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In 2009, The American Dragon Bryan Danielson was flirting with a banner year. He wrapped up an accomplished tenure with Ring of Honor. He was wrestling the likes of CM Punk and Kenny Omega on the independent circuit. Most importantly, he was about to restart a run with WWE.
Amidst the landmark year, Bryan Danielson would face a serious injury. Bryan suffered from elevated enzymes and was diagnosed with three different Staph infections. Eager to return to the ring and rebuild his body, Danielson sought answers. His doctors recommended that Bryan shift to a vegetarian diet. The change in his diet would help Bryan Danielson mark a new era in his life, both in and out of the ring.
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Bryan Danielson Finds Positive Change In His Vegan Lifestyle
As the vegetarian diet rejuvenated Danielson's health, he decided to take things one step further. Bryan Danielson adopted a plant-based, vegan lifestyle. The choice had immediate and impressive results.
In an interview with Muscle and Fitness, Danielson detailed how he underwent tests to find out which nutrient-dense foods worked best for him, "For me, sweet potatoes, arugula, and oats are superfoods."
The vegan diet helped Danielson work his way back into the wrestling ring just months after being diagnosed with Staph infections. Shortly after that, Bryan Danielson would make his NXT debut in a tremendous match against Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship. WWE fans were blown away by Danielson's technical style, a breath of fresh air from what they saw on most weeks.
The WWE fans weren't the only ones who were impressed by the new and improved Danielson. In an interview with Inside The Ropes, Bryan recalls Vince McMahon approaching him backstage after that first match with Jericho and claiming, "You got something in this kid! Ugh! And he doesn't even eat meat!" Danielson went on to say that, in recent years, McMahon has changed his tune on veganism and now sees the health benefits of a plant-based diet (even if he didn't adopt it himself).
With all the positive aspects that veganism brought to Danielson's health, life on the road presented challenges.
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Bryan Danielson Stopped Being A Full-Time Vegan In 2012
A mere decade ago, there were far fewer vegan options for consumers. Bryan Danielson, who spent more days on the road than not, found it extremely difficult to maintain a balanced vegan diet.
The American Dragon was plagued with minimal choices for protein. In the early 2010s, soy was often the only option for vegans and vegetarians. When Danielson developed an unfortunate soy intolerance, he decided to step back from being a full-time vegan.
The decision was met with some online criticism from other vegans. However, most vegans don't have to live on the road for most of the calendar year. Danielson still advocates for plant-based diets, and he still abides by a primarily vegan diet.
Bryan Danielson Was Awarded For His Veganism And Animal Activism
Whether he's a full-time vegan or not, Bryan Danielson has been a staunch animal rights activist and environmentalist, two other excellent reasons for adopting a vegan diet. WWE even used this element of Danielson's identity to create a heel persona in 2019. As WWE Champion, Bryan introduced the 100% sustainable hemp championship belt. As silly as the militant environmentalist gimmick was, Danielson seemed to enjoy the work.
Danielson also received accolades for his activism from outside the wrestling world. In 2012, he was given the Libby Award by PETA for being the most animal-friendly athlete.
Since Bryan Danielson embraced the vegan lifestyle, several other wrestlers have followed suit, including his wife, Brie Bella, Sami Zayn, Kofi Kingston, and Gunther. In the last decade, more professional athletes have also been promoting a plant-based diet. Tom Brady, Venus Williams, and Kyrie Irving are just a few marquee names that have gone vegan.
While Danielson may not be a full-time vegan, there's no doubt that the plant-based lifestyle is still a massive part of his life, fitness, and career. The American Dragon credits his training, hydration, and nutrient-dense diet for his jaw-dropping stamina. At forty years old, he's made a place for himself as the marathon man of AEW, going the distance with Adam Page in a 60-minute draw and Kenny Omega in a 30-minute draw.
