Bryan Danielson has his path to AEW World Champion MJF, and it’s a familiar story for those who have stepped up to MJF. Danielson needs to beat a series of opponents in back to back matches, and then he will earn his shot at MJF. With the promise of an Ironman Match at AEW Revolution with the belt on the line, Danielson starts his journey here tonight – with even a single loss on Dynamite between now and February 8th ending his chances. First in line is Japanese sensation Konosuke Takeshita, who is never someone who lays down in the ring – always looking to bring a massive fight.
MJF Needs His Chance To Stroke His Ego Before This Match Gets Going
Before this match could begin – MJF would stomp down to the ring and say that he’s seen some hype from Takeshita. Despite that, he’s never actually watched any of his matches, because anything but him on the show doesn’t matter. Takeshita would get in the face of MJF and yell in Japanese, before being told to “speak American”. MJF would be told to kiss Takeshita’s ass in perfect english, before nearly getting punched out.
After getting Aubrey Edwards to hold Takeshita back, MJF would address the rumours that he isn’t able to go sixty minutes – that he doesn’t have the cardio. If you want to know about his cardio, just ask a female family member how long he lasted in bed last time he was in town. MJF is the iron man of professional wrestling, excelling at putting shoulders on the mat and banging ring rats.
The Japanese Sensation vs. The American Dragon
Danielson charged to the ring, and we haven’t seen MJF run away that fast since his feud with CM Punk, which is maybe proof he’s got decent cardio. Takeshita would look to start fast after being cooled off at ringside, running in with a big boot attempt. Danielson would dodge before being taken up into a Blue Thunder Bomb, able to counter with a side headlock takeover.
Danielson was able to move into the Romero Special, before taking Takeshita up into a Surfboard Stretch, then a Dragon Sleeper. Takeshita would survive this thorough stretching from Danielson, before tasting the strikes of The American Dragon. Danielson would send Takeshita off the ropes, and be met with that high speed Takeshita Line for a two count.
Takeshita would be taken into a Short Arm Scissor attempt, before Danielson looked for the LeBell Lock – but was too close to the ropes. Danielson would corner Takeshita for the running dropkicks before taking the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Takeshita would try to keep the pressure on, but had Danielson vault over him for the Running Elbow Smash.
Danielson & Takeshita would exchange chops in the middle of the ring, with Danielson faking Takeshita out with a kick to the leg before sending him to the floor for the suicide dive. Back in the ring, Takeshita was hung in the corner for some kicks to the chest before the backdrop driver off the top rope.
Bryan Danielson Takes Takeshita Down
A powerbomb attempt from Takeshita was blocked into a hurricanrana, sending Takeshita to the floor. Diving knee strike off the apron would be messy, allowing Takeshita to hit a brainbuster on the floor. Springboard senton in the ring would be blocked with two knees to the spine, before the LeBell Lock was applied.
Takeshita would manage to fight to the bottom rope, before hitting a huge rolling elbow smash. They’d go blow for blow in the middle of the ring, with Takeshita nailing a huge lariat – turning Danielson inside out. Running knee smash from Takeshita would be blocked into Hammer & Anvil Elbows. Takeshita would fight free and set up the Bastard Driver, dropping Danielson on his head… and immediately following up with a German Suplex. A second Suplex would see Danielson land on his feet, and was able to dodge the jumping knee.
Busaiku Knee would land, getting a two count. Not letting the moment slip, Danielson would keep the pressure on – and stomped on the head before the modified Regal Stretch for the victory.
Massive Women’s Tag Team Match Kicks Off
Saraya made her massive return to professional wrestling back at Full Gear 2022, defeating former AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker in the process. Now looking to claim that belt for herself, Saraya has a chance to test the current champion Jamie Hayter in tag team action here tonight. Saraya was given weeks to pick her partner, but only chose Toni Storm last week on AEW Dynamite. She would call Storm ‘the best wrestler in the division’ when choosing her partner, getting on the bad side of Hikaru Shida who was sitting next to her.
Storm & Hayter would start this match, with Hayter being a clear fan favorite as they locked up. Hayter would be placed on the apron for a big hip attack, with Saraya following up with a diving senton off the apron. Back in the ring, Saraya would trip Hayter up and quickly cover her for a two count. Baker would get Storm set up on the apron for a neckbreaker, as this one broke into a ringside brawl.
Hayter would be thrown into the steel steps by Saraya, before getting revenge by driving Saraya into the barricade. Hikaru Shida would come to ringside, heading to the corner of Storm & Saraya. In the ring, Baker hit a Butterfly Suplex for a two count, before getting a neck crank on Storm.
Hayter would keep the pressure on with a big shoulder tackle, before Saraya got the tag. Baker would hit the ring, and they’d pick up where they left off at Full Gear – Saraya hitting the rising knee in the corner and the Night Cap for a two count. Saraya would block an Air Raid Crash with a Sunset Flip, before a knee to the nose would knock Baker loopy.
Hikaru Shida Costs Toni Storm The Match
Baker would be placed in the corner by Saraya, with Storm getting the tag before hitting the running hip attack. Storm would be unable to keep control, being taken to the top rope and dropped with the Air Raid Crash. Hayter & Baker would hit simulationious elbow smashes on Storm before the HateBreaker, but Saraya broke the pinfall up.
Storm would hit a German Suplex and the Storm Zero piledriver, but this time – Baker was the one to make the save. Baker would catch Saraya with a Tiger Bomb, as Hayter & Storm would take the middle of the ring and exchange strikes. Rebel would run a distraction, and Shida would slide a Kendo Stick into the ring to try to help Storm.
Instead, Baker would use it to bash the spine of Storm, and Hayter would hit the Ripcord Lariat for the victory. Shida will have some explaining to do when it comes to Storm. Will they come to blows? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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