10 Best Opening 60 Seconds Of Wrestling Matches Ever
2. Kenny Omega Vs. Bryan Danielson - AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam
Wresting is all about rhythm and is less about the moves and more about the spaces between.
Of course, this can go either way. Measure that space perfectly, and the struggle feels real. Take the piss with melodramatic stalling and over-selling, and the crowd just gets bored by the dull pacing and overblown reach for gravitas.
Kenny Omega Vs. Bryan Danielson was such a euphoric dream match somehow made real that the crowd exploded into "Holy sh*t!" chants at the mere sight of both men standing in opposite corners of the ring. This was a dream match because both men are masters of the crowd, so of course they knew how to register the moment.
The opening bell was received like a World Title switch, the atmosphere was that special. The director cut between both men, who each told a very different story with their eyes. Omega looked thrown; he knew then that he'd been worked into accepting the most credible threat yet to his dominance at the top of the promotion. Danielson meanwhile looked gleeful. He was high on the reality of being reborn as the American Dragon, relishing the sadism before he even unleashed it. They heightened the skyscraper magnitude of the occasion without even tying up.
Jim Ross enhanced the presentation magnificently too. "Let's get after this thing!" he roared.
Just before the 1:00 mark, Omega attempted to fire off the ropes. Danielson moved only slightly - imperceptibly even - and it was enough for Omega to pause.
He knew who he was in there with, and he made sure to let everybody know that too.