Bryan Danielson did it! At the end of his career, with retirement staring The American Dragon in the face, Danielson finally captured the AEW World Championship.
In front of 50,000 folks who sang him to the ring. Some of us questioned if this would be it.
Is this how one of wrestling’s greatest technicians, perhaps also its most authentic wrestler, ends his career? Few things are more important in wrestling than the company’s world championship.
I wrote last week in the Match Point for Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland (here) that it is our selfish desire to want Danielson to fight forever. To keep wrestling despite the injuries.
The wear and tear on the man who was forced into retirement once due to head injuries is more than a storyline.
A broken orbital bone. A broken arm.
The suggestion prior to All In was that Danielson would eventually need neck surgery. When Nigel McGuiness called Danielson “Brittle Bryan”, it wasn’t unfounded.
Some fans have and remain worried for the man’s health beyond the storyline. But, as a sicko, I’m not ready to see Danielson stop just yet.
There are still dream matches on the table. And, if Danielson has the AEW World Championship, that means he can’t retire.
I know that’s not true or kayfabe, but my inner child wants that to be true. It’s the perfect situation to craft a perfect retirement storyline for Danielson.
Give the GOAT dragon the chance to go out in the blaze of glory that is deserved and earned. Give the wrestlers who have yet to face Danielson the proverbial rub.
Show fans why they should be invested also in the future of the company once Danielson retires. Give us some final memorable and unique matches (dare I say classics or bangers?) before it’s over.
The Road to Retirement
I’m not the first to suggest adding a stipulation like Ric Flair’s retirement. Add the world championship and there’s an extra layer of stakes.
Danielson keeps wrestling until he loses the AEW World Championship? Or potentially signposting the result.
Something AEW has been creatively guilty of (as I’ve discussed here). History has proven, after Revolution this year and Sting’s retirement, that the company can deliver an exhilarating end to a legend’s career.
With the care taken in the build-up to Danielson’s title victory (which I’ve written about here), there are surely plans in place for how it ends. There are dream matches left on the table.
Men who Danielson could defend the championship against in the time between now and WrestleDream in his home state of Washington. If that is the end.
It would be the perfect place for Danielson’s career to finish. Near to home and in the state where he once had to retire before.
This time in much happier circumstances. Until Dynamite, we won’t have a clear idea of the path ahead.
Although two challengers for the AEW World Championship have been confirmed. The bigger picture is left blank.
Still, if we look at the AEW roster, there is still unfinished business elsewhere. There are opponents that Bryan Danielson must surely wrestle with before the end.
In the following list, I’m talking through ten men who should face The American Dragon before the countdown ends.
This List’s Perimeters
Rankings are usually done in a subjective, personalized order, counting down to number one, the best. I avoided this sort of ranking, preferring to go for chronological order when discussing The Lucha Brother’s AEW career recently.
This was with both their greatest matches and moments (here) and matches where their brother’s creative ceiling became clear (here). However, to honor Bryan Danielson and the final countdown concept, this is going to be subjective.
Based on my views, anticipation, and excitement for these potential hypothetical matches. This list will focus primarily on fresh opponents that Danielson has not wrestled before (with one cheating exception).
If you are curious about rematches and opponents Danielson has unfinished business with or who he could have one final match with to tie up loose ends, look out for my next article on five men Bryan Danielson should wrestle again. If you disagree or feel I missed someone, please let me know in the comments.
Before I begin, I will mention two men I’ve had to exclude from this list and the reasons why. See, I am not entirely greedy.
Honourable Mentions:
Jack Perry
The current TNT Champion pinned Danielson at Double or Nothing in the Anarchy in the Arena match. It gives a natural storyline reason for Perry to want a title shot, like another wrestler who I’ll discuss shortly.
There’s potential for a great story and match between Danielson and Perry. The Scapegoat’s exclusion is twofold.
One, there are simply more intriguing matches with stronger storyline potential. Secondly, the likelihood that Perry would take the loss.
At present, I’m enjoying Perry’s second chance, and not sure if a loss at this stage would aid the former Jungle Boy’s momentum. Perry’s weakness was character and that’s developing further and should be the priority.
With more statement moments like those against Allin prior to and at All In.
Ricochet
Debuting at All In, the hype and excitement is what the man who is out of this world can do without limitations. Undoubtedly, a match with Danielson would be an interesting clash.
The kind of one that’s got banger written underneath the graphic when posted on social media. But timing-wise, like Perry, there are deeper wells to draw from.
I want to see Ricochet fly. Seeing Danielson grounding Mr. High Fly isn’t something I’m eager for, no matter how potentially amazing it can be.
Number 5: Jay White
Jay White’s AEW run deserves its own article because when wrestlers were being signed as part of the real bidding war of 2024, White was example A of how AEW can misuse the former first-time NJPW Grand Slam champion. Yet, before AEW, the comparison I always heard with White was that he had a Triple H-like quality.
Good wrestler but questionable whether his character work and style really deserved the main event. 2024’s breakout, after destroying Darby Allin’s foot, was stopped by Billy Gunn needing to look strong and pose.
Regardless, White in-ring, with his snake-like defensive wrestling and timing, has won me over. Seeing him play spoiler in Casino Gauntlet and multi-man matches has made him noticeable in a unique heelish way.
Finding ways to counter the aerial assault of Rey Fenix has made his in-ring IQ look formidable. There is potential there.
White is hopefully near to recovering from injury. Solidified as a face with the Bang Bang Gang, a one-off match with Danielson could be a catalyst for The Catalyst of professional wrestling.
