Ring of Honor (from http://www.wikipedia.org/)
In 2002, Bryan Danielson joined Ring of Honor, where he is acknowledged as one of the "Founding Fathers" (along with Low Ki and Christopher Daniels), as he was one of the wrestlers who made the company prominent during its inception. On February 22, he main-evented ROH's debut show The Era of Honor Begins in a three-way match against Low Ki, and Daniels, which quickly put the company on the map. In January 2005, Danielson would embark on a bitter feud with Homicide, culminating in a best-of-five series of stipulation matches. Homicide dominated early as Danielson lost the first two matches, a Submission match and a Taped Fist match. However, Danielson emerged victorious in the remaining three matches, winning a Falls Count Anywhere match, a Lumberjack match, and a cage match at The Final Showdown on May 13.
Danielson was long regarded as the best wrestler in ROH to have never held a title belt; despite winning the company's inaugural Survival of the Fittest tournament in 2004, championship gold constantly eluded Danielson's grasp. It came to the point where in mid-2005, an ROH Newswire announced that Bryan Danielson had quit ROH after being frustrated by his inability to defeat Austin Aries for the ROH World Championship. Danielson had become frustrated in general with professional wrestling and planned to take time off to evaluate his career options. However, Danielson had several dates booked in Europe, thus the ROH Newswire was likely a storyline claim for Danielson's absence during this period. In May rumors started that Total Nonstop Action Wrestling was interested in signing Danielson, Samoa Joe, and CM Punk to contracts, which resulted in a memo allegedly being put out to (World Wrestling Entertainment Head of Talent Relations) John Laurinaitis to sign the three before TNA did; Samoa Joe signed with TNA and CM Punk signed with WWE, but Danielson remained with ROH.
In 2002, Bryan Danielson joined Ring of Honor, where he is acknowledged as one of the "Founding Fathers" (along with Low Ki and Christopher Daniels), as he was one of the wrestlers who made the company prominent during its inception. On February 22, he main-evented ROH's debut show The Era of Honor Begins in a three-way match against Low Ki, and Daniels, which quickly put the company on the map. In January 2005, Danielson would embark on a bitter feud with Homicide, culminating in a best-of-five series of stipulation matches. Homicide dominated early as Danielson lost the first two matches, a Submission match and a Taped Fist match. However, Danielson emerged victorious in the remaining three matches, winning a Falls Count Anywhere match, a Lumberjack match, and a cage match at The Final Showdown on May 13.
Danielson was long regarded as the best wrestler in ROH to have never held a title belt; despite winning the company's inaugural Survival of the Fittest tournament in 2004, championship gold constantly eluded Danielson's grasp. It came to the point where in mid-2005, an ROH Newswire announced that Bryan Danielson had quit ROH after being frustrated by his inability to defeat Austin Aries for the ROH World Championship. Danielson had become frustrated in general with professional wrestling and planned to take time off to evaluate his career options. However, Danielson had several dates booked in Europe, thus the ROH Newswire was likely a storyline claim for Danielson's absence during this period. In May rumors started that Total Nonstop Action Wrestling was interested in signing Danielson, Samoa Joe, and CM Punk to contracts, which resulted in a memo allegedly being put out to (World Wrestling Entertainment Head of Talent Relations) John Laurinaitis to sign the three before TNA did; Samoa Joe signed with TNA and CM Punk signed with WWE, but Danielson remained with ROH.
Following the match, Prince Nana offered to buy the ROH World Championship from him. When he refused, he was attacked by The Embassy (Alex Shelley and Jimmy Rave).
Jimmy Rave challenged Danielson for the title at the Fourth Anniversary Show, after the Embassy won the 2006 trios tournament at Tag Wars 2006. In an effort to not be out done, Shelley challenged him for it on the show prior to the Anniversary Show, but it would not occur; the north east suffered a blizzard, so Prince Nana was unable to secure the flight for Shelley (who in reality had been pulled along with all the other TNA contracted wrestlers from the show, so they would not miss the TNA pay-per-view the following night). As a result, former ROH Champion and Embassy member Xavier faced Danielson in a losing effort, with Danielson eventually defeating Rave at the Fourth Anniversary Show and Shelley at Arena Warfare.
