In an interview with Nick Stav, AEW star and pro wrestling veteran Bryan Danielson talked about various topics, including a call he received from former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon just days before his debut with AEW at All Out. During the call, Vince attempted to persuade him to return to WWE.
This is what Bryan Danielson said, “I hadn’t actually signed my contract until two or three days before that. ‘Always the plan,’ was Tony (Khan) thinking it? Did he have it in the back of his mind? I want to say Adam Cole didn’t sign until that day. Maybe he agreed to come, but you never know what’s going to happen. When WWE found out I hadn’t signed yet, they said, ‘Is there anything we can do?’ I called Vince (McMahon) in early August because I was going back and forth. I called Vince in early August and let him know, ‘I made my decision. I’m going to do this.’ He called me one time in the meantime and said, ‘What if we offered you this instead.’ I hadn’t signed my contract yet, it was maye five days before the pay-per-view, and he called me. I told him, ‘Sir, I already agreed to this thing. If I were to go back on this, I feel you have a decent amount of respect for me. One of the things you respect me for is that I honor my word.’ It was a great conversation. He said, ‘Damnit, you’re right.’”
You can check out Bryan Danielson's comments in the video below.
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)
