Bryan Danielson had his last PWG match ever against World Champion Chris Hero last night. In the long, excellent match, Danielson was busted open, but eventually took the title. Paul London rewarded him post-match with an inflatable dolphin, hearkening back to this promo:
The locker-room came out to celebrate with Danielson, who immediately gave up the belt, which will be awarded to the winner of this year’s upcoming Battle of Los Angeles tournament.
Nigel McGuinness has already commented on his signing, saying the following to the U.K. Sun’s Mike Aldren:
“I am not 100 percent on board yet. I still have to cross some I’s and dot some T’s but it’s looking positive.
It’s been a long time coming for sure. Ten years since I first took a bump and about eighteen since that fateful day I sat in Wembley Stadium [at SummerSlam 1992] and said I was one day going be a pro-wrestler.”
Jim Ross, at his own blog, commented on both the Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness signings. First, here’s Ross on Danielson:
“Bryan, trained by HBK, has apparently agreed to a deal with WWE which is a smart move on the WWE's part. I think Danielson should have been signed long ago but that's just one man's opinion.
Danielson's skill level is superb even though he isn't the biggest dog in the hunt which, thankfully, seems to be meaning less and less these days. Talent comes in all sizes and shapes and having a roster full of look alikes helps no one. The wrestling business has always been built on individuality and uniqueness. I am a firm believer that every prospect doesn't have to be 6'2" and weigh no less than 240 pounds and look pretty in an 8X10. It's hard to measure a man or a woman's passion by how they look in a still photo.
I have no clue as to what WWE brand Danielson will migrate to first but it would not surprise me to see him hang his hat in ECW. For the record, that's not an official declaration but merely an opinion. WWE honchos could bring Danielson to Smackdown and it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I'm just saying.”
And here’s J.R. on Nigel’s signing:
“Congrats to WWE for signing Nigel McGuinness who has been wrestling for Ring of Honor which is a helluva group of guys who obviously love the wrestling biz. McGuinness is a sound, in ring hand who can talk and will hopefully realize his dreams at the next level.”
Finally, Dragon Gate USA’s Gabe Sapolsky on Danielson:
Bryan was the first plane ticket we purchased when ROH was created. He made the promotion in the very first main event. He took a hiatus or two or three to reinvent himself, but besides that he carried the company on his shoulders for the 6 1/2 years I was there. When he would take some time off, he would come back a new wrestler and be completely fresh again. I’m ashamed to say that when ROH started I saw Bryan as the third guy of the “big 3″ of Low Ki, Christopher Daniels and American Dragon. Ki was the face of the company. Daniels was the top heel. Bryan was the great worker who would ultimately put everyone over and wasn’t quite a top guy. As the years rolled by, Bryan grew and improved and matured and improved and worked and improved. What we have just witnessed over the last eight or so years on the independents was truly an era. I mean, just look at the body of work Bryan has put together. It is an era. When Bryan moves onto WWE the era will end.
That’s a good note to end on. More on Danielson and Nigel as it breaks.
Comments
I'm looking forward to seeing what Bryan and Nigel's WWE names'll be. I'll guess that Bryan'll be known as Brick Dragon and Nigel'll be renamed Beer McKenzie.
Hm, I don't know if I'm completely happy that they're with WWE now. I mean it's good they've been signed, but there's a risk they could turn out to be like CM Punk. :-\
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