Bryan Danielson Says He ‘Tweaked His Knee’ Against John Silver, Compares Hangman Page To Steve Austin

After running through members of the Dark Order in the past month, Bryan Danielson is finally set to challenge Hangman Page for the AEW World Championship.

On last Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Danielson defeated John Silver, but did suffer a minor setback in the bout.

“In the John Silver match [last week on Dynamite], he caught me in a leg lock,” Danielson said in an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. “Getting out of the leg lock, I tweaked my knee. I was like, ‘What is this?’ That’s because I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been. I’m the best version of myself right now. There have been times at different points in my career where you could argue I was the best in the world, but the version of myself right now is better than any of those versions. My technique is the best it’s ever been. I don’t get tired in matches. I’ve been putting in work this week rehabbing my knee, doing stuff I couldn’t have done back when I was Ring of Honor champion and wrestling long, long matches.”

Danielson’s longest match recently was a 30-minute draw against then AEW World Champion Kenny Omega in a non-title match.

Being new to AEW, Danielson has fresh opponents and Wednesday will mark the first time he’s stepped in the ring with Hangman Page.

Speaking about Hangman, Danielson said, “Even while I was in WWE, I kept an eye on talent, I watched ‘Hangman’ in Ring of Honor and New Japan. It’s crazy to see how much he’s grown, both from an in-ring perspective and a character perspective. I love his updated brawler style of wrestling. To me, he wrestles a modernized version of the way Steve Austin wrestled, and that cowboy persona reminds a lot of people of Steve Austin. But in 2021, you can’t come in and be just like Steve Austin. He’s developed this nuanced cowboy character with a drinking problem.”

While Danielson has been active and wrestling members of the Dark Order since AEW Full Gear, Hangman has yet to have a match as AEW World Champion, which frustrates him a little. You can find his full comments as to why by clicking here.

Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Winter is Coming beginning at 8 p.m. ET.