Blue Panther is amazed at what Bryan Danielson brings to the squared circle.
The Lucha Libre legend is set to make his MLW debut at Fightland next month. Blue Panther spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about his expectations for his MLW debut, which includes bringing his son, Blue Panther Jr., with him.
“First of all, I am so grateful. And I am so happy about this opportunity that all the companies in the United States are giving all the CMLL talent,” Blue Panther said (via translator). “So, I’m so grateful and ready for the show in MLW.”
Blue Panther does have experience wrestling for United States-based wrestling promotions, as he competed against Lee Moriarty at ROH Global Wars in June. The pair also squared off at ROH Supercard of Honor in a Pure title match. However, Blue Panther didn’t commit to any future AEW appearances, sharing that his focus is on MLW and continuing to learn his craft.
“For now, the upcoming appearance in USA, it’s MLW on September 13th. So, I’m learning. I’m still learning about Lucha Libre, about wrestling,” Blue Panther said. “It doesn’t matter if it is in MLW, Ring of Honor, or AEW. I’m still learning. I’m a soldier of wrestling. After 47 years of career, I’m still learning about wrestling or Lucha Libre.”
Blue Panther on his relationship with Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson has not been shy about sharing his admiration for Blue Panther. The pair squared off at CMLL Viernes Espectacular in April 2024. More recently, Danielson made the save for Panther at Global Wars in June. Blue Panther said he’s seen a lot of great wrestlers in his career, but none have surprised him the same way that Danielson has.
“In my 47 years of career, I have seen a lot of great superstars of wrestling. It doesn’t matter if it’s an American wrestler, a Japanese wrestler, but in my 47-year career of wrestling, there’s only one. And it is Bryan Danielson, he surprised me a lot. I wrestled him here in Arena Mexico and only to raise his own hand in the ring, he made everything in Arena Mexico. So, I have a lot of admiration for Bryan Danielson.”
“And even I saw Mexican legends like El Santo, Mil Máscaras, Perro Guayo. But no one like Bryan Danielson, here in Arena Mexico, as I repeat, even when he raised his own hand, he made everything here in Arena Mexico. So, I recognize that of Bryan Danielson.”
Danielson wore Blue Panther’s mask as a disguise during a run-in at AEW All In: Texas. Blue Panther says he’s grateful for the tribute to not only his mask, but Lucha Libre too.
“I’m so grateful [for] Bryan Danielson, for my teachers, for all the legends that they can do these kind of things of my career, of my mask. I’m so grateful for everything that they can do with my mask and Lucha Libre in the ring.”
MLW Fightland takes place on Saturday, September 13, at the NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills, Texas.
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