Bryan Danielson’s Shocking Revelation Behind “The Final Countdown” Entrance: A Joke That Became Iconic
In the high-stakes international of expert wrestling, every detail counts. The front track, a crucial part of a wrestler’s identification, can set the tone for what’s to come back, energize the group, and cement a wrestler’s legacy. For Bryan Danielson, a person who has fought his way to the top of the wrestling global, his preference of entrance music was as unconventional as it changed into memorable. However, the tale at the back of his iconic front to “The Final Countdown” by way of Europe is as surprising as it is bizarre—a tale of humor, irony, and unexpected legacy.
The Origin Story: A Joke That Took on a Life of Its Own
Bryan Danielson, additionally regarded to many fanatics as Daniel Bryan at some stage in his WWE tenure, has always been known for his intensity within the ring, matched with the aid of his somewhat quirky character out of doors of it. During the put up-display press conference following AEW All In, in which Danielson had simply headlined one of the most substantial activities in wrestling records, he revealed the uncommon origins of his front song desire.
“I chose it as a joke,” Danielson admitted, with a casualness that belied the impact the song would eventually have on his career. “I was traveling to Japan a lot, and during one of those trips, I picked up a music magazine at the airport. They had this list of the 100 worst songs of all time. ‘The Final Countdown’ by Europe was either number one or definitely in the top ten.”
In the early 2000s, Danielson, then wrestling for Ring of Honor (ROH), wasn’t yet the global superstar he would become. In those days, like many of his peers, he relied on Napster, the infamous file-sharing platform, to download music. It was during this time that he stumbled upon the song that would define his wrestling persona for years to come. “I thought, ‘This would be awesome entrance music.’ It was all about entertaining myself. I never imagined it would catch on in ROH, let alone that 20 years later, I’d be walking out to it in front of 50,000-plus people at Wembley Stadium.”
The Legacy of “The Final Countdown”
Fast ahead to AEW All In, and the as soon as-comic story entrance had transformed right into a legendary a part of Danielson’s wrestling identification. The event, held at the enduring Wembley Stadium in London, become one among the biggest wrestling activities in records, drawing over 50,000 enthusiasts. The foremost event, dubbed “The Final Countdown” healthy, noticed Danielson put his career on the road against Swerve Strickland’s World Title. It changed into a becoming title for a match that had a lot on the line—Danielson’s entire career versus the pinnacle of AEW.
As the hole chords of “The Final Countdown” echoed through the stadium, the group erupted in unison, singing along to a song that had as soon as been mocked however had now end up a symbol of triumph and perseverance. For Danielson, it was a full-circle second, mixing his past together with his found in a way that handiest expert wrestling can gain.
The music’s importance wasn’t lost on the person who originally selected it as a comic story. “I don’t know if anybody has shown this to Europe,” Danielson mused during the AEW All In post-show press conference. “Maybe they might bring down the price,” he joked, relating to the licensing charge that AEW boss Tony Khan had to pay to apply the track.
A Career Highlight at AEW All In
The significance of that night extended beyond just the music. For Danielson, the match itself became a profession-defining moment. After a grueling war, he emerged effective, capturing the AEW World Title in front of his wife Brie and their two younger children, Birdie and Buddy, who have been at ringside. The presence of his circle of relatives turned an already momentous occasion into something deeply personal and unforgettable.
Reflecting on the experience, Danielson shared, “People ask me all the time what my favorite moment in wrestling is, and I’ve never been able to give them a single answer because I’ve loved all of it. But this is the first time my daughter remembers seeing me wrestle live. It’s the first time my son’s seen me wrestle live. Without a doubt, this was my favorite moment in my entire career.”
