Bryan Danielson in the race of his life in All Elite Wrestling

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

The rationale I got here again to wrestling in 2015 was due to Bryan Danielson. The factor is, I by no means obtained to see him struggle. Not likely, anyway. And but I saved studying stuff on websites like this, or listening to mates, who weren’t often used to speaking about wrestling, speak about this furry killer gnome who had set the world on fireplace in 2014. The “YES!” of Danielson. The run main as much as WrestleMania 2014 had captured not solely the creativeness of the wrestling world, but it surely had crept into the mainstream. And possibly he was the primary to do it not as a result of he was a camera-friendly star or outsized character, however as a result of precise wrestling was so good. And since it was in contrast to something WWE had taken to the highest of the corporate earlier than. He was quick, had a giant beard and his calling card wasn’t a catchphrase, or being distinctive on the microphone, however that he may do rather a lot between the strings.

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 obtained injured once more, and shortly after he retired. That was nice. I am glad I ended by right here.

And now I am getting what I first got here for. All good for many who wait, it appears.

Danielson has hosted the final 5 episodes of AEW dynamite in his preparation for Revolution PPV, the place he’ll face MJF in a 60-minute Iron Man match. In these 5 weeks, Danielson confronted a variety of opponents, wrestling in quite a lot of kinds, every one leaving each wrestling fan kicking their sofa heels in pure delight.

It began with a match in opposition to Konosuke Takeshita, maybe the hidden gem of the corporate. The 2 placed on a present of athleticism and technical savvy, bouncing forwards and backwards between huge factors, huge slaps and the form of grappling we all know Danielson likes.

Then got here a match in opposition to Bandido, who regarded like one thing straight out of ROH a decade and a half in the past. It was a straight-up Lucha Libre match, and never simply the high-flying ones most related to the model, however livid submission makes an attempt as nicely. It was the experimental album you by no means knew you wanted.

The next week he pitted Danielson in opposition to Brian Cage which had some followers in a little bit of awe as Cage will not be seen as an in-ring expertise however a heavy, muscular man. He is higher than meets the attention, and Danielson entered him in a traditional huge/little man contest during which he took a good quantity of punishment, however emerged victorious resulting from his larger wrestling IQ.

Final week MJF known as out Timothy Thatcher, previously of NXT and now doing his job at Professional Wrestling NOAH in Japan. Thatcher is an professional grappler and she or he confirmed it in some wonderful matches with Tommaso Ciampa on NXT. It is form of like a throwback, the place a lot of the work is on the mat and it is all about technical superiority. However that is additionally Danielson’s wheelhouse, and the 2 placed on a 15-minute wrestling show that will have received over anybody, not simply the followers. Danielson can do something relatable and fascinating. The man as soon as made a crowd foam simply through headlocks.

So final night time, what was left? About the one factor to attain was a match during which Danielson and his opponent simply pummeled one another. Enter Rush, who has principally changed Andrade El Idolo in hand in enterprise and probably in life. There are not any puncher fighters on the planet than Rush when he is at it, and he had Danielson’s chest like eggplant 4 minutes into final night time’s contest. The 2 exchanged punches, kicks, punches, headbutts, barricade pictures, forearms, and no matter else they might consider that will exceed the edge of fucking violence. It was the other of technical prowess, and no much less satisfying. It appeared that neither was going to cease till the opposite was a full burger.

everybody wins

the by no means seen The reward of this streak for Danielson is how significantly better everybody he is stepped into the ring now appears. Followers knew Takeshita was a rising star, however now he is a real major eventer. participant. Cage was the item of the Principal occasion and instantly went on to have a justifiable spot on the listing. Individuals are calling for Thatcher to be signed. Rush needs to be a giant a part of a minimum of the TNT title or All-Atlantic scene. Everybody’s Q score has elevated. He’s the anti-Cody (sorry I can not assist it).

All of this units up what appears like a terrific match with MJF on March fifth. MJF’s expertise within the ring do not get the esteem they need to, although that is partly right down to his character and expertise on the mic. However spending an hour with Danielson was all the time seen, and particularly now, as the best place in the actual a part of the wrestling recreation, the place solely the gods can stroll. Danielson is bound to get the speak about how good MJF is as a wrestler, even when we are able to all chuckle on the attainable antics MJF will pull throughout it. Danielson will make MJF the impolite badass that he’s a badass as a result of he is so good within the ring that he cannot be crushed, not only a blob of shit that he’ll do something to win (which MJF can be). That is assuming Danielson would not win, after all.

This is what Danielson promised upon his arrival at AEW in September 2021, after all. he’s right here for rattling struggle, and that’s what he has completed. It isn’t that he wasn’t doing rather a lot earlier than, as a result of he is had nice matches all through his time with the corporate. However this current run has hit one other gear. Whereas his look might not change in fairly the identical manner, Danielson is David Bowie within the ring (or St. Vincent for extra fashionable references and to piss off some mates). He can dive into any style and produce one thing that’s the absolute essence of that combating model after which transfer on to the following match seamlessly. He’s such a pupil and devotee that there’s nothing out of attain for him.

This run has allowed Danielson to make use of each membership in his bag, and has been a pure pleasure for any wrestling fan. Perhaps this can be his final huge race. He has talked about taking a step again quickly for some time. In that case, there may be nobody who doesn’t really feel happy with the programs he has given.