‘We’re losing a leader’ - AEW star sends Bryan Danielson a tear-jerking message
Bryan Danielson seemingly put a grim bow on his full-time wrestling career at AEW WrestleDream earlier this month. A budding star from the Tony Khan-led promotion has now commented on the subject.
The American Dragon lost his AEW World Championship to former ally Jon Moxley in the Tacoma Dome at WrestleDream 2024. However, beating and retiring Danielson from full-time action was not enough for The Purveyor of Violence as his stable, The Blackpool Combat Club, dealt out a violent post-match attack on the 43-year-old veteran, severely damaging his neck and causing him to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher.
During a recent interview on In The Kliq, Powerhouse Hobbs addressed the conclusion of this year's WrestleDream and Bryan Danielson's retirement, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of pro wrestling and his own reaction to the events that unfolded at the pay-per-view. He further voiced his gratitude towards the former WWE Superstar for his contributions to the sport.
"I look at pro wrestling as like the NFL, anything can happen on any given Sunday," Hobbs said. "For pro wrestling, anything can happen on any given day. It was a shocker, the aftermath was a shocker. Personally, thank you Bryan for everything you've done for pro wrestling and AEW, but things happened."
The former TNT Champion went on to praise Danielson as a locker-room leader who has served as a mentor and guide to a number of All Elite talent.
"Definitely, we're losing a leader, someone who's took a lot of wrestlers under his wing, so I think we'll be missing some leadership, but we have a lot of individuals that will definitely step up in that place." [H/T - Wrestling Inc]
AEW's Powerhouse Hobbs on his affiliation with his current stable
Powerhouse Hobbs has been a part of The Don Callis Family since October last year. He tried to bring the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to the stable in April 2024 when he challenged Jon Moxley for the belt, but he was unsuccessful in his effort. The 33-year-old star was put on the shelf afterward due to an injury but was recently cleared to return to action.
In the meantime, Hobbs' stablemate Konosuke Takeshita has become the new AEW International Champion courtesy of Kyle Fletcher, whose betrayal of Will Ospreay allowed The Alpha to win the title at WrestleDream 2024. During the same interview with In The Kliq, The Embodiment of Willpower seemingly questioned his status in The Don Callis Family, albeit expressing happiness over Takeshita's success and Fletcher's heel turn.
"Am I?" Hobbs asked. "I'm very happy for [Konosuke] Takeshita. Very happy for him. Very happy that this angry, mean version of Kyle Fletcher showed up. So I'm very proud of those two guys."
It remains to be seen whether Powerhouse Hobbs will continue his association with Don Callis after he returns to AEW programming.