Top Star Wants Bryan Danielson Match “If He’s Physically Capable”
A major NJPW star is ready to face Bryan Danielson if the veteran ever gets back in the ring.
At WrestleDream 2023, Bryan Danielson got the better of Zack Sabre Jr. in what was billed as a clash to decide the best technical wrestler in the world. However, the British star didn’t take the defeat lying down and eventually got revenge at NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka.
This was followed by speculation that the pair would meet for a third and final time in a decider, but at least for now, that hope seems impossible. Since their match in Japan, Danielson has ended his full-time career after admitting he has major issues with his neck.
By contrast, Sabre Jr.’s career has gone from strength to strength and the star enters 2025 as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Zack Sabre Jr. Thankful For Bryan Danielson Matches
Speaking in a new interview with Philip Lindsey for Bleacher Report, ahead of a busy January, Sabre Jr. reflected on his two battles with Danielson.
“I feel very fortunate to have been able to wrestle Bryan twice in, for now, his retirement period, but I expect that he will be back. If he’s physically capable of wrestling, I’m certain he’ll be back. But I’ll certainly be waiting for the decider. But to be able to wrestle Bryan in both America and Japan in close proximity was very important to me.
I would never have presumed to be able to have that match on an American pay-per-view either. So, I think it’s a testament to professional wrestling fans as well as to how open-minded they are for it to have been received the way that it was,”
Expanding further on the idea of the pair having unfinished business, the NJPW star said he’d love to face Danielson one more time.
“I’ve not tapped him out yet. He graciously said that I was the best technical wrestler in the world, but I don’t know if I can take that mantle until I’ve beaten the best submission artist. So, yeah, get your ass back, Bryan.
I’ve been aiming to be the best technical wrestler in the world my whole career. I wasn’t hoping that it would come with attempted murder. So, yeah, it would have been somewhat more enjoyable if he was still alive. But I think he’s OK.
Likewise, I would have loved to defend the title against Bryan. I mean, I plan on being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion for the foreseeable future. So, we’ll obviously have to see. But I guess there’s some melancholic symbolism of people attempting to murder Bryan while I win my first championship,”
Zack Sabre Jr. is currently preparing to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shota Umino at Wrestle Kingdom 19. Then 24 hours later, he’ll face Ricochet at the first-ever Wrestle Dynasty event. That match will be for the IWGP World Title if Sabre Jr. is still the champion.
During a recent event to hype AEW All In: Texas, Bryan Danielson publicly admitted he’s unsure whether he’ll ever wrestle again. Despite his well-documented injury problems and an expectation that he needs neck surgery, the star had hoped to eventually return to the ring.
Danielson had been careful to point out that his match at WrestleDream was the last of his full-time career, leaving the door open for a comeback.