All Elite Wrestling has a knack for casually putting on dream matches, especially with The Forbidden Door open. He’s been around a few times now, but Minoru Suzuki is about to embark on perhaps his wildest match yet in AEW – as he takes on The American Dragon, Bryan Danielson. They last met in 2004 in NJPW – but they’re very different now, but Suzuki beat the shit out of him. Tonight, they have free reign to rip into each other in what could be an instant classic as they show their growth.
Bryan Danielson & Minoru Suzuki Are Ready For War
As Kaze Ni Nare would blast through the arena, Suzuki chants would slowly pick up as he’d reach the ring. They’d scream in unison – no Suzuki Incident tonight. Danielson would look at home with a crowd doing the signature YES! Chants, and it was time. The King vs. The American Dragon. Loud AEW chants ringed out before they’d even locked up, and when they did – Danielson was taken to his knees.
He’d twist and gain control of the wrist, before trying to work into an Octopus Stretch. Suzuki would decide to give him some pointers, and quickly moved into one of his own – before a rear chinlock to follow up. Danielson slipped out, and nearly caught the kneebar. Suzuki got the ropes, before they’d take a moment. Danielson grabbed a single leg, and kicked the thigh of Suzuki – who wanted more.
They’d start to trade strikes in the middle of the ring, a trade of heavy handed chops from Suzuki and round kicks from Danielson. The crowd would quiet to appreciate the noise of impact, and Suzuki hit a knock out level blow. Danielson would get up, and a new determination was in his eyes. He’d start to fire up with some kicks, before trapping the arms on the mat for the Hammer & Anvil elbow strikes on the mat.
Suzuki would escape the Cattle Mutilation attempt, and went to the ropes to get the armbar over the ropes. Taking the fight to the floor suits Suzuki- who is a helluva brawler, despite his technical skills. Danielson would be shoved into the corner post, and back in the ring, Suzuki would apply a torturous armbar. Even the fingers and wrist were attacked, and this was the sadistic side of Suzuki.
This Is Wrestling
Danielson would slip outside, where Suzuki met the post this time, before taking the flying knee strike. Suzuki would be rolled back into the ring, where his arms were captured and the head of Suzuki was stomped into the mat. Cattle Mutilation was applied, but Suzuki was able to resist the hold. Danielson instead worked into a tight pinfall, but Suzuki was able to get a shoulder up.
Suzuki would take a running dropkick in the corner, before some big uppercuts. He’d come back with the pump kick, before two PK’s. Danielson would get some stomps to the head, and that woke him back up. Another big strike exchange would open Danielson to an armbar from Suzuki, having the fight through pain to get a foot on the ropes.
Bryce Remsburg would try to get between Suzuki and his prey, and this distraction would allow Danielson to take him down into an Omoplata. Anyone else would have been done, but Suzuki was able to roll his feet onto the ropes. We’d get a Fight Forever chant, but the best they could do is 30 minutes – which is a possibility here. Danielson & Suzuki traded more forearms before Suzuki put his arms behind his back and welcomed the strikes – only to come back with another KO quality blow. Both men would fall after consecutive punches, and bring more strikes.
Something had to give, and these forearm strikes would do little for Danielson against Suzuki. Suzuki would go for the sleeper hold, trying for the Gotch Style Piledriver. Danielson would counter, and hit the running knee strike for the win. What. A. MATCH!
This was the side of Minoru Suzuki that made him a legend. His brawls with Moxley were fun, but this was both a violent brawl and masterful technical wrestling classic. One of the best matches Suzuki has had in years. AEW let these two wrestlers do what they did best, and gave it to fans for free on a pre show. Match Rating: 4.75/5 (**** 3/4)
What will be next for Bryan Danielson, beyond his match with Bobby Fish? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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