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

The very purpose 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. Not likely, anyway. And but I saved studying issues on websites like this, or listening to from associates, all of which weren’t normally accustomed to discussing wrestling, speak about this bushy 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 appear like something WWE had pushed to the highest of the corporate earlier than. He was quick, he had an enormous beard, and his calling card wasn’t a catchphrase, or being distinctive on the mic, however that he might 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 kinds, and every one in every of them has left each wrestling fan kicking their heels off the sofa in sheer delight.

It began with a match in opposition to 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 verify off was a match the place Danielson and his opponent simply beat the ever-loving shit out of one another. Enter Rush, who has mainly changed Andrade El Idolo in hand within the firm and presumably in life. There are not any extra bruising wrestlers on the planet than Rush when he’s on it, and he had Danielson’s chest trying 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 brink of violent as fuck. It was the alternative 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 significantly 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 article of the foremost occasion and instantly flipped into having a justifiable place on the roster. Individuals are calling for Thatcher to be signed. Rush ought to be an enormous 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 attributable to his character and mic abilities. However going an hour with Danielson was all the time 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 speak popping out of the match simply how good of a wrestler MJF is, even when we are able to 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 lower any nook to win (which MJF is also). That’s assuming Danielson doesn’t win, after all.

That is what Danielson promised upon arrival in AEW in September 2021, after all. He’s right here to fucking wrestle, and that’s what he’s carried out. 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 complete time within the firm. However this latest run has hit one other gear. Whereas his look may not change in the identical approach, 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 fashion of wrestling after which transfer on to the following match seamlessly. He’s such a pupil 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. Perhaps 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.