Bryan Danielson is a world champ again, this time in AEW, after a surprise win in a title-vs.-career match with the reigning world champ, Swerve Strickland, at “All In” in London, in front of a 53,393 fans in Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Danielson was a five-team WWE world champ, most recently in 2019, before signing with AEW in 2021.
He had several memorable AEW world title matches, including a 60-minute draw with “Hangman” Adam Page in 2021, and a loss in extra time to Maxwell Jacon Friedman at AEW “Revolution” in 2023.
Sunday’s win, in 25:09, by submission, came against a buildup that had fans thinking that “All In” was the end for Danielson, whose AEW contract expired on Aug. 1, and Danielson had said in multiple interviews that it was questionable in the walk-up to the match whether he would be medically cleared to compete.
The upset win ends the four-month, four-day reign of Strickland, who had won the AEW title from Samoa Joe at AEW “Dynasty” in April.
Other show highlights:
- Mariah May won the AEW women’s world title in 15:14 by pinfall over defending champ Toni Storm.
- TBS champ Mercedes Mone defeated Britt Baker by pinfall in 17:19.
- Will Ospreay won the International title in 25:47 by pinfall over Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
- TNT champ Jack Perry defeated Darby Allin in a coffin match in 10:37.
- Hook regained the FTW title from champ Chris Jericho by pinfall in 10:14.
- Christian Cage won a future AEW world title shot in a gauntlet match that included new AEW signee Ricochet, Ring of Honor world champ Mark Briscoe and Continental champ Kazuchika Okada.
- AEW world tag team champs The Young Bucks defeated FTR and The Acclaimed by pinfall in 13:32.
- Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and PAC won the AEW trios title in a ladder match with The Patriarchy, House of Black and The Bang Bang Gang in 18:58.
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Chris Graham