During April, Danielson became the head trainer at the ROH Wrestling School, replacing Austin Aries. In Danielson's next match on April 22, he defeated Colt Cabana in Philadelphia, at The 100th Show, with a roll-up in only six minutes (an unprecedented length for an ROH World Title defense). He came out later in the show and, after getting in a battle of wits with the CZW fans (who were there for the ROH vs. CZW six man war), he defeated Delirious when the referee stopped the contest after a series of MMA-style elbows. He would go on to defeate Delirious again in a rematch on May 13.
On July 15, at Death before Dishonor IV in Philadelphia, Danielson defeated Sonjay Dutt, who had signed an open contract for any CZW wrestler willing to challenge for the ROH World Title. Later on in the night, he participated in the ROH vs. CZW Cage of Death match, having occupied the vacant fifth slot on ROH's team. He was the third member of ROH's team to enter the cage, and his presence gave them a huge advantage over CZW's team. However, just as CZW's third member was about to enter, Danielson revealed his true intention for entering the match as he attacked Samoa Joe and left the arena. Joe was rendered unable to continue in the match, and ROH's team would not fully recover until much later, when Homicide made a surprise appearance.
On August 12 during Ring of Honor's first UK tour, Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness to unify the ROH World and ROH Pure Wrestling championships. He then successfully defended the title twice the following night in Broxbourne, first against NOAH wrestler SUWA and second against Roderick Strong. On August 25 and August 26, he competed in two 2/3 falls matches (one against Nigel McGuinness and the other against Colt Cabana) that ended in a one hour draw. During his match with Cabana, Danielson fell outside the ring and landed on his right shoulder, separating it. He tore two tendons in the shoulder and tore another tendon in his chest. As a result, his ROH World Championship match with Austin Aries on September 15 was postponed, and his FIP Championship match against Davey Richards on September 8 was cancelled. Danielson returned to wrestling at Glory by Honor: Night 2 and retained the ROH World Championship in a match against KENTA. He defeated Austin Aries on October 7 in their rescheduled match to retain the title.
Late 2006
Danielson lost the Full Impact Pro Heavyweight Championship on November 10, 2006, in Inverness, Florida, to Roderick Strong. A week later, Danielson debuted in Pro Wrestling NOAH, teaming with Bison Smith and Eddie Edwards to defeat KENTA, Ricky Marvin and Akitoshi Saito after making Marvin submit to the Cattle Mutilation. Danielson's last match of the tour took place on December 2 at the Yokohoma Bunka Gymnasium in a losing effort against KENTA.
On December 8, Danielson defeated Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage match in Chicago, Illinois when Samoa Joe was standing on the top rope, with the choke on Danielson who was hunched over the cage trying to escape. Bryan Danielson just fell off the top of the cage out of the choke and was declared the winner.
On December 23 at Final Battle 2006, Danielson faced Homicide in a competitive bout that featured Danielson attempting to get himself disqualified twice, but he ultimately lost the match after a lariat from Homicide. Following the match, Danielson presented Homicide with the ROH World Championship, and has since been taking time off from wrestling in order to heal his shoulder.
On March 19 ROHWrestling.com released the following statement: "The days are counting down for Bryan Danielson's return to ROH."
Jimmy Rave challenged Danielson for the title at the Fourth Anniversary Show, after the Embassy won the 2006 trios tournament at Tag Wars 2006. In an effort to not be out done, Shelley challenged him for it on the show prior to the Anniversary Show, but it would not occur; the north east suffered a blizzard, so Prince Nana was unable to secure the flight for Shelley (who in reality had been pulled along with all the other TNA contracted wrestlers from the show, so they would not miss the TNA pay-per-view the following night). As a result, former ROH Champion and Embassy member Xavier faced Danielson in a losing effort, with Danielson eventually defeating Rave at the Fourth Anniversary Show and Shelley at Arena Warfare.
