AEW: Adam Page versus Bryan Danielson far exceeded expectations

“Hangman” Adam Page and Bryan Danielson gave viewers an early Christmas gift.

Sixty minutes. For 60 minutes, “Hangman” Adam Page and Bryan Danielson performed for the AEW World Championship at AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming. There’s so much that could be said about this match, but at the end of the day, all points must begin with simply the fact that these two men over-delivered and completed what is one of the best matches in recent history.

Heading into Winter is Coming there was a lot of anticipation around how this match would go down. Page is a new champion who finally secured the title after getting a much sought-after victory over Kenny Omega at AEW Full Gear. That portion of his story was told. The cowboy that had failed repeatedly finally achieved this moment and believed in himself.

But the run that Danielson has been on could not be ignored. Since joining AEW in September, it’s almost been as if he’s on a warpath to force everyone to remember that he’s one of the best performers of this generation.

Not only has Danielson put on great showcases against the likes of Miro, Eddie Kingston, Minoru Suzuki, and of course the match with Omega, he’s also reminded viewers that he holds their emotions for wrestling in the palm of his hand.

Still, very few were prepared for the type of match that went down on Wednesday.

The story was exceptionally simple; two men, both wanting to prove that they are the better wrestler by earning the right to carry that title. Just like any good heel, Danielson got out to an early lead but never broke out any “heelish” tactics to keep his momentum. Page fought back every time, getting his own advantage throughout the 60-minute affair. Even as blood welled upon his forehead, it did not seem that either individual was going to slow down.

Thirty minutes passed and the social media commentary began to wonder if this match would truly go an hour. Then 45 minutes passed and it was clear what was going to happen. Along the way the fans in attendance and those watching never lost interest in the match, remaining on the edge of their seats the entire time. That’s one of the biggest signs of greatness occurring in the ring and Page versus Danielson had fan engagement across the board.

What’s next for Page versus Danielson is the top story heading into 2022

This was the perfect match to close out what has been an exceptional 2021 for AEW. Some will disagree with the effectiveness of another draw for Danielson, but you can’t deny that everyone would be tuned in if an immediate rematch were announced. This finish creates intrigue for both men, a cloud that hangs over their place in AEW until they get the opportunity to settle things. Expect Page and Danielson to go their separate ways until AEW decides it’s time to bring them back together for what will be a climactic finish.

This was the perfect match to close out what has been a strong year for AEW. Have there been some hiccups along the way? Certainly. But the addition of Bryan Danielson has paid off in the ring yet again. Bryan Danielson versus Adam Page deserves all the praise showered upon it and will be talked about for a long time to come.