10 Best Wrestling Matches That Ever Happened In New York City
2. Bryan Danielson Vs. KENTA - ROH Glory By Honor V Night 2 (16 September 2006)
KENTA, an up-and-coming star for Pro Wrestling NOAH, had already competed for Ring of Honor prior to June 2006's In Your Face event, but that show presented a rare opportunity for the Japanese star - he was in the ring with ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson. In that match - a three-way with Samoa Joe - KENTA pinned Danielson, catapulting himself up the title rankings.
KENTA's shot came on the second show of the company's Glory By Honor V double shot, main-eventing in the Manhattan Center. Danielson - who was a day short of celebrating his one-year anniversary as champion - was coming into the bout with a separated shoulder. You wouldn't know it from the way he fought, though - just like with Morishima, Danielson powered through injury in a way that made him the best wrestler in the world and, quite possibly, contributed to his career being cut short.
They started with strikes and submissions, but soon started using body-breaking suplexes. Danielson locked in the Cattle Mutilation, but KENTA broke it by getting to the ropes. The challenger then hit a Go 2 Sleep, but Danielson kicked out, then escaped a second one.
Danielson locked in the Cattle Mutilation again, but KENTA managed to turn it into a pin. Danielson kicked out and kept control of KENTA's arms, then took him over with a Tiger Suplex, rolled back into the Cattle Mutilation, and made KENTA tap out. Following the match, both men, broken and battered, showed each other respect.