During April, Danielson became the head trainer at the ROH Wrestling School, replacing Austin Aries. In Danielson's next match on April 22, he defeated Colt Cabana in Philadelphia, at The 100th Show, with a roll-up in only six minutes (an unprecedented length for an ROH World Title defense). He came out later in the show and, after getting in a battle of wits with the CZW fans (who were there for the ROH vs. CZW six man war), he defeated Delirious when the referee stopped the contest after a series of MMA-style elbows. He would go on to defeate Delirious again in a rematch on May 13.
On July 15, at Death before Dishonor IV in Philadelphia, Danielson defeated Sonjay Dutt, who had signed an open contract for any CZW wrestler willing to challenge for the ROH World Title. Later on in the night, he participated in the ROH vs. CZW Cage of Death match, having occupied the vacant fifth slot on ROH's team. He was the third member of ROH's team to enter the cage, and his presence gave them a huge advantage over CZW's team. However, just as CZW's third member was about to enter, Danielson revealed his true intention for entering the match as he attacked Samoa Joe and left the arena. Joe was rendered unable to continue in the match, and ROH's team would not fully recover until much later, when Homicide made a surprise appearance.
On August 12 during Ring of Honor's first UK tour, Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness to unify the ROH World and ROH Pure Wrestling championships. He then successfully defended the title twice the following night in Broxbourne, first against NOAH wrestler SUWA and second against Roderick Strong. On August 25 and August 26, he competed in two 2/3 falls matches (one against Nigel McGuinness and the other against Colt Cabana) that ended in a one hour draw. During his match with Cabana, Danielson fell outside the ring and landed on his right shoulder, separating it. He tore two tendons in the shoulder and tore another tendon in his chest. As a result, his ROH World Championship match with Austin Aries on September 15 was postponed, and his FIP Championship match against Davey Richards on September 8 was cancelled. Danielson returned to wrestling at Glory by Honor: Night 2 and retained the ROH World Championship in a match against KENTA. He defeated Austin Aries on October 7 in their rescheduled match to retain the title.
Late 2006
Danielson lost the Full Impact Pro Heavyweight Championship on November 10, 2006, in Inverness, Florida, to Roderick Strong. A week later, Danielson debuted in Pro Wrestling NOAH, teaming with Bison Smith and Eddie Edwards to defeat KENTA, Ricky Marvin and Akitoshi Saito after making Marvin submit to the Cattle Mutilation. Danielson's last match of the tour took place on December 2 at the Yokohoma Bunka Gymnasium in a losing effort against KENTA.
On December 8, Danielson defeated Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage match in Chicago, Illinois when Samoa Joe was standing on the top rope, with the choke on Danielson who was hunched over the cage trying to escape. Bryan Danielson just fell off the top of the cage out of the choke and was declared the winner.
On December 23 at Final Battle 2006, Danielson faced Homicide in a competitive bout that featured Danielson attempting to get himself disqualified twice, but he ultimately lost the match after a lariat from Homicide. Following the match, Danielson presented Homicide with the ROH World Championship, and has since been taking time off from wrestling in order to heal his shoulder.
On March 19 ROHWrestling.com released the following statement: "The days are counting down for Bryan Danielson's return to ROH."
Title History (from http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/)
Texas Wrestling Alliance Tag Team titles w/Spanky;
Memphis Championship Wrestling Southern Tag Team titles w/Spanky;
Memphis Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight title;
NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight title;
Southern Jr. Heavyweight title;
East Coast Wrestling Association Tag Team titles w/Low Ki;
All Pro Wrestling Internet title defeating Super Dragon;
All Star Wrestling World Heavy Middleweight title;
MSW Junior Lightweight title;
1999 APW King Of The Indys Tournament Winner;
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team titles w/Curry Man (March 12, 2004);
ROH (Ring of Honor) World Heavyweight title defeating James Gibson (September 17, 2005);
FIP (Full Impact Pro) World Heavyweight title by winning a 4-WAY (January 14, 2006);
1 comment:
An excellent choice for the innaugeral WotW. And timely too with the announcement. Good work Biss
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