It has all come down to this. At AEW Full Gear, Bryan Danielson defeated Miro to become the #1 Contender for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. Hangman Page meanwhile defeated Kenny Omega to become the AEW World Heavyweight Champion.
From that point forward, everyone knew the match that was coming – and Danielson was let down. He wanted the best in the world again, like his AEW debut; but instead got Page. However, as a warm up for this match, Danielson would tear through the Dark Order, injuring Alan Angels, kicking Colt Cabana‘s teeth out, and more.
This all led to a simple title match becoming a personal battle for Hangman Page. You mess with his friends, you get him angry, and tonight he will show Danielson and everyone else on the roster that is not a good idea. These are two of the best in the world today, they’ve never wrestled, and the stakes are massive. To think, this isn’t even on PPV!
Bryan Danielson Is Getting The Champion Angry
Page would get a Texas sized pop as he hit the ring, showing that Cowboy Shit is still running wild. Danielson had some fans in the building, but Page was the favorite. Opening lock up would see a Collar & Elbow Tie-Up, with Page able to shove Bryan into the corner. No clean break as Danielson would shove Page and dodge the coming chop.
Page would catch Danielson with a nice Fireman’s Carry, before he’d grab the wrist and Danielson would fight to counter the hold and get an Underhook Suplex. Danielson would hide in the ropes, getting in the head of the champion. The ankle pick wouldn’t catch Page, but he was having issues getting hold of Danielson or getting his big strikes.
Page would have his arm attacked, with him avoiding the stomp to the elbow by kipping up off the mat as Danielson set it up. Danielson would shove Page again, and he was really getting the champion angry tonight. Page would be taken down with some headlock takeovers, before he landed a big boot to the chest – and Danielson extended a handshake, even more mind games.
The double wrist-lock would be met with a headlock, but when Danielson hit the ropes, he’d try to leapfrog Page and was caught with a bodyslam. Not enough damage to keep Danielson down, who quickly picked the ankle and tied the legs up before nailing some big knee strikes. The Dragon Sleeper would be locked in on Page, but Danielson couldn’t keep the hold intact.
Page would stand tall through strikes from Danielson, including a big headbutt. A big chop staggered Danielson into the corner, and Page would rain down punches to the forehead. Still not enough to keep Danielson down, and Page had his legs tied up once again.
The Comeback Finally Arrives
Page would fight free and slip outside, but as Danielson looked to set up the dive to the outside – he’d come in with a big boot. Danielson went to the apron, and Page quickly followed up with the springboard lariat and the vaulting body press to the outside. Back in the ring, Page looked to hit a diving lariat, but Danielson caught him with an anti-air roundhouse kick.
Page was caught up in the ropes, beaten with strikes before a diving knee strike to the back of the neck. Some big elbow strikes on the mat were followed with a straight up soccer kick to the ribs. The body of Hangman was being brutalized, and a knee to the midsection was next. He’d resist the Bow & Arrow stretch and turn it around into a big backdrop.
This could be the opening Page needed, and he’d be able to lay in some big strikes in the corner. Danielson went up and over when thrown across the ring, but ran right into a Fallaway Slam. Page propped Danielson on the top rope for another springboard lariat, but Danielson went outside – only to take a suicide dive.
He’d want the moonsault to the floor, and was able to get all of it. Back in the ring, a big Death Valley Driver dropped Danielson on his head. The superplex was planned, but Danielson was able to slip free. He’d counter the backdrop off the top, but missed the moonsault attempt – but survived the pinfall attempt.
Page would get a roll up, but Danielson would almost counter into the LeBell Lock. He couldn’t get it, and instead went for an ankle lock. Some running dropkicks in the corner followed after Page fought free, only for Danielson to take a massive pop up powerbomb.
A Bloody Hangman Page Shows He Isn’t Losing The Belt Without A Massive Fight
Buckshot was loaded, but Danielson headed outside. The sliding dropkick landed, but the moonsault attempt saw Danielson toss him onto the apron. The ring post would get some attention, as Page was driven into it, his face and arms taking the damage. The champion was bloody at ringside, getting some medical attention from Doc Sampson and referee Paul Turner.
Danielson was taunting in the ring to keep the crowd engaged during this, with Page really trying to get to his feet. He’d get up and instantly took a running knee from Danielson, before a flying knee off the apron and some punches right to the wound. The shoulder was wrapped around the ring post, before some more punches in the corner.
The running knee was caught into a Fallaway Slam, only for a German Suplex to land. Cattle Mutilation would be applied, but Page was able to get the ropes and to the apron. Danielson followed with some round kicks, but he got greedy and hit the same steel post. Page would follow up with a kneebreaker to the post, before a guardrail would also meet that left knee.
Longest Match In AEW History
Page would take an enziguri, and the pop-up powerbomb was blocked into a hurricanrana before Danielson went for an armbar. Danielson would not let the hold go through a powerbomb, but Page was able to get the roll to the ropes. Kicks were thrown, and Page was just about to hit a forearm and a tombstone piledriver for the two count.
Danielson nailed a diving knee to the arm after battling out of a superplex, and getting the Regal Plex for two. The super backdrop would follow, and the Hammer & Anvil elbow strikes. Page would grab the ropes to stop the armbar, but almost took the Gotch Style Piledriver on the arpon – instead nailing DEADEYE! Danielson hung out on the outside, but dodged the dive and Page hit the timekeeper’s table.
The padding at ringside was pulled up, and Danielson nailed a DDT onto the concrete. He just gets more sadistic as the match goes. In the ring, he’d come off the top with a diving headbutt, but Page was still able to kick out. Crossface Chickenwing was set, but turned around into a German Suplex.
55 Minutes Deep, The Clock Is Running Out
A clubbing lariat landed from Page, but his arm was hurt after a long match. They were drowning in deep water, but Danielson went for a second super backdrop – with Page landing on his feet before a Brodie Lee quality discus lariat! They’d both fight to their feet and exchange strikes. A flash pinfall from Page got two, and he’d flip out of the German Suplex but Danielson stood tall after the rolling elbow for a big roundhouse kick.
This match would have just five minutes left, and Danielson got serious. He can’t win out of a time limit draw, but Page can retain. Danielson would lose some composure, but stomped the head in. The running knee was caught into Deadeye, but Danielson kicked out. Page was fired up. He’d call to kick the head of Danielson in, and that’s some cowboy shit right there!
His arm has one good lariat left, and Buckshot would be loaded. Danielson blocked into the LeBell Lock in the middle of the ring. The right shoulder was locked, and hands were over the eyes. Danielson threw some crossface blows as the one minute mark came. Page was fighting the submission as the crowd hit a fever pitch. He’d slingshot Danielson to the apron before hitting a massive lariat. Buckshot was next, and with seconds left – Page couldn’t make the pin.
Bryan Danielson has had one of the best runs of his career in 2021, and he showed he had another match of the year contender in him. He’d do everything possible to annoy Hangman while giving his best offense. Hangman Page meanwhile showed insane babyface fire and endurance – weathering the storm and showing that his championship win was not a fluke. However, this one was controlled by the veteran who had the crowd hungry for the Page victory. It was the longest match in company history, but used everything they had to tell an epic story from bell to bell. Match Rating: 4.75/5 (**** 3/4)
Will Bryan Danielson get another shot at Hangman Page? Has his reign peaked with this all-time classic match? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit ScreenJuicer for great videos, news, and gameplay!
