”Gave me the best hug I had ever gotten”- Bryan Danielson opens up about his relationship with Vince McMahon

Former WWE Champion and current AEW star, Bryan Danielson, has had a complicated relationship with former WWE Honcho, Vince McMahon, and opened up about complicated feelings toward Vince McMahon amid allegations:

In a recent interview, he said that he finds it difficult to reconcile his personal experiences with Vince McMahon in light of the serious allegations currently facing the former WWE Chairman.

McMahon has been accused of sexual harassment and sex trafficking by former WWE employee Janel Grant, in a lawsuit that has rocked the wrestling world. For Danielson, the situation is even more complex — not only did he work under McMahon during his time in WWE, but John Laurinaitis, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, was previously married to Danielson’s mother-in-law, Kathy Colace.

In a candid appearance on MJ In The Midday, the AEW star spoke carefully but honestly about the emotional difficulty of the situation. “There are things that are sensitive to my family,” Danielson said, noting that he wouldn’t speak in depth out of respect. Still, when asked directly about his working relationship with McMahon, he offered a nuanced take.

“There’s the idea of ‘career’ and what he did for my career, and I consider that kind of a separate thing,” he said. “When I’m looking at Vince McMahon, the human being, how he was to me when I was backstage — we’re also talking about a guy who, when my dad passed away, gave me the best hug I had ever gotten.”

The host pointed out how McMahon famously pushed Bryan Danielson to the main event of WrestleMania 30 — a career-defining moment for the former WWE Champion. Danielson acknowledged his gratitude for that opportunity, but clarified that career success was never his ultimate goal:

“I’m somebody who is not necessarily concerned with career advancement. Being a World Champion was never this thing I aspired to. I loved the fact that I could do this thing that I loved and make a living doing it.”

Bryan Danielson on why it’s hard for him to fathom the allegations against Vince McMahon

The former AEW Champion went on to express his inner conflict over reconciling the Vince McMahon he knew with the man at the center of serious accusations.

“There is his treatment of me as an employee, but there was his treatment of me as a human being, and that’s the part that is hard to rectify with the things they are accusing him of,” he admitted. “The way he treated me as a human — he treated me very well, in a way that is kind of hard to describe to people who are coming at you from a negative perspective of Vince McMahon. But yes, there are also negative aspects about Vince McMahon.”

In addition to reflecting on McMahon, Bryan Danielson also gave a brief update on his health and current in-ring status, though he didn’t go into extensive detail. For now, his focus appears to be on staying present, navigating personal challenges, and continuing to perform at a high level in AEW.

Also Read: Pat McAfee could be leaving WWE; Who will replace him?

Rudra Alor

Rudra is a passionate sports fan and has expertise in WWE and Cricket. His interest in Sports and Writing have led him to become a Sports Journalist.

He has previously interviewed some top names like Baron Corbin and Johny Mundo, among others.