Keeping the story as simple as Danielson wanting White to prove he is The Catalyst of pro wrestling, his greatness and reputation could deliver White’s best match. White’s situational offense, his snake-like abilities killing the hope spots of The American Dragon, relit that interest in White.
Along with some close near falls and magician-like counters that may make fans consider an upset will happen. Help White’s character and fan belief in the former world champion too.
It could be the perfect rebound needed after a ropey start for White. For Danielson, it claims another NJPW-associated scalp before calling time.
Number 4: Malakai Black
As seen prior to All In, rumors will continue to circulate around Malakai Black and his desire to be All Elite. I’m disregarding these or the suggested proof some claim based on singles matches and taking pinfall losses because, as a pure mixture of styles, this match could be something unique.
As seen when Black faced Kyle O’Reilly in a Muay Thai-inspired contest, it was a match so different from everything else that’s appeared on Dynamite this year. Mix Malakai’s unique offense with Danielson’s psychology and grappling style and we may get an MMA-inspired contest.
Think Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle from TNA Lockdown 2008. but with more kicks and flexibility that will make you question if they are not fighting for real. In singles action, Black has shown his wrestling inability, like the other members of The House of Black, to be stellar.
There’s a distinctiveness there and a presence many are attracted to. A babyface like Danielson could be a perfect opponent, bringing to the surface Malakai’s best.
A grounded-in-reality match could play off Danielson’s health concerns. The mind games that could be played with the risk that Danielson is one strike away from being knocked out is scary.
A well-timed use of the mist and the Black Mass could convince fans that Black could win. That the American Dragon can be beheaded.
Number 3: Mark Briscoe
A match with some ROH history and yet also a first-time singles match. The only time these men have interacted on televised events has been under the ROH banner.
Danielson did once go one-on-one with Jay Briscoe at Final Battle 2003. At Final Battle 2023, Mark Briscoe and Danielson were on opposite teams in a Jay Briscoe tribute match six-man tag match.
Seeing Danielson face off against someone else who is so beloved by fans and with their own brand of authenticity could be deeply emotive. Mark Briscoe is a delight and a highlight of any segment that the master of Redneck Kung Fu features in.
Endeared to AEW fans for his unique charm, character, and offense, a battle between these two could be brilliant and showcase why many want Briscoe to be a future top guy in AEW. Briscoe told Under the Ring that, at some point, he and Danielson had to go one-on-one.
There is history, personality, and significance to such a match. Having a battle between the AEW and ROH World Champions would be just one of those good heart-warming moments AEW has produced over its existence.
Seeing both men push each other to the limits and their styles clash could be spectacular. Politically and strategically also, if rumors that ROH will be rebranded and become more prominent, potentially even get its own TV deal, having such a match could help get eyes on ROH.
It would also be a marker of how far Mark has come as a singles star.
Number 2: Orange Cassidy
My original pick for the Casino Gauntlet match would have been Orange Cassidy for varied reasons. Versatility and unpredictability are the most important.
With Cassidy, either against Strickland or Danielson, you have a match that’s hard to call while expecting a bit of comedy, stunning moments, and a potential upset as Cassidy might steal it. There’s more to it than that.
Behind the gimmick, Cassidy (as a psychologist and technician) is underrated and often criticized for the wrong reasons by folks who fail to get the joke. Zack Sabre Jr. has endorsed Cassidy and, over time, Cassidy has become one of AEW’s greatest success stories.
As a character, no one else has captured the underdog spirit like him. It’s why Cassidy can be an understanding visual foil to Danielson with his relaxed attitude and lazy style of wrestling.
At the same time, they parallel each other so well in their mentality, calmness, and their underdog who overcomes history. On a poster, it’s a match that, without a story, has so much intrigue.
It would likely surprise and grab us as fans in ways we did not expect. And if any AEW original deserves a World Championship shot, it’s Cassidy.
Look at his tremendous and continual rise. Besides, with Cassidy’s uncertainty, as displayed by reverting to “Where is My Mind?”, could we finally see Orange turn heel?
Number 1: Darby Allin
We are getting this match at Grand Slam. However, just because the graphic is imminent doesn’t mean that this isn’t perhaps the best potential dream match for Danielson.
As a graphic, there is a clear story and parallels between the Washington natives. Their physically smaller, scrawny figures that would fail the Airport test before even stepping outside their homes.
They share an underdog origin story and nature. Both men’s technical prowess, but also their reputations for delivering and taking violence.
The fact that both men can put on the match of the night any time they step into the ring. Although, in many respects, Darby Allin has been positioned as the successor to Sting, Allin could be Danielson’s successor in terms of that underdog trope.
Also, in ethos. Few men are willing to sacrifice their bodies for the enjoyment of the fans.
While it’s predictable to expect certain spots and sequences, certainly a bit of blood, the order and way these moments connect can and will likely be subverted by these in-ring geniuses. Even the idea that, in this face vs. face encounter, it’s easy to see both men take turns playing the heel.
Trying to kick the other’s head in. Taking a huge risk and diving for the chance to AEW World Championship.
As Laci Schlatz writes, there is potential there. It’s the kind of match that can define how precious that championship belt is within the fiction.
When two men are willing to suffer real injury and hurt to uphold the reputation and perception of a company and its title, it could only be a classic. It’s the type of match AEW exists for.
The type of match that Bryan Danielson lives for. It’s the type of match Darby Allin is willing to die for.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
