Bryan Danielson Cuts Emotional Promo Following WrestleDream Match

Bryan Danielson got emotional after his match with Zack Sabre Jr. at WrestleDream, explaining what left him “a little bit upset.”

WrestleDream saw Bryan Danielson take on Zack Sabre Jr. in a highly-praised dream match. Both men are hailed as two of the best technical wrestlers in the world, and the bout saw plenty of submissions traded. However, in the end, it was two running knees to Sabre Jr. that earned Danielson the pinfall victory.

Speaking in a backstage video posted to AEW’s YouTube channel, Bryan Danielson opened up about the match, saying it’s the type of match he’s wanted for his entire career and reflecting on the fact that it took place in front of his home crowd in Seattle.

“That’s the kind of match I’ve wanted my entire career. In Seattle, in front of my hometown fans. I’ve never, in my entire career, gotten to wrestle like that in front of these people. I’m so grateful and happy that I was able to do that against a person as good as Zack.”

“I’m Also A Little Bit Upset” – Bryan Danielson

However, Bryan Danielson said he isn’t completely pleased with the way the match turned out as he needed to use strikes to defeat Zack Sabre Jr.

“But I’m also a little bit upset, if I’m gonna be honest. Because I came into this match, thinking by the end of this match, we would find out definitely who the best technical wrestler in the world was. We leave that match, and somehow, even though I won, I don’t feel like I’m the best technical wrestler in the world. I can barely move my hand. For me to beat Zack Sabre Jr., I had to knock him the f*ck out.

“So now I’m starting to think that maybe he is the best technical wrestler in the world. Maybe he is. But here’s the thing. I offered to shake his hand at the end of that match, and he refused. So maybe, and we won’t know for sure, maybe he is a better technical wrestler.

“But here’s what I know for damn sure. He can’t strike with me. He can’t stand with me. He doesn’t have the heart that I have. He doesn’t have the legs that I have. He doesn’t have the soul that I have to go out there and compete.

“Maybe that’s why I’ve been forced to retire before. Maybe that is why I’m at the end of my career. Maybe that’s why he’s never had an injury in his entire career. It is because he plays smart, and he doesn’t fight with his entire soul. I do, and my career might end early because of it. But guess what? You get one life, and that is the way I want to live.”

h/t Fightful