Bryan Danielson Vs Bandido - AEW Dynamite (18/1/23)

This was part of Bryan Danielson's series of matches that he has to win in order to receive his title match with MJF at Revolution.  There's not much surprise or drama in the result of these matches as Bryan is obvious going to keep winning otherwise the angle is dead, but I'm never gonna complain at an angle that involves weekly Danielson matches.  So far the best part of this angle is the variety of opponents Danielson is facing, going from the puro bomb throwing match last week against Konosuke Takeshita, to more of a lucha mat based style against Bandido this week, with more variety to come next week when he's the underdog against Brian Cage.  2022 saw Bryan work very samey types of matches against JAS members on a loop, so I am all in on this angle at the moment with Bryan branching out against guys he's never faced before.  

Excalibur on commentary put over Bryan's respect for the Mexican, llave, mat-based submission style of wrestling and how Blue Panther is his favourite Luchador.  I couldn't help but remember the interviews Bryan's done in the past where he claims the reason he grew his hair so long is because one day he wants to work apuestas matches in Mexico.  18 months after leaving WWE we're yet to see Bryan take a trip to Arena Mexico, so maybe this is as close to that apuestas match as we'll ever get from Bryan.

The words that come to mind about this match are 'heavy' and 'struggle'.  There were a lot of moments in the match where it felt like each guy had to deadlift their opponent into whatever armdrag or suplex or submission move they wanted to pull off.   There wasn't much obvious cooperation in this match that you sometimes get, especially when guys are trying to show off their technical ability, and I think a match is all the better for it when it looks like someone is actively trying to block or escape a move rather than go along for the ride.  The disadvantage of that approach means that the moves don't come off looking as perfect as they usually do, but I'll accept that trade.  You can still get some beautiful moments in amongst the messier moments.  That spot where Bryan's in a pin with his legs and arms tied up so he has to utilise his neck and body strength to lift himself off the mat was super impressive and has been stuck in my mind ever since I saw it.  

In the Bandido/Jericho match I reviewed last year, I wrote about how good that match was at showcasing Bandido's talents, particularly his surprising strength.  I actually think this match does a better job at highlighting Bandido's strength and control, especially when he had to adjust mid-hold for the delayed vertical suplex to turn Bryan from the Leaning Tower of Pisa into the Empire State Building.  I think this is one of the more well-rounded and frankly better performances I've ever seen out of Bandido.  The match had much more of a solid connective tissue to it and didn't just feel like a tiktok reel of his crazy highspots.  If I could get 50% less gun taunts I might just be jumping on the Bandido-Bandwagon after all these years.  

That theme of struggle in the match ran all the way to it's concluding moments when Bandido initially countered the Lebell Lock by lifting Bryan off the floor, only for Bryan to stubbornly fight back and push off of Bandido's thighs to escape seconds before hitting the Busaiku knee to end it just before the 18 minute mark.  AEW's had a good start to TV matches this year what with Bryan and Darby wrestling at least once a week and the huge Hangman/Moxley match last week, but this was my favourite offering from AEW so far in 2023.  

Ed's Ongoing 2023 MOTY List