October 2024 But Has Remained Physically Active in AEW
Danielson has not competed in a full-length match since October 2024, though he has remained physically involved in AEW programming — most notably delivering a Busaiku Knee to Wheeler Yuta during the main event of AEW All In Texas. His status as “soft retired” in MJF’s framing reflects the reality of a performer whose body has been through extraordinary punishment over a three-decade career, but whose competitive drive — as MJF noted — may ultimately bring him back for one more chapter.