Bryan Danielson was content with his role in AEW. He never wished to win gold. He also promised his kids that their dad would return home to watch them grow. A true people’s champion, Danielson’s journey gave everyone hope that they could achieve their dreams.
He continued to give people hope following AEW’s All In event.
Ten years after Bryan Danielson finished his Cinderella Story at WrestleMania 30, “The American Dragon” again reached the top of the mountain. Danielson beat Swerve Strickland to become AEW World Champion in front of over 50,000+ fans at Wembley Stadium.
Danielson put his career on the line. That usually means a career-defining but ending match. However, given AEW’s recent run at treating the fans to solid storytelling in its matches, it made for some unpredictable booking. A bloody Danielson fought against the dangerous Strickland, who taunted him in front of his family every chance he got.
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Danielson landed dangerous move after dangerous move, as did Strickland. It looked like the end of Danielson’s career following several close calls. The same could be said for Strickland’s reign with rival “Hangman” Adam Page almost costing him the match. However, it ended with the two in the ring, with Danielson forcing Strickland to tap out.
The family of Danielson came in the ring, the exact one he said he would retire for. As of now, his in-ring career continues. He heads to his home of Washington next month for WrestleDream as a champion.
Someone to keep an eye on: Christian Cage, who won the Casino Gauntlet to earn a title shot.
It was a night to remember, not just for Danielson but for the entire AEW roster.
Jack Perry used real glass, which started issues with CM Punk last year, against Darby Allin in a Coffin match. Allin did all he could to put his body on the line in the name of violence and then some. Perry used it to his advantage, beating Allin to a pulp to retain the TNT Title.
An AEW original and recent signing faced off as Britt Baker failed to capture the AEW TBS Title against Mercedes Mone. The two were in a tough spot after several top-tier matches but they delivered.
At one point, Baker used the moves of Mone's idol Eddie Guerrero against her, forcing bodyguard Kamille out of the match. Following a back-and-forth affair, Mone retained the title. It doesn't look like the two are done with one another.
Will Ospreay reclaimed the glory of the AEW International Title by beating "American Champion" MJF. Like their first match on Dynamite, they gave it their all in a classic. Ospreay was initially tentative to use the Tiger Driver, but MJF gave him no choice.
Daniel Garcia, who MJF attacked weeks ago, returned to distract MJF and allowed Ospreay to use the dreaded move for the win. Ospreay now holds the correct belt, throwing out the American title MJF had around his waist.
It appears Garcia is staying with AEW just a bit longer.
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The Casino Gauntlet was full of surprises. Nigel McGuinness made his long-awaited in-ring return, while Ricochet joined AEW. However, it was Cage, who lost trios gold earlier in the night, that weaseled his way into the match and earned a future world title opportunity.
The Young Bucks retained the AEW World Tag Team Titles against FTR and The Acclaimed. The EVPs used every dirty trick in the book to keep their belts. Though they won, they immediately had a new challenge ahead of them in James Drake and Zack Gibson, Grizzled Young Veterans, who made their presence felt after the match.
Hook once again holds the FTW Title after beating Chris Jericho. It was a match that proved Hook is better than a Jericho feud and the FTW Title.
Mariah May went from passionate fan to undisputed champion as she took down former idol Toni Storm to become the AEW Women's World Champion. The match was everything you wanted in a blood rivalry, with violence and all the emotion. Storm forced May to bleed, and the latter did everything she could to take down Storm.
Storm refused to play dirty in the end, and May took advantage. She landed a Storm Zero, Storm’s signature move, and won gold after winning the Owen Hart tournament. Storm turned a gimmick that could have been dead in the water and made it into something fans will never forget. She truly is timeless.
To open the show, Pac and the Blackpool Combat Club won trios gold in a ladder match. Cage continued his heel ways and paid for it. Pac, usually teaming with the Lucha Brothers, has new teammates in Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta. He got a moment in front of his home fans after missing All In last year.
What does this mean regarding the status of Penta and Rey Fenix?
AEW All In 2024 full card results
- Bryan Danielson def. Swerve Strickland (c) for the AEW World Title
- Jack Perry (c) def. Darby Allin in a Coffin match for the AEW TNT Title
- Mercedes Mone (c) def. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. for the AEW TBS Title
- Will Ospreay def. MJF (c) for the AEW
AmericanInternational Title - Christian Cage wins Casino Gauntlet match for a future AEW World Title match
- The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) (c) def. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) and The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) for the AEW World Tag Team Titles
- Hook def. Chris Jericho (c) for the FTW Title
- Mariah May def. "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) for the AEW Women's World Title
- Pac and Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta) def. The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch, and Nick Wayne) (c), Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn), and House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews) in a Ladder match for the AEW World Trios Titles
- Dustin Rhodes, Sammy Guevara, Katsuyori Shibata, and The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich) def. The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) and Cage of Agony (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona)
- Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii def. Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway
- Tommy Billington, Kip Sabian, Rocky Romero, Kyle Fletcher, Lio Rush, Action Andretti, and Top Flight (Darius Martin and Dante Martin) def. Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, Anthony Ogogo, Ariya Daivari, Private Party (Zay and Quen), and The Dark Order (John Silver and Alex Reynolds)