"Maybe ex-father-in-law" - Bryan Danielson says his feelings on Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis have changed
Bryan Danielson has opened up on the scandal-plagued Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis. The AEW star was once very close to his former WWE boss and is related to Laurinaitis by marriage. Despite their past relationships, Danielson is now revealing just how things have changed.
The American Dragon worked for Mr. McMahon from August 2010 until May 2021. He became a household name in WWE, and met his wife Brie Bella there, tying the knot in 2014. Laurinaitis wore many hats in WWE over the years, including Head of Talent Relations. In 2016 he married Kathy Colace, who is the mother of The Bella Twins aka The Garcia Twins. McMahon and Laurinaitis are no longer affiliated with the company after being accused of sexual misconduct by a former WWE employee earlier this year.
Danielson's post-WWE open letter in The Player's Tribune included touching comments about McMahon, but his feelings have seemingly changed. The 43-year-old just spoke with Gorilla Position and touched on his previous comments on McMahon, and his relationship with Laurinaitis. The host commented that the situation must be tough for Danielson:
"Yeah, it's been... first and foremost, I want to say people that have been hurt are in a way worse position than I am, right? My empathy goes to them. But yeah, it's just... there’s not a lot I want to say about it, honestly... because it’s not just the Vince piece, its also my father-in-law, and maybe ex-father-in-law, as far as that kind of stuff goes. You think of somebody in some way, then something happens and it changes, right? And that’s always hard, but like I said, as hard as that may be for me emotionally... it’s way worse for people who have been victimized by people in power," Bryan Danielson said. [From 38:26 to 39:28]
McMahon and Laurinaitis have vehemently denied all accusations. The former WWE Chairman continues to fight the allegations in court.
Bryan Danielson set for a big AEW Dynamite match
Bryan Danielson and Jeff Jarrett will face off in their first-ever singles match on Wednesday's AEW Dynamite from Winston-Salem, NC. The match will be held under the Anything Goes stipulation, and the legendary Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat will be the special ringside guest.
The match with Jarrett will be one of the final stops on Danielson's road to All In. The former WWE Champion is set to challenge Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship at the big event on August 25 in London.