Bryan Danielson is one of AEW’s premier competitors, so it was no surprise he was included in the promotion’s inaugural Continental Classic tournament.
Tony Khan and the American Dragon announced the tournament would take place during the final months of 2023.
Following the announcement it was revealed AEW’s top fighters would compete to become the first-ever Continental Champion. Stars such as Andrade, RUSH, Jon Moxley, Jay White and Swerve Strickland would compete in matches, win points and reach the final at the World’s End pay-per-view on December 30th.
While the tournament features some of AEW’s biggest and brightest talents, one star is notably absent. Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega isn’t involved in the tournament, which has left many asking why that is the case.
Speaking with Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy, Danielson was asked why the Best Bout Machine is absent from the tournament.
I really wanted Kenny Omega in it and I don’t know. People think I do a lot more than I do. I don’t know what happened or why he’s not in the tournament. I know it was at least brought up to him and I don’t know if he didn’t want to do it or I know that he and Chris Jericho are the number one contenders for the Tag Team Championship. So maybe that’s why. Sometimes, with American TV wrestling, you don’t want to confuse stories, and maybe that’s why. But I love the field that we have, [because] we have so many great, hard-hitting wrestlers. The matches have been really, really good so far in the Continental Classic.
Bryan Danielson recently suffered his first defeat in the Continental Classic, being overcome by Andrade El Idolo.
Is Bryan Danielson becoming a backstage authority figure in AEW?
Over the last few months, Danielson’s name has cropped up in news surrounding AEW’s behind-the-scenes antics. Danielson was one of the members of CM Punk’s disciplinary hearing, then it was reported he was dishing out fines to those who spoke poorly about the company on social media.