Bryan Danielson Rooting for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania

“I am really proud of Cody”

This is part of the Sports Illustrated Road to WrestleMania series.

Take it from the man who headlined WrestleMania 30: when the crowd makes itself heard, there is nothing you can do but listen.

Bryan Danielson–known in WWE as Daniel Bryan–was not intended to walk away from WrestleMania 30 as the WWE champion. In fact, he wasn’t even supposed to headline the event. Yet the masses dictated otherwise, preventing a returning star from Hollywood from taking the main event spot.

Sound familiar?

Replace Batista with The Rock, and Cody Rhodes with Danielson, and welcome to WrestleMania 40.

A decade after Danielson made history at WrestleMania, he has watched in awe as Rhodes has captured the imagination of professional wrestling fans around the globe.

“I am really proud of Cody,” said Danielson. “What he’s doing is really special.”

Danielson admitted that he wants Rhodes to defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 and–stop me if you’ve heard this before–finish the story. Yet that is exactly what Danielson thought would happen a year ago, so he is stopping short of offering any predictions.

“I texted Cody last year, just saying I was so proud of him and congratulations,” said Danielson. “Then the finish happened, and I was so mad.”

If it seems odd that a star in AEW is championing the work of a star in WWE, it isn’t. Danielson explained that most wrestlers are pulling for one another. 

“This is the beauty of professional wrestling,” said Danielson. “There may be animosity and tribalism amongst fans or people who run companies. But the wrestlers? We want what’s best for each other. From a wrestler’s perspective, I want my friends to do well. And they want me to do well, too.

“I want what’s best for Cody. It’s no different with him. Cody texted me after my hour-long match against Max [MJF] and told me how much he loved it.

“There are plenty of friends from WWE who’ve reached out and complimented different things I’ve done in AEW. I’ve done the same for friends in WWE. I want my friends to succeed. We like the fact there are two competing companies. That’s good for wrestlers, and the wrestlers want each other to succeed.”