Bryan Danielson’s Time Runs Out As Final Countdown Goes On

On the five year anniversary edition of AEW Dynamite Bryan Danielson put everything on the line as he sought to take gold from Kazuchika Okada.

Bryan Danielson won the AEW World Championship at All In from Swerve Strickland but as the sun starts to set on the career of the American Dragon, his next loss could be his last – on a full-time basis anyway.

Danielson has made clear that when he loses the AEW World Title his full-time in-ring career is over which is why many were surprised that he made the challenge to face Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada on the five-year anniversary edition of Dynamite.

While Bryan Danielson had more to lose, he also had something to gain as Okada’s title was on the line in their bout as well but in line with Continental Championship rules, that title would only be on the line for the first 20 minutes of the bout.

Okada and Danielson held one win over the other heading into Dynamite in Pittsburgh and this rubber match could be the last chance the two era-defining stars will have to find out who the best man really is.

Bryan Danielson Stops The Rainmaker

Danielson almost struck gold as he locked Okada in the LeBell Lock but when the 19 minute mark was announced, The Rainmaker rallied and made it to the ropes. Danielson nailed his Busaiku Knee before the 20 minute time limit for the Continental Title expired but Okada fell to the floor meaning Danielson ran out of time to add more gold to his collection.

Ultimately, Danielson’s former colleagues in the Blackpool Combat Club had their part to play as a distraction from Claudio Castagnoli allowed Danielson to hook Okada with a backslide for the win.

After the match, Okada dropped Danielson with a Rainmaker and stormed off while Castagnoli, PAC, Marina Shafir, and Jon Moxley surrounded Danielson. Wheeler Yuta ran to the ring with a hammer to make the save as things finally broke down entirely between the BCC.