Eric Bischoff sees current RAW Superstar leaving WWE for AEW as Bryan Danielson did
WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff feels as if a current top Raw Superstar could follow in the footsteps of Bryan Danielson and join AEW in the near future.
The star in question is Drew McIntyre, who many believe could be on the way out of WWE when his contract expires due to a dispute over money and his creative direction.
McIntyre's contract looks set to expire at the start of 2024, meaning that he wouldn't be available to appear at AEW's All In event at Wembley Stadium in August, but that he could potentially join the company before WrestleMania 40.
If this it it for Drew and WWE, I’m happy for the guy. A great run. Probably the greatest comeback story in recent memory. Would love to see Drew Galloway in AEW as well. He returned to WWE to fulfill his destiny and successfully did so. Happy for the dude wherever he goes. https://t.co/OW2MwQTUEY
Speaking on his podcast 83 Weeks with Conrad Thompson, Eric Bischoff weighed in on Drew McIntyre's contract situation, and believes that if he were to leave, it would be in a similar fashion to how Bryan Danielson left WWE.
"Drew had a taste [of main event status] right?" Bischoff asked. "He was world heavyweight champion for a cup of coffee. I could see a scenario where Drew [leaves], similarly to [Bryan Danielson] in a way, [Danielson] just wanted to ply his trade in other markets and explore." (H/T Wrestling Inc.)
Danielson left WWE at the end of his contract in April 2021, when he lost a match to Roman Reigns on the April 30 edition of SmackDown, with the stipulation being that if Bryan lost, he would have to leave Smackdown forever.
Bryan Danielson debuted for AEW months after he main-evented WrestleMania
The AEW debut of Bryan Danielson was something people had been predicting for a while in 2021, but that doesn't change the fact that it was one of the most shocking moments of the year when it eventually happened.
Danielson appeared at the end of the All Out pay-per-view, right after Adam Cole made his surprise debut, which sent out a real statement to the wrestling world given what the American Dragon was doing earlier in that year.
1 year ago, when AEW dropped the double bomb with the debuts of Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson.
One of the best and memorable endings to a PPV ever. https://t.co/eJVEdYLhJ9
Less than six months earlier, Bryan was competing in the main event of WrestleMania 37 against Edge and Roman Reigns in a triple-threat match for the WWE Universal Championship. The fact that AEW, a company that had been around for just under three years at the time, could attract a WrestleMania main event-level talent was something people stood up and took notice of.
Do you think Drew McIntyre will join AEW? Let us know in the comments section down below!