In a wrestling business built on deception and storytelling, few performers have pulled off a more convincing long-term work than Christopher Daniels. The AEW veteran and current Head of Talent Relations has finally spilled the beans about his year-and-a-half eye injury saga – and it turns out the entire thing was an elaborate ruse that fooled fans, fellow wrestlers, and even celebrities.
The Birth of a Wrestling Deception
The story begins with SCU’s emotional breakup following their failed challenge for the Young Bucks’ AEW Tag Team Championship on May 12, 2021. During that match, Daniels took a superkick into the ring post that left him with a legitimate black eye the next day. However, what happened next showcases the creative mind of a true wrestling storyteller.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Daniels revealed the truth behind his haunting eye injury. While the initial black eye was real and filled with blood, it healed completely within just three days. That’s when the veteran’s creative wheels started turning.
“So, news flash, that was never real. I had the match with The Young Bucks where SCU split up. I got super kicked into the post, and the next day, I had this huge black eye, and it started to fill with blood. I thought, Man, that’s pretty cool. Then three days later, it healed. I was like, Oh, that’s too bad, but then I thought, what if?”
The Contact Lens Conspiracy
Daniels’ solution was both ingenious and dedicated to the craft. He reached out to the same contact lens specialist who worked with AEW’s supernatural character Abadon. The goal was simple yet effective – create the appearance of a permanent eye hemorrhage that would serve as a visual reminder of his failure as SCU’s leader.
The veteran presented a comprehensive video package to Tony Khan and AEW officials, complete with a backstory explaining how the injury represented his failure as the faction’s ring general. The narrative was compelling: Daniels had lost everything, and the eye served as a permanent scar of his shortcomings.
For over a year, Daniels committed to this work completely, wearing the special contacts everywhere he went, both in wrestling venues and public appearances.
Fooling Hollywood and Wrestling Fans Alike
The dedication to this storyline extended far beyond wrestling rings. Daniels wore the contacts to public events, including the premiere of the wrestling-themed show “Heels,” where he encountered actor Stephen Amell. The interaction perfectly illustrates how committed Daniels was to maintaining the illusion.
“The first time I debuted it out in public, I went to the Heels premiere, I met Stephen Amell. He’s like, ‘Oh my god, your eye.’ And I was like, yeah, man, it’s okay. And then the next time he saw me was that we were at Grand Slam and Arthur Ashe, and he comes up to me, goes, ‘Hey, your eye has healed.’ And I was like, ‘Hey, that was fake.’ He was like, ‘You son of a bitch!'”
The Long Game That Never Fully Materialized
Despite Daniels’ creative investment in the storyline, AEW never fully capitalized on the narrative potential. After taking three to four months off following the SCU breakup, Daniels returned for independent wrestling dates while maintaining the eye injury appearance. His first major AEW return came six months later when he faced Bryan Danielson following AEW’s acquisition of Ring of Honor.
Eventually, Daniels realized the storyline wasn’t being developed further and made the decision to let his “eye heal.” The year-and-a-half commitment to this work stands as a testament to old-school wrestling dedication and the lengths performers will go to maintain kayfabe.
A Master Class in Wrestling Psychology
This revelation offers fascinating insight into the mind of a wrestling veteran who understands that the best storylines often blur the lines between reality and fiction. Daniels’ willingness to maintain this illusion for over a year demonstrates the kind of commitment that separates true wrestling artists from mere athletes.
As Daniels continues his behind-the-scenes work as AEW’s Head of Talent Relations, this story serves as a reminder of why he’s respected throughout the wrestling industry. His ability to create and maintain such an elaborate work shows that even in an era where wrestling’s secrets are often exposed, the right performer can still masterfully work the audience. What other long-term storylines might be hiding in plain sight, waiting for their eventual reveal?
