AEW WrestleDream 2024: Bryan Danielson loses the AEW World Championship, retirement provision goes into effect

Jon Moxley walked through the crowd along with Marina Shafir, eliciting a muted reaction from the heavily pro-Bryan Danielson Tacoma crowd.

When “The Final Countdown” came on, the crowd began to buzz before things kicked off as the American Dragon appeared.

As Danielson made his way to the top rope for his entrance, Moxley attacked. Danielson and Mox fought outside the ring as Europa's ballad blared over the speakers. Since the game had not yet started, Moxley used television cables to suffocate Danielson. Danielson returned the favor before Shafir choked him out, allowing Moxley to defeat him with a clothesline.

Moxley sent Danielson into the ring and brought in a chair. Danielson lunged and kicked the chair into Moxley's head.

Eventually the bell rang and Danielson got the upper hand, landing a Busaiko knee and a near fall less than a minute after the bell rang. Danielson kept the pressure on, landing high-risk moves and jumps, and eventually delivered his patented kicks to Moxley at the top of the Spanish commentary table. Moxley gouged out Danielson's eye before the final kick and hit a piledriver onto the announce table.

As Moxley tried to bring Moxley back into the ring, he knocked the headset off Nigel McGuinness' head – McGuinness and Danielson were long-time rivals in Ring of Honor. Moxley distracted Bryce Remsburg and Shafir attacked Danielson again. Moxley continued to punish Danielson while focusing on his neck.

Danielson briefly began to fight back, but Moxley continued to punch the champion's neck, drawing boos and chants of “no” from the crowd. Once again, with Moxley taunting him and Remsburg distracted, Shafir attacked Danielson.

Shafir began dismantling the outside of the ring area, lifting the protective mats and adjusting the steel steps to create a more destructive environment for Moxley. After pushing Danielson's head into the steps, Moxley attempted a piledriver on the concrete, which Danielson countered with a back body drop.

Danielson went to the top turnbuckle and was attacked by Moxley. Moxley scratched Danielson's back and bit him before the champion could escape, trapping the challenger in the Tree of Woe. Danielson delivered a series of punches – and a bite of his own – before hitting a German suplex and blocking a flying headbutt. Moxley capitalized with a stomp, a near fall and a headlock submission.

After finally escaping the hold, Danielson fought to ram Moxley and initiate the referee's ten count. Both men got up at seven. Danielson stood toe-to-toe, cheering Moxley on and cheering the crowd on. The two willingly exchanged blow for blow, but Danielson eventually fell to his knees and grabbed him by the neck. Moxley attempted a kick, but Danielson caught it, went on the offensive, and ended up landing the full sequence of his Yes Kicks.

With Moxley down, Danielson set up the challenger for the Busiako Knee before being stopped by Shafir. This time Remsburg caught her and threw her off the ring. In the midst of all this, Moxley hit Danielson with a box cutter.

Danielson was able to dodge several Moxley attacks, including a German Suplex, before hitting the Busaiko Knee for a near fall. As the crowd grew, so did Danielson and he began bashing Moxley's head in before moving on to the Lebell Lock. Moxley eventually broke the hold and fled the ring. Danielson attempted a Tope Suicida but was caught by Moxley and hit with a Death Rider DDT to the concrete. Moxley pushed Danielson into the ring, but he kicked out at two.

Frustrated, Moxley repeatedly threw elbow strikes and choked. Fighting to his feet, Danielson carried Danielson to the corner and up the turnbuckle, throwing himself backwards to break the chokehold. Failing to get the cover, Danielson and Moxley decided to exchange kicks, with the champion winning and securing the Lebell Lock again.

Moxley fought back but was eventually hit by another Busaiko knee, resulting in a near fall. Danielson straightened the knee again, but was met with two big lariats and a near fall. Moxley landed another Death Rider and immediately attempted a pin, which Danielson kicked out of one of them. Moxley taunted Danielson, saying, “Don't make me do this.” After Danielson spat in Moxley's face, the challenger delivered a Gotch Piledriver and locked in another sleeper, causing Danielson to pass out and lose.

Jon Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson in 26:56 to win the AEW World Championship

After the match, Blackpool Combat Club came to the ring, put the AEW World Championship in a duffel bag and threatened to put a plastic bag on Danielson's head again. Wheeler Yuta and Darby Allin came to Danielson's aid, but Yuta attacked Allin and the BCC tied up Allin and turned their attention to Danielson.

Yuta put the bag over Danielson's head and other AEW babyfaces tried to come to Danielson's aid. The BCC placed Danielson's head on a chair and Castagnoli stomped on it. Eventually the entire locker room emptied and the BCC fled through the crowd. AEW officials checked on Danielson and brought out a stretcher before the event aired.