Bryan Danielson's title win at All In was bigger than WrestleMania 30

25th August 2024 still feels like a fever dream. Almost two weeks later, the blues from the highs at AEW All In at Wembley are still lingering after one of the best PPVs that AEW has ever produced.

The memories of the red and gold confetti falling on me in celebration of Bryan Danielson finally winning the AEW World Heavyweight Championship (while screaming Final Countdown at the top of my lungs) felt very much like a full-circle moment for the promotion. There is no off-season in professional wrestling, but All In closed the door on many stories such as Swerve vs Bryan, Toni Storm vs Mariah May, and Will Ospreay vs MJF.

It was a magical night. Before I had the chance to catch the All In media scrum as I made my way back to the hotel after leaving Wembley Stadium, Bryan Danielson had already called All In the favorite moment of his career:

"“People ask me all the time what my favourite moment is in wrestling. I can never give them one answer because I’ve loved all of it. This is the first time [Birdie] remembers seeing me wrestle live. This is the first time my son has seen me wrestle live. Without a doubt, that was my favourite moment in my entire career.”"

- Bryan Danielson

The match against Swerve Strickland has great re-watchability. From the stakes, presentation, crowd, unpredictability, and near falls. It is up there with one of the best matches that AEW has executed. Flowers must be given to Swerve Strickland for his part in the role of world champion, which made the American Dragon's crowning even more special.

It is hard not to compare the last few months of Danielson's career to his organic run at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30 in 2014.

This year marks 10 years since the "Yes Movement" took over WWE. It is quite easy to remember how that was never meant to be, and Danielson's run to the big one was concocted off the back of a fan revolution that was impossible to ignore. The antagonist in Triple H was a metaphor for the hurdles that Danielson has faced for the majority of his career, therefore it was a sweet moment to see the American Dragon triumph over three members of Evolution in one night.

However, Danielson's entire run in All Elite Wrestling has been smooth sailing - politically speaking. Tony Khan has been in love with the 43-year-old's influence inside and outside of the ring from day 1. Danielson was the only person stopping himself from being the champion. He may have nothing left to prove, but as I wrote back in July, the AEW World Championship needed Bryan Danielson's name on it to enhance its heritage.

He may not have wanted it, but that emotional and magical night in London capped off a wonderful career highlight for Danielson and his family. It epitomized just how much fun the Dragon has had in the twilight of his full-time run to wrestle like the Dragon and just be himself.

Now that AEW has that, albeit, for a few months as he closes the chapter on his full-time wrestling career, it is time to just enjoy the picturesque moments of Bryan Danielson walking down that ramp with the title on his shoulders and a big grin on his face.

Factoring in all of those elements has made the moment at All In monumentally bigger than the closing scenes of WrestleMania 30. As a consequence, it may just make that inevitable semi-retirement that much harder to take.