{"id":126662,"date":"2024-08-28T09:00:25","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=126662"},"modified":"2024-08-28T02:41:41","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T06:41:41","slug":"dream-matches-revisited-5-men-aews-bryan-danielson-must-wrestle-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/08\/28\/dream-matches-revisited-5-men-aews-bryan-danielson-must-wrestle-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Dream Matches Revisited: 5 Men AEW\u2019s Bryan Danielson Must Wrestle Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bryan Danielson<\/span><\/strong> did it! At the end of his career, with retirement staring The American Dragon in the face, Danielson finally captured the <\/span>AEW<\/span><\/strong> World Championship in front of 50,000 folks who sang into the ring. Some of us questioned if this would be it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is this how one of <\/span>wrestling\u2019s<\/span> greatest<\/span> technicians, perhaps also its most authentic wrestler, ends his career?<\/span><\/p>\n

This introduction might seem familiar if you read my article: A Final Countdown: 5 Men <\/span>AEW\u2019s<\/span> Bryan Danielson Should Face Before Retirement (EDITOR- include link please :)).<\/span><\/p>\n

Repetition is a fact of life. In stories and sports, wrestling, epic sequels, trilogies, and rematches build into mythology\u2014monolithic towers built with <\/span>layer upon layer<\/span> of history and emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although <\/span>the career of<\/span> Bryan Danielson is winding down, <\/span>there are questions left<\/span> unanswered.<\/span> There are<\/span> \u201c<\/span>what ifs<\/span>\u201d <\/span>that fans need to be resolved. There are loose ends that <\/span>in<\/span> fiction<\/span> need to be neatly tied up in a bow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether that is now, in this final run, or further down the line<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span> mean,<\/span> I\u2019m<\/span> not the only one reading between the lines when Danielson said this would be his final full year of wrestling.<\/span> Part-time and one-off matches are not just wishful thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is the potential for rivalries with ancient history to add one final epilogue. There are half-finished stories without a definitive result. It would be a shame if these were left unfinished.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, <\/span>let\u2019s<\/span> look at five such examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>List\u2019s<\/span> Perimeters <\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Rankings are usually done in a subjective, personalized order, counting down to number one, the best. <\/span>I avoided this sort of ranking, preferring to go for chronological order when discussing <\/span>The Lucha <\/span>Brother\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> AEW career <\/span>recently<\/span>.<\/span> This<\/span> was with <\/span>both<\/span> their greatest matches and moments (<\/span>here<\/span><\/a>) and matches where their <\/span>brother\u2019s<\/span> creative ceiling became clear (<\/span>here<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

However, to honor Danielson and the final countdown concept, this <\/span>is going to<\/span> be subjective. Based on my views, anticipation, and excitement for these potential hypothetical matches.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you disagree or feel I missed someone, please let me know in the comments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before I begin, I will mention three men <\/span>I\u2019ve<\/span> had to exclude from this list and the reasons why.<\/span><\/p>\n

Honourable Mentions<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Christian Cage<\/span><\/strong>– Christian will get a title shot after winning the Casino Gauntlet match. At first, I <\/span>was underwhelmed<\/span>. Then <\/span>when<\/span> I saw Danielson in the ring with his children post-celebration, I could see where the feud could go. <\/span>I\u2019m<\/span> excited.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christian faced and beat Danielson to retain his TNT Championship last year, giving more intrigue to the <\/span>match\u2019s<\/span> story. Add to this if\/when <\/span>Killswitch\/Luchasauras<\/span><\/strong> will turn. Although undoubtedly this will be a master class, it does not have the gravity or appeal as other matches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Samoa Joe<\/span><\/strong>– There will be <\/span>ROH <\/span><\/strong>callbacks on this list. <\/span>The<\/span> reason<\/span> this nudged Joe from the list <\/span>for three reasons<\/span>.<\/span> One,<\/span> I <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> think this match can live up to their past wars.<\/span> Although Joe had a late-career Renaissance <\/span>winning<\/span> the AEW World Championship at <\/span>World\u2019s<\/span> End<\/span><\/em> and remaining strong on the microphone, I do not think it could live up to expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d<\/span> loved to be wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, I <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> think <\/span>besides<\/span> nostalgia, Joe vs. Danielson needs to happen in 2024. Finally, there is no unfinished business to revisit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will Ospreay<\/span><\/strong>– Although they interacted at<\/span> Dynamite<\/span><\/em> from Cardiff, <\/span>at this <\/span>stage<\/span> neither champion needs the rematch.<\/span> Their <\/span>Dynasty<\/span><\/em> match set an extremely high bar for match of the year. <\/span>This<\/span> was a hit that <\/span>doesn\u2019t<\/span> need<\/span> a sequel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Number 5: Claudio Castagnoli <\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n