The WWE’s Thunderdome age was a distinctive period, however, Bryan Danielson had a great affection for working within this COVID-19 pandemic-induced setup.
During WWE SummerSlam 2020, the WWE introduced the groundbreaking Thunderdome that included screens with fans spectating the event from their homes, along with the utilization of crowd sound effects.
In a recent episode of the Gorilla Position podcast, Danielson reminisced about his experience competing within this unconventional dome. He shared his thoughts, saying,
“I was enamored by it. The disparity was vast, much like theatre and film. Our conventional method resembles theatre. However, what we were forced to adapt during the pandemic was akin to cinema… When Roman [Reigns] reappeared, I realized his understanding of the pros and cons. Not everything worked, but some things were indeed beneficial. The direction he chose to follow was simply ingenious.
“I found myself being drawn to the vintage British wrestling style… The audio and the physical aspects were captivating. You’d almost perceptibly hear moments like when they grappled, and so on. I believed there was a genuine prospect to explore that aspect.”
The final bout for Danielson under the WWE banner took place in the Thunderdome where he battled for the Universal Championship but was defeated by Roman Reigns.
Known as the “American Dragon”, Danielson made his comeback to wrestling as an AEW member in late 2021. His next big challenge is the AEW World Championship at All In 2024: London.