8 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynasty (Results & Review)

1. Match Of The Year

Honestly, Will Ospreay Vs. Bryan Danielson was almost too good for its own good early.

They worked possibly the greatest introductory counter sequence leading to a stalemate stand-off ever. The intent, the rhythm, the promise of how good it would be when it finally got going: it was an indescribable high. Everybody in the crowd lost their minds. It was perhaps the ultimate "strap in, this is a guaranteed five star match" moment in wrestling history. It was almost too effective; the next few minutes were merely excellent slow-build wrestling in comparison.

In an absolutely incredible sequence and storytelling feat, Danielson rocked Ospreay with La Mistica to transition into the LeBell lock. This was so goddamn great. Firstly, it looked majestic, underscoring that even Ospreay might not have the athletic advantage thought assured before the match began. Secondly, the spot drew on the idea that Ospreay mentioned in a promo cut early in their feud. Ospreay accused Danielson of cosplaying as the internationally-honed superstar that he actually is. Bryan, by unleashing a move he'd used before but never truly mastered enough to add it to his arsenal permanently, wrestled with a self-conscious streak. Ospreay was the better man; in a superb story beat, it was clear before the finish.

One of the greatest thrills of any art form is experiencing an idea so incredible and yet so fitting and simple that you can't believe nobody had thought of it previously.

In a capital D capital R Dream Match, the idea is to create inseparable parity between each wrestler. This idea has never been applied more intelligently than with the Busaiku knee Vs. Hidden Blade duel. They each had a weapon as deadly as the other; the only way to win was to not flinch. This single sequence, which only worked as well as it did as a consequence of the fantastic storytelling throughout, could not have been more effective in underscoring the lofty premise. This truly was a meeting between the two best wrestlers alive.

The closing stretch was phenomenal. The drama was outrageous; the execution preposterously, unfairly good, Danielson countered the Oscutter with the Busaiku and could not have caught him more perfectly if he'd hit it another 100,000 times. Then again, they probably could have reached that impossible level of physical timing again. That's how great they were.

At the finish, as threatened, Ospreay blitzed Danielson with the Tiger Driver '91. There's a wonderful, Burning Hammer-esque precedent that Will has achieved with the move; by doing the disgusting, full-tilt version first, he can do the safer variation forever and it will still feel like some unspeakable transgression. Despite the attempts of Doc Sampson to intervene, Will smashed Bryan with the Hidden Blade to win it. Bryan's expert selling was distressing.

If this match gets bettered, Omega Vs. Okada IV might actually be in trouble. It was among the closest achievements to it.