Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson (AEW - 1/5/2022)

I more or less co-sign all of the above. This was absolutely aces. This is very much the kind of wrestling I like. I'm going to watch it again, but I'm leaning towards full marks and this maybe finding a spot on my list next time around. Regardless, coming off MOTY rankings being fresh in everyone's mind... this is going to be tough to top this year.

I feel like I'm on a different planet when watching these top AEW matches. I like the company and wrestlers, Danielson in particular, but they never resonate as classics with me, and this one is included.

It's a very good match - so my review is hardly negative - with good performances and a gross blade job by Bryan who blew Page's out of the water (who didn't wuss out on the blood either) but this didn't take me on the journey that I need to see this at a certain level. Cody Rhodes vs Dustin Rhodes did, this just didn't. Perhaps its because I'm cold on Hangman Page as a wrestler, champion, just in general but I'm more than open minded enough to see through that. Or that's what I'd like to believe. It's not like I hate him either. In fact, I found his performance to be really good with my favourite spot of the match being Page mocking Bryan, doing his star jumps while sporting bloody. Lots to love about the match but emotionally, this didn't hook me on a level that I value to be ****1/2 or *****.

I can see/understand the last two takes. I have yet to give an AEW match the 5 (haven't rewatched this yet). There are many that I really like and think might age well into a classic, but nothing that punches me in the mouth as an instant classic (a larger conversation for another thread probably). However, the reason I think this one might do it is how layered it is without feeling contrived or on the nose. I was absolutely enthralled by the story being told. They way they built off the last match as well as previous matches from AEW, the way the implemented the blood, they way dragon plays to the judges and page pushes the pace, the way they used Dragon's previous finishers... this match is loaded with emotion and content and all of it jumped off the screen. Then again, I have been on the hook for the Hangman arch for a while and think this worked that in really well.

I rewatched this finish on AEW’s YouTube channel. This thing is just so well done. Bryan not being able to skin-the-cat and dropping, before being able to get hit by the lariat and desperately. Rolling to the ropes out of instinct are just perfect moments.

Bryan still thinks he’s got Page where he wants him until the end.

I have rewatched many high-end AEW matches over the past month, Including Punk/Kingston that I praised to the moon. This was better.

Is the FITE stream available in US? I’ve never tried.

After watching it again, I feel comfortable calling this the best match of at least the past four years as well as the best of Danielson's career. It was as if all of his prior AEW matches were worked with the goal of getting over spots for this one. It's well-established by this point that Danielson likes to work long and grind it out, so Hangman taking it right to him at the beginning to throw him off his game was great stuff. Danielson's stalling in the early minutes made excellent use of the rule of threes. The first time he powders to the outside, you're surprised. The second time he does it, you're annoyed. The third time, Hangman levels him with a tope. Danielson worked the match as more of an opportunistic underdog heel, which I think is the best role for him. First he worked over Hangman's buckshot arm after countering a tope by sending him arm-first into the guardrail, then he switched to working over the cut after Hangman got busted open. I don't mind the arm work not being a factor down the stretch since Danielson mostly abandoned it after the bladejob. This hit another level after the double juice. Danielson being unable to skin the cat due to blood loss after he did so effortlessly 59 minutes into their previous match was a particular highlight. All of the buckshot lariat teases were great, especially the one Danielson avoided by doing the Kenny Omega collapse. Danielson using so many different finishers to win his previous matches meant all the near falls and submissions down the stretch had plenty of drama. This is a lock for my next ballot.