When CM Punk returned to AEW earlier this year, it was to headline Saturday night's new AEW show, Collision. The move paid off and the Best in the World has proven himself a legit ratings draw for a programme that now runs the risk of heading the same way as AEW Rampage.
That Friday night effort has been something of an afterthought in recent months, particularly with WWE firing on all cylinders with SmackDown.
Now, without Punk, Collision is already in trouble based on this week's ratings and former WCW boss Eric Bischoff believes AEW President Tony Khan has the perfect solution right in front of him: the American Dragon, Bryan Danielson.
"I don't know Bryan Danielson at all," he stated on the 83 Weeks podcast. "We've probably had brief conversations occasionally over the course of the years, especially when I was back there [in WWE] for a minute in 2019, but here's what I do know. I've watched his work. I watched him in the ring. I'm very impressed with him."
"When I was working in WWE back in 2019...I know that Vince McMahon was very impressed with Bryan Danielson; his creative, his psychology, and I know that there was some conversation. I don't know how serious it was at the time. Vince mentioned to me that he was possibly interested in bringing in Bryan Danielson to be very involved in the creative side of things."
"I know there was interest there because I had the conversation with Vince myself, and that suggests to me that Vince saw a lot in Bryan creatively. I think if that potential exists, Bryan Danielson is three or four or five or ten times more valuable to Tony writing, overseeing the creative of AEW whether it's just for Collision or ultimately all of the shows because that's not Tony's strength. Tony wants it to be his strength. He wants to convince people it's his strength. It's not."
"If I were Tony, I would give that Collision show to Bryan, not just be my right-hand man and let him bounce ideas off, give it to him," Bischoff concluded. "Say, 'Here you go. Here's your notepad. Here's your computer. Here's a pen. Here's an office. Call me when you got a show ready.'"
While it appears the idea is for Danielson to spearhead AEW Colission as an on-air talent moving forward, Bischoff makes some great points here particularly as Khan's booking decisions have proven to be largely woeful at best.
Do you think he's right about the American Dragon being given a bigger role behind the scenes in AEW?