AEW Dynamite‘s premiere on TBS kicked off with a buzzworthy AEW World Championship Match; Hangman Page defended the title against Bryan Danielson.
Page previously retained the title when he battled Danielson to a 60-minute time-limit draw on the special “Winter is Coming” episode of Dynamite. To prevent a repeat of this outcome, the rematch had three special judges that would declare a winner if the bout went to a draw. Before the match began, AEW revealed that Paul Wight, Mark Henry and Jerry Lynn were the three judges.
Your judges for this #AEW World Championship rematch are: @TheMarkHenry, @PaulWight and @itsjerrylynn.
Tune into #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/ULsdUgUkfq— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 6, 2022
The two rivals felt each other out early on. Page gained momentum with a dive to the outside, but Danielson dodged another attempt and sent the champion crashing arm-first into the barricade. “The American Dragon” smelled blood in the water, as he subsequently targeted Page’s arm. Later in the bout, Page got busted open; he also bled during his first clash with Danielson.
The challenger viciously honed in on Page’s wound and deepened the cut, but Page briefly rallied. Danielson maintained the advantage by shoving Page head-first into the ring post to exacerbate the cut on his head. In the words of Jim Ross, Hangman was “bleeding like a stuck pig”, but Danielson got busted open after a headbutt from Page. Both men were bleeding profusely, as the match had quickly turned into a war of attrition.
Current Situation: #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/IVrU3ErgjP
— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) January 6, 2022
Page hit a Deadeye on Danielson outside the ring. “The American Dragon” collapsed when Page went for the Buckshot Lariat. Danielson trapped Page in the LeBell Lock, but he refused to tap out. Danielson then dodged the Buckshot again and hit his signature running knee for a near fall. In the end, Page finally hit the Buckshot for the win.
RELATED: AEW Dynamite Results (1/5/21)
