Bryan Danielson Calls Loss To Roman Reigns The Perfect Way To End His WWE Career

Bryan Danielson (then wrestling as Daniel Bryan) remained a top star on WWE TV until his final appearance for the company when he faced Roman Reigns in a Universal Title vs. SmackDown Career Match on the April 30, 2021 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. 

Reigns and The American Dragon had been feuding over the title since February's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, a rivalry which also involved Edge and a Triple Threat main event at WrestleMania 37. 

Following that loss on April 30, Bryan's WWE contract expired and he wouldn't re-sign with the promotion, instead opting to join All Elite Wrestling and debut in the company at All Out in September 2021. 

Speaking ahead of the Revolution pay-per-view with Sports Illustrated, Danielson reflected on main eventing WrestleMania 37 and his final WWE match against Reigns. 

"That was a match people enjoyed. It didn't mean anything to me. I felt nothing. You have to remember - it was our first time back in front of a live crowd [since the start of the pandemic], and we were in front of thousands of people. I felt nothing during that match. I was trying my best, but it felt like I was going through the motions," Danielson stated.

"Then I wrestled Roman in the ThunderDome in front of all these screens, and I loved that match. It was the perfect way for me to end my WWE career. Putting together the WrestleMania match, I could feel a little bit of my apathy, but that's happened before and then I walk out there and I feel, 'This is what I live for.' That was very weird psychologically."

Since defeating Danielson, Roman Reigns has remained dominant in WWE and he will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39. Bryan Danielson, meanwhile, failed to defeat MJF for the AEW World Title at Revolution on Sunday, March 5.