Bryan Danielson Brings Back the "Yes!" Chant on AEW Dynamite – Will WWE Fire Back?

When Bryan Danielson walked out to open AEW Dynamite in Glasgow tonight, the crowd was already electric. But the moment he raised his arms and led the fans in the iconic “YES!” chant, the roof nearly came off the OVO Hydro.

For years, Danielson has respected WWE’s wishes by not actively initiating the chant. Back in July, he revealed that WWE requested he stop using it to protect what they considered their “intellectual property.” Danielson agreed, mostly letting fans take the lead while he’d nod along. That all changed tonight. For the first time in a long while, he initiated it, climbing the ropes and emphatically asking for the crowd to get louder, and louder, and they did the Scottish faithful was fully behind him.

Interestingly, AEW has not released any official video clips of Danielson’s entrance or the chant on their social media channels, only a blurry GIF on X — not on YouTube, not on Twitter/X, not anywhere. That silence is telling, and clearly shows the company knows just how much potential controversy this moment could stir up.

WWE vs. AEW — Round Two?

Danielson’s decision to reclaim the chant could set off another round of legal headaches. WWE has long claimed control over the “YES!” branding, even sending Danielson a legal notice when he attempted to trademark it himself. Though the company can’t trademark the word “yes,” they’ve argued the chant as a performance mark belongs to them.

With WWE just announcing its September 20th WrestlePalooza premium live event head-to-head with AEW’s All Out, tensions between the two promotions are already running high. Add in Tony Khan calling WWE’s Nick Khan a “con artist” in a recent interview, and tonight’s “YES!” moment feels like another shot fired in the ongoing wrestling cold war.

What’s Next for Danielson?

Danielson’s last official AEW match was at WrestleDream 2024, where he lost the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley in what was billed as his final full-time outing. Since then, he’s made sporadic, non-physical appearances. He’s scheduled to appear again this Sunday during Forbidden Door, this time as part of the pre-show panel.

Still, tonight’s roar of “YES!” chants proved that Danielson can shift the energy of a building instantly — and that AEW fans see him as much more than a retired voice at commentary.

Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

Bryan Danielson leading a “YES!” chant on AEW television isn’t just a throwback moment — it’s a direct provocation. Fans live for these rebellious sparks, and AEW knows it. WWE will almost certainly respond, whether through another legal notice or by tightening their grip on IP disputes. But this isn’t just about three little letters. It’s about momentum, control, and reminding fans that Danielson remains one of the most powerful forces in wrestling, even when he’s not in the ring. With WrestlePalooza, All Out, and Forbidden Door all circling, this “YES!” chant might end up being the loudest battle cry of the summer.

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