For the first time in his illustrious career, Bryan Danielson is set to step into the legendary Arena Mexico.
Tonight, Danielson will join forces with Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Matt Sydal at CMLL’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas event. They will face off against a formidable lineup consisting of Místico, Volador Jr., Blue Panther, and Ultimo Guerrero.
This match, airing on CMLL’s YouTube subscription service, fulfills a long-time dream for Danielson, who will finally have the opportunity to wrestle Blue Panther, the revered 63-year-old lucha libre legend.
“This is my last year as a full-time wrestler, and I really want to go out–and I feel like I can–producing my absolute best work,”
expressed Danielson.
“I loved my match against Okada. I loved the Zack Sabre Jr. match. I loved the match I just had with Eddie [Kingston] at Revolution. I love what I’m doing, and I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Shortly afterward, Okada joined Danielson in AEW, where he has already made waves as the Continental Champion.
“Okada is a perfect fit for AEW,”
noted Danielson.
“We’ve seen that from his debut with The Young Bucks.”
One of the significant differences between AEW and WWE, especially under Vince McMahon’s leadership, is AEW owner Tony Khan’s appreciation for a wrestler’s history outside the company.
This has added significant weight to Okada’s arrival in AEW, where he is celebrated for his accomplishments in NJPW.
“That’s the way Tony presents stars in AEW,”
explained Danielson.
“It’s not about starting over in AEW. So he was brought in as a star and introduced as a star. It’s the same way we introduced Will Ospreay, and the same way we’ve treated Místico. They’ve already proven it, so that’s the way we’ll present them to our audience. It’s a different approach from the ‘let’s see if this new talent can sink-or-swim.’ He’s a star. That’s how he’s treated.”
Following the anticipated eight-man tag match in Mexico City, attention will turn to the post-match interview. Danielson has been instrumental in reshaping AEW’s interview segments, emphasizing the importance of creative freedom and unrestricted expression.
“When I say I want to produce my best work, that’s not just from a match standpoint–it’s also with interviews,”
emphasized Danielson.
