West Virginia wicked good match Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia 17.08.202

West Virginia wicked good match Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia 17.08.2022

The road trip has taken us to West Virginia, a state that to a European like me is only notable for the song “country roads” sung by a man named after a city in Colorado who's from New Mexico and sings of rivers and mountains not in West Virginia. But after doing some research I've found that West Virginian and specifically Charleston where this match takes place is the birthplace of Mad Man Pondo, so its sky rocked in my U.S. States tier list.

It feels appropriate after a WWE match finally made a road trip match that the next entry would be AEW. Despite the problems I've had with the company over its six years I think I can say its my favourite Nationally televised promotion. A promotion that can put on the wrestler of the millennium Bryan Danilson vs at the time one of the best up and coming talents in the world Daniel Garcia. Now truth be told I actually prefer these two previous encounter where Garcia beats a banged up Danielson via a ddt on the exposed pavement, but that match happened in Massachusetts, a state that has already been covered. That's not to sell this match short though what we get is still fantastic. 

The whole match is about dragons, the American dragon, Ricky the dragon steamboat is here, the whole show is sponsored by House of Dragons and Garcia Submissions is the Dragon Slayer. The concept of a dragon slayer shows up in a lot of folklore but these stories always have the Slayer take on these fights to get something. Sometimes it's to get the girl like with Ragnar Loðbrók, sometimes it's to convert people to Christianity like with Saint George or sometimes it's to gain the ability to talk to birds Sigurd. But what is Garcia trying to gain? Well Sigurd didn't just gain the ability to talk to birds he also bathed in the dragon's blood so hes skin could be as tough as the creature's scales. Garcia wants to be Dragon, he must slay Danilson bathe in his blood so he can become the best in the world. 

Look I couldn't find anything interesting about the venue so I needed a new thing to pad the review out with. At least you've learned something about Norse mythology. 

A common critique of Danilson and especially his work in AEW is that he was to giving to his opponents not forcing his style or will. This is certainly true in bouts such as the MJF iron-man but in this match, that is also true but when he's giving to a guy like Garcia I don't mind it much. And Garcia is given a hell of  a lot dominating the first two falls decisively winning the first and Bryan getting a fluke roll up on the second. Garcia is great in this deliciously cruel with his punches and kicks while also being suffocating in his submission work. He opens up to Bryan, getting some of the blood he wants to bathe in. It's not a great blade job form Bryan hes not gushing up blood more got a light drizzle but it centrally adds some what to the match especially for network tv..

To give this match one criticism, the commentary. A lot of the people who I talk wrestling with say they just tune out commentary and I hope to God I gain that ability soon because Jericho is insufferable during this match. Its not good heel work is just annoying and made me want to watch this match on mute.

The match really picks up in the final fall. Bryan givethes and Bryan taketh away and he takeeth away hard here, returning the favour in opening up Garcia. Bryan also starts to absorb a lot of Garcia moveset inviting him to try to hit him harder. This is Bryan in the zone where he feels like the king of the universe. This is not to say Garcia gets nothing the Dragon Slayer gets locked in but to no prevail. Dragons a god and everyone in this building knows he's winning this, he beats Garcai into the dirk with kicks and strikes, eventually picking up the win. Garcia does not get his blood bath  he will not become invincible. The Dragon remains unslain. 

As stated, not even my favourite match between these two but it's still one heel of the fight.

Four and a ¼ Steve Harvyes 

Next stop North Carolina