In the final year of his full-time wrestling career, Bryan Danielson is the new AEW World Champion.
Defeating Swerve Strickland in the main event of AEW All In, The American Dragon reigns supreme as the top champion in the promotion for the first time nearly 3 years on from joining the promotion. To mark the occasion, Danielson once again made his entrance to Europe’s The Final Countdown.
Ahead of the match, Danielson put it all on the line as he vowed to retire on the spot had he lost the match. With Danielson stating in interviews that he was content with retiring and requiring neck surgery, there was a strong possibility that this could have been the final time Danielson competed in a ring full stop. Due to the victory, fans will be able to see Danielson for a little bit longer. Danielson earned the opportunity to challenge Strickland for the title after winning the 2024 Owen Hart Cup.
The match itself saw Danielson go full speed right out the gate with stiff strikes to Strickland and a dive to the outside. However, once Strickland slowed the pace down, the champion took control. With the referee distracted, Strickland hit a Death Valley Driver onto the ring bell, which bust open Danielson. While Danielson would play the hits to try and get back in the match, Strickland continued to have an answer for nearly everything.
At one point Danielson was driven onto the mat resulting in the medical team entering the ring, but Strickland chased them away. Strickland quickly hit a Swerve Stomp but Danielson kicked out. Later in the match, Danielson hit the Busaiku Knee but Strickland simply brushed it off, countering with a Big Pressure, which Danielson kicked out of and brought Wembley alive in the process.
Just as it appeared that Strickland was going to have the match won, Adam Page interfered and was dragged away by security, resulting in another Busaiku Knee for a very close near fall. Two more Busaiku Knees followed and then The LeBell Lock to win the match and the title.
Bryan Danielson Wins Big
After previously reigning with the ROH and WWE World Championships, Danielson is now a 7-time World Champion and one of very few to hold the top prize in all 3 promotions. While not officially announced, it is likely that whenever Danielson loses the title that will be the final match of his full-time career.
The title change capped off a night of new champions crowned, with new Trios Champions, Women’s Champion and International Champion also being crowned inside Wembley Stadium.
Featured image: AEW
