Bryan Danielsons jarring end to full-time career was change AEW needed
The jarring end to Bryan Danielson’s full-time career shows how much he cares.As the American Dragon was stretchered out of the Tacoma Dome in his home state of Washington to end AEW’s WrestleDream pay-per-view on Saturday, he had just completed one of the most giving ends to a career as we have seen in wrestling. Danielson, 43, gave everyone involved a chance to be elevated and for AEW’s next top-tier storyline to get the heat it needs as he closes out a full-time career that had begun nearly 25 years ago to the day.None of what we saw Saturday would have taken place without his blessing and if he can’t trust his instincts, then who can?For too long, AEW has given its fans the happy ending they crave — we got that at All In with Danielson winning the world championship.So even if Saturday’s ending felt unsatisfactory in the moment, kudos to AEW for trying to leave people with something uncomfortable for a change. Fans’ anger was palpable online and there was an audible gasp as former friend Jon Moxley choked Danielson out cold in the middle of the ring to win the AEW World Championship for a record fourth time. Moxley doesn’t need the rub and heat from beating Danielson, but his revamped Blackpool Combat Club faction and storyline sure do as he, PAC, Marina Shafir and Claudio Castagnoli continued to attack the former champion.Then it was Wheeler Yuta, whose heel turn on Danielson was exactly what he needed to become one of the most hated men in the company.
He attacked Darby Allin and then in the storyline tried to suffocate Danielson with a plastic bag, just as Moxley did to start this whole angle.Yuta even has storyline justification as Danielson was doing the “Yes!” chant instead of tending to him after an attack from the new BCC on Dynamite.
It wouldn’t be my preferred story device given some kids and teens are likely watching, but it certainly adds cruelty. It was Allin, who Moxley had beaten to earn this title shot, who emerged fr...