Bryan Danielson on the run of his life in All Elite Wrestling

That is what I got here for, simply eight years later.

The very cause I bought again into wrestling in 2015 was due to Bryan Danielson. The factor is, I by no means actually bought to see him wrestle. Probably not, anyway. And but I stored studying issues on websites like this, or listening to from associates, all of which weren’t normally accustomed to discussing wrestling, discuss this furry homicide gnome that had set the world alight in 2014. Danielson’s “YES!” run main as much as WrestleMania 2014 had captured not simply the creativeness of the wrestling world, however had crept into the mainstream. And maybe he was the primary to take action not as a result of he was simply such a camera-friendly star or an outsized persona, however as a result of the precise wrestling was so good. And since he didn’t seem like something WWE had pushed to the highest of the corporate earlier than. He was brief, he had a giant beard, and his calling card wasn’t a catchphrase, or being distinctive on the mic, however that he may achieve this a lot between the ropes.

So I needed to see this man. And I noticed him wrestle within the ladder match that opened WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara. After which he bought harm once more, and shortly after he retired. In order that was nice. Glad I finished by.

And now I’m getting what I first got here for. All good issues to those that wait, apparently.

Danielson has anchored the final 5 episodes of AEW Dynamite in his run-up to the Revolution PPV, the place he’ll face MJF in a 60-minute Iron Man match. In these 5 weeks, Danielson has confronted a variety of opponents, wrestled quite a lot of types, and every considered one of them has left each wrestling fan kicking their heels off the sofa in sheer delight.

It began with a match towards Konosuke Takeshita, maybe the corporate’s hidden gem. The 2 of them placed on a present of athleticism and technical know-how, bouncing backwards and forwards between huge spots, huge slaps, and the sort of grappling that we all know Danielson will get off on.

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Next came a match against Bandido, which felt like it was straight out of ROH a decade and a half ago. It was a straight Lucha Libre match, and not just the high-flying most associated with the style, but with furious submission attempts as well. It was the experimental album you never knew you needed.

The following week pitted Danielson against Brian Cage, which had some fans feeling a little trepidation as Cage isn’t seen as an in-ring talent so much as a lumbering muscle dude. He’s better than he gets credit for, and Danielson engaged him in a classic big-guy/little-guy contest where he took a hunk of punishment but came out on top due to his higher wrestling IQ.

Last week, MJF called in Timothy Thatcher, formerly of NXT and now doing his work in Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. Thatcher is a grappling expert, and showed that in some excellent contests with Tommaso Ciampa in NXT. He’s something of a throwback, where most of the work is on the mat and it’s all about technical superiority. But this is also Danielson’s wheelhouse, and the two had a 15-minute grappling exhibition that would have won over anyone, not just the diehards. Danielson can make anything relatable and interesting. The dude once got a crowd frothing merely by headlocks.

So final evening, what was left? Nearly the one factor to examine off was a match the place Danielson and his opponent simply beat the ever-loving shit out of one another. Enter Rush, who has principally changed Andrade El Idolo in hand within the firm and presumably in life. There aren’t any extra bruising wrestlers on the planet than Rush when he’s on it, and he had Danielson’s chest wanting like eggplant about 4 minutes into final evening’s contest. The 2 exchanged chops, kicks, punches, headbutts, throws into the barricade, forearms, and no matter else they might consider that exceeded the edge of violent as fuck. It was the other of technical prowess, and no much less satisfying. It felt like neither was going to cease till the opposite was a full burger.

Everybody wins

The unseen present of this run of Danielson’s is how a lot better everybody he’s gotten within the ring with appears now. Followers knew Takeshita was a rising star, however now he’s a real main-event participant. Cage was the item of the major occasion and instantly flipped into having a justifiable place on the roster. Persons are calling for Thatcher to be signed. Rush ought to be a giant a part of at the least the TNT title or All-Atlantic scene. He has boosted everybody’s Q ranking. He’s the anti-Cody (I’m sorry, I can’t assist it).

All of this units up what’s feeling like an immense match with MJF on March fifth. MJF’s in-ring abilities don’t get practically the esteem they need to, although that’s partly because of his character and mic abilities. However going an hour with Danielson was at all times seen, and particularly now, as the highest perch within the precise wrestling portion of the sport, the place solely the gods can stroll. Danielson will assuredly make the discuss popping out of the match simply how good of a wrestler MJF is, even when we will all giggle in regards to the doable shenanigans MJF will use throughout it. Danielson will make MJF the uncommon heel who’s a heel as a result of he’s so good within the ring that he can’t be crushed, not only a shit stain who will minimize any nook to win (which MJF is also). That’s assuming Danielson doesn’t win, in fact.

That is what Danielson promised upon arrival in AEW in September 2021, in fact. He’s right here to fucking wrestle, and that’s what he’s executed. It’s not that he wasn’t doing a lot earlier than, as a result of he’s been having nice matches all through his whole time within the firm. However this latest run has hit one other gear. Whereas his look may not change in the identical means, Danielson is David Bowie within the ring (or St. Vincent for extra fashionable references and to piss off just a few associates). He can drop himself into any style and produce one thing that’s the absolute essence of that model of wrestling after which transfer on to the subsequent match seamlessly. He’s such a scholar and devotee that there isn’t something out of his purview.

This run has let Danielson use all of the golf equipment in his bag, and it’s been pure pleasure for any wrestling fan. Possibly that is his final nice run. He’s talked about stepping again quickly for some time. Whether it is, there can’t be anybody who doesn’t really feel satiated with the programs he’s offered.