Is this their best match? A lot of these indie legend match-ups have happened so often and in so many places over the years that it's hard to keep track. Hell, these two had a match this year that according to legend was pretty great. I can't keep up with all that shit but I certainly don't *remember* having seen this before...and I feel like I'd remember it because it was indeed really good. Dragon was in a surly mood on the night and it seemed to rub off on AJ, if not immediately then certainly as time wore on. The early matwork looked nice and tight and Danielson zeroed in on one AJ fan who'd been giving him shit, so every nasty stretch or yank of a limb was directed at him. "Get in here and see who can't wrestle." At times it felt like he might've been trying a wee bit TOO hard to heel it up, but I don't mind that and wrestlers being super vocal is rarely something I'll complain about. The stars aligning and Gabe deciding to watch the match from the crowd meant there was no Gabe commentary and so I'll take a match-worth of Danielson shit-talking all day and every day as an alternative. His work on AJ's arm was great, just rough and mean and it all looked legitimately painful. There was one part where he snapped AJ's wrist around to an audible crack, then stomped the elbow as Styles rolled around in agony. AJ going after Danielson's leg as a response was good stuff as well, especially when he started matching surliness. Danielson getting chucked recklessly knee-first into the guardrail and then shouting "stay back, dickhead!" when AJ followed up was awesome, in an almost indie dream match comedy spot sort of way. Danielson calls AJ a pussy and asks if that's all he's got so AJ goes buck wild and tries to stomp his head into the mat. The stretch run was really good as well, transitioned into with Bryan hitting an incredible leaping European uppercut out the corner, and they captured that real sense of struggle right to the end. Danielson fighting off the Styles Clash with all his might only for AJ to hit a one-armed version was totally badass.
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