The AEW roster features several former WWE Champions, including Chris Jericho, Paul Wight, Jon Moxley, and Adam Copeland. Tony Khan often gets sentimental about the wrestlers in his companies and is now offering immense praise for one top star while hoping he sticks around forever.
Bryan Danielson is set to put his career on the line at AEW All In against World Champion Swerve Strickland. The four-time WWE Champion has been open about his in-ring career coming to an end amid chatter about the expiration of his current All Elite Wrestling contract. Khan has also been open about Danielson and how valuable he is to the company.
Khan spoke with TV Insider and said Bryan Danielson vs. Strickland would be very compelling. He believed fans would enjoy tonight's tribute to The American Dragon.
The 41-year-old went on to praise Danielson in a major way, saying he had never been AEW World Champion but is very capable of winning the title. Khan called the ROH Hall of Famer one of the best people in pro wrestling, one who is still able to have the best match and moment on any show.
"Having him backstage working with our talent, being involved with the company on a daily basis behind the scenes to try to make AEW truly where the best wrestle. He is so valuable to us. I hope that Bryan will be with AEW forever. I wish he could wrestle with us forever. I know that is not possible, but I hope for as long as he is able to continue backstage and pretty much the rest of his life, I would hope Bryan would stay involved in AEW. We love having him here. He is the captain of the team," Tony Khan said.
Danielson is expected to be at ringside or on commentary for tonight's non-title Dynamite match between Strickland and Wheeler Yuta. The match is being billed as Killshot's warm-up bout for All In.
AEW All In updated lineup with big title match
The second annual AEW All In pay-per-view will be held in just 11 days. The company will return to Wembley Stadium in London, England, for the big event on Sunday, August 25.
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada is now set for All In, but first, the veteran grapplers will face off on Dynamite tonight. Below is the updated All In card:
- The Buy-In Pre-show: Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Willow Nightingale
- Casino Gauntlet: Participants TBA (Winner earns future World Championship match)
- TBS Champion Mercedes Moné defends vs. Britt Baker
- TNT Champion Jack Perry defends vs. Darby Allin
- World Trios Champions The Patriarchy defends vs. The House of Black vs. The Bang Bang Gang
- Women's World Champion Toni Storm defends vs. Mariah May
- Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends vs. Claudio Castagnoli
- American Champion MJF defends vs. Will Ospreay
- Career vs. Title Match: World Champion Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson
Fallout from All In will pick up in a major way as All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view just 13 days later. All Out 2024 is scheduled for Saturday, September 7 at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, IL.
