How Aerialist Aidan Bryant's Risky Final Act Shocked Simon Cowell

With a mix of gravity-defying stunts, dangerous acrobatics, and unexplainable contortions, Aidan Bryant put on an Act to remember during the Top 11's final performances on America’s Got Talent: All-Stars.

After coming in second place to AGT 16 winner Dustin Tavella, Bryant was determined to return and fight for another chance at a win. And with Tavella also competing again for All-Stars, the stakes were even higher.

“When I heard about All-Stars, I knew I had to take the chance and really prove myself to America," the teen said earlier this season. "And the fact that I have to compete against Dustin again adds so much pressure, and I know I cannot lose to him again. I’ve been working so hard to come back strong and better than ever.” 

Thanks to the Superfan vote, Bryant triumphed over the magician and made it to the Final, where his performance was so breathtaking that it brought Simon Cowell to his feet and also drove him to curse—which was bleeped out during the national broadcast.

"I am literally searching for words right now," the shaken executive producer said. "This is, like, one of those moments I remember as a kid when I used to watch the Olympics and one would outdo the other in the gymnast part of the Olympic Games. And the Judges at the end would just go, '10, 10, 10, 10, 10.' That's what it felt like to me."

Heidi Klum was in agreement. "You literally take my breath away every time that you're up there," she said. "I've never seen some of the moves that you do. You're like in a different league of aerialism."

Howie Mandel added, "You combined such stunning danger and strength with such elegance and grace and contortion and dance. I have never seen anything like that in aerialism before. You just set the bar, or the rope, or whatever that is."

The aerialist, who is self-taught, recently opened up to People about returning to television for AGT: All-Stars.

"To be in the finals means that all my hard work since I was 14 years old, practicing in the backyard in the tree has paid off," Bryant said. "I feel that I am ready to win this time. When I came in second place on Season 16, I never dreamed that I would make it that far, but now I feel like this is my second chance to prove to the world that I have gone from an amateur to a professional aerialist."

Watch the AGT: All-Stars finale Monday, February 27 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